Jianying Ji wrote on Sat, Apr 27, 2002 05:09 AM UTC:
I have thought about it for quite a while, that chess lacks a coherent
handicap system. (A good example of a coherent handicap system is that
of go) How do we go about crating one for chess? Certainly chess for
different armies of ralph betza points the way forward. Black Ghost of
Ralph Betza is a step toward a handicap system. Using these as stepping
stones, let me propose the following:
Types of Handicap:
Range: Gradual limiting of the range of stronger player's pieces
Functional: Limiting the leaping/capturing ability of the stronger player
Balancing: Adding power to the weak side, for example adding of a ghost
like in ghost chess.
Of course how a comprehensive system might look like, I'm not sure yet,
so any comments welcome.