Accessory Chess (with Divaricator)

Accessory Chess (with Divaricator) follows the rules of orthodox chess. In the reserve is placed one or two Divaricators per side. Players may either move a piece or pawn, or drop the extra piece from the reserve. The extra piece may only be introduced on the second rank at occasions when a pawn moves one step (simply drop the extra piece on the pawn). Should a player refrain from inserting his extra piece at these occasions, then he has forfeited his chance of introducing it. Note that pieces and pawns are allowed to move before the extra piece has been dropped. It's a difficult strategical question whether one should wait, or immediately make use of the drop move. Waiting has its obvious advantages, although the alternative positions where the piece can be dropped will become fewer and fewer.

The Divaricator can slide two steps in any direction. But it captures by oblique withdrawal. It must withdraw diagonally to capture orthogonally, vice versa. Thus it has twice as many capture directions as a standard withdrawal piece, which makes it rather strong, possibly worth 4 pawns on a standard board.

Moving away one or two squares to the south,
the Divaricator can capture both the knights.
Moving away to the southwest, the Divaricator
can capture both rooks.

In the following preset moves are validated and automated, including Divaricator moves, castling and 'en passant', but check, etc., are not parsed. Pieces can be moved by pointing and clicking. The Divaricator is introduced by dropping it on a pawn. When promoting a pawn, it will automatically turn into a Queen. Should you prefer another piece then you must type it manually (e.g., add N a8; capture a7). Use small piece-letters for black. E-mails to your opponent are generated, but you can play online by intermittently pressing the browser's update button.


Accessory Chess (with Divaricator)



(You can also download a Zillions implementation here.)

See also Pyrrhus Chess.

See also my other Game Courier presets.



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By M Winther.
Web page created: 2009-06-18. Web page last updated: 2009-06-18