The idea of Josh getting a hold of rifle cature is pretty scary (though
fascinating).
I have made some small changes to get a playable game--I explaind my
reasoning to Josh and he seemed to get it--saying 'OK, Daddy, I think
that's a good idea.'
Originally Josh allowed the cannon moves without restriction: the piece
leaped over could belong to either side and the move could be capturing or
non capturing. This in combination with the hook move is much too powerful--White's Queen jumps
over its pawn line and checks, then plays King hunt until mate.
But limiting he line pieces to leaping over a friendly piece only make the
game playable. Also, a piece cannot both leap and hook in the same move.
So here is a description of Joshua's Chess as it now stands, pending a
full web page.
Joshua's Chess is played on a 12x12 board with the usual pieces: the
armies are on the back ranks and centered.
The Pawn moves and captures one or two squres straight forward, diagonally
forward, or sideways. These are strong little guys and protect each other
well. A pawn reaching the twelfth rank may optionally promote to any piece
its owner has lost. If the option is not taken, the Pawn may be later
promoted after moving one or two squres sideways on the twelfth rank. No
e.p.
The Knight has its usual move and in addition can leap 3 squares
orthogonally or move a single square orthogonally. This is precisely the
move Joshua invented: he understands the Knight's move to be a L shape,
two squares othogonally then one at right angles: he generalized this by
allowing the one squre move to continue in the original direction or go
back the direction it came.
The Bishop may move and capture normally. It may also move and capture
after leaping diagonally over one friendly piece. A Bishop which did not
leap and finished on an empty sqare may optionally move one squre at right
angles to its original path--a one square hook move.
The Rook is the Bishop's orthogonal counterpart, with the same leaping
and hook move options.
The Queen has the combined Bishop and Rook moves. This is one scary
piece. Though not a powerful as the Queen piece in Betza's Tripunch
Chess, it can use the leap move to develop faster.
The King can has its usual move, can move as a FIDE Knight, or leap to the
second square orthogonally or diagonally. Leaping over check is legal. No
castling.
The Pawns and Knights allow fairly good defense in the opening and
middlegame. In the endgame, K Q vs K and K R vs K are easy: a Rook can
mate unassisted on an empty board. King and any two minor pieces should be
a win. K P vs K should win in most cases--the Pawn can't be blocked.
