Capablanca chess.

[Harvin87]

Hello everyone... I was reading Capablanca biography and saw this really interesting proposal.

a chancellor that moves as both a rook and a knight.

an archbishop that moves as both a bishop and a knight. This piece would be able to deliver checkmate on its own, which none of the conventional pieces can do.

The board would look like this...

This was proposed by Capablanca because he sensed that in some years Chess was/would reach his limits regarding opening theory and he felt that it was too easy for top players to get draws.

What are your thoughts about it? IMO it would be too complicated ... I mean with classical chess I have lots of complications already.. .

But some times I love to play "random chess" is a good tactic exercise...

 

[Narz]

What are your thoughts about it? IMO it would be too complicated ... I mean with classical chess I have lots of complications already.. .

I agree! Especially on the larger board. Yasser Seirawan created a slightly simpler version of Capablanca Chess which he dubbed Seirawan chess with slightly more easily recognizable pieces (and retaining the knight).


Link to video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nht2TqabPr0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seirawan_chess

Still too complex for me at this time & I find regular chess just fine and also want to stay competitive in tournaments & I feel like this variant would perhaps damage my regular chess play a bit because I would occasionally think of these new pieces & their powers while playing regular chess where they had no relevance (and thus would be somewhat distracted by possibilities that could never exist in regular chess).

But some times I love to play "random chess" is a good tactic exercise...

I'm a big fan of the 960 variant, it has grown on me. I feel it's not at all damaging to regular chess (since it's basically the same game) and probably actually good for your regular chess (as it forces you to think earlier & exposes you to a larger variety of positions which will help your regular chess confidence).

I'd try Seirawan chess (which is again, very similar to Capa chess on the original 8x8 board) sometime, for kicks. My local chess club actually sells the Seirawan extra pieces.

Spoiler large image, close up of Elephant & Hawk :

 

[Harvin87]

I love those pieces... especially the eagle, it looks like Amon Ra or something like that... .

I will try the 960 variant... by the way , I have one question... how is Fischer-variant or random chess?

cheers.

 

[Richard Cribb]

No thanks. Normal chess is more than complicated enough.
And Capablance was delusional at times. He wasn't so invincible as he thought.

 

[Narz]

I have one question... how is Fischer-variant or random chess?

cheers.

What do you mean how is it?