Comments/Ratings for a Single Item

Isn't it the case that the pawn chains are now to difficult to break?

This really is more of a proposal for a new piece, the Progressive Pawn.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with that; there are many variants on this site that are pretty much the same. And I do rather like this piece; it would completely change the texture of back-line maneuvers.

No further comments on my variant? Then I would be happy if it were published.

Apparently little interest in my variant. Nevertheless, I ask for publication.

If you leave a section blank, it won't be rendered; that's preferred for e.g. your Setup section. Maybe the pawn movement rules should be moved to Pieces?

I found the first bullet point confusing, having not yet read the others.

"Progressive" in variants usually means increasing moves per turn; the title could be confusing.

This was submitted this week. Note that I'm still approving submissions from May. While this one is short and easy to moderate (so might skip the line a bit), please be patient.

I am always a bit suspicious towards variants where low-valued pieces are able to protect each other. In this case it might not be so bad, though, because the 4 extra captures probably drive up the value of this enhanced Pawn to around 2. So two Pawns protecting each other can still be threatened by a minor with backup, which can then sacrifice itself for the Pawns without incurring a loss.

I also don't understand the variant's name. Giving a piece some extra backward moves does not strike me as very progressive. The term 'retro' seems more applicable.

What you call 'lines' is usually referred to as 'files'.

What does it mean: "is obsolete"? If you mean "not allowed in this variant", then better say it. Because there are plenty of people that wouldn't see any harm in doing obsolete things...

That's a legitimate point re: the word "Progressive." Maybe they could be called Power Pawns?

@ Ben: Thank you for your kind comment.

When you say: 

"Progressive" in variants usually means increasing moves per turn; the title could be confusing.

then exactly your statement happens, namely that the pawn now has 6 possibilities instead of two to capture.

@ H.G.:

What does it mean: "is obsolete"? If you mean "not allowed in this variant", then better say it. Because there are plenty of people that wouldn't see any harm in doing obsolete things...

Here I do not understand you. 'Obsolete' does not mean 'out of date', but redundant. With my variation, the 'en passant' rule becomes unnecessary.

@ Bob:

... Maybe they could be called Power Pawns?

I have little interest in new figures. I am interested in the further development of standard chess - a rather chanceless endeavour.

Here I do not understand you. 'Obsolete' does not mean 'out of date', but redundant. With my variation, the 'en passant' rule becomes unnecessary.

So people can still capture en passant, in this variant. Because whether it is unnecessary or not is not for you to decide, but up to the player. I would certainly prefer e.p. capture over replacement capture in some positions. In particular when the Pawn that made the double-step was protected on the square it landed on, but would not have been on the e.p. square, I would consider it better to capture it en passant. Whether it is 'necessary' or not to avoid loss of a Pawn can of course be debated.

then exactly your statement happens, namely that the pawn now has 6 possibilities instead of two to capture.

No, that is not what "more moves per turn" means. You just give a choice between more moves, but the player can play only one of those. In Progressive Chess you would be able to move 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ... different Pawns each turn.

@ H.G.:

No, that is not what "more moves per turn" means. You just give a choice between more moves, but the player can play only one of those. In Progressive Chess you would be able to move 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ... different Pawns each turn.

You're way ahead of me there. Instead of two fields, the pawns can now conquer 6 fields. How else would you call the increase "progressive". What is your term?

I agree with the previous comments, "progressive" is not the good word here. I would speak about "augmented" or "enhanced" pawns.

No, that is not what "more moves per turn" means. You just give a choice between more moves, but the player can play only one of those. In Progressive Chess you would be able to move 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ... different Pawns each turn.

You're way ahead of me there. Instead of two fields, the pawns can now conquer 6 fields. How else would you call the increase "progressive". What is your term?

What H.G. is getting at is that your Pawns can still only conquer 1 of those 6 fields at a time. They're not "Progressive" in the way that he's saying; they're just more powerful. That's why I suggested calling them Power Pawns. Jean-Louis' suggestions of Augmented or Enhanced would work too.

Indeed, 'enhanced' or 'augmented' describe something that is larger, but unchanging. 'Progressive', on the other hand, implies an ever increasing sequence of values. The number of moves of your Pawns is large, but it does not grow during the game. When you say 'Progressive Pawn' I would imagine a piece that gets more moves every time you move it. E.g. a single capture straight ahead on rank 2, a normal Pawn on rank 3, capture to the 3 forward squares on rank 4, capture diagonally forward or sideways on rank 5, etc.

I have adapted the description of my variant.
Thanks for the comments.

@Fergus:
I am trying to bring my variant 'Enhanced Pawn Chess' to Game Courier. I have created the preset, which still runs with the include file 'chess2.txt'. Actually, I intended to save this file under the name 'EnhancedPawnChess.txt' and then modify it in the segment 'Pawn Capturing' according to the enhanced rules. But I am not sure if such a procedure is desired.

My real problem, however, is to modify the game code so that it fits my variant. Despite the 'Developer's Guide' and 'How to Enforce Rules in Game Courier' I can't manage - the latter lists the subroutines for white Pawn Mouvment and Pawn Promotion, but how to adapt is the question! I am working on it, but it will take time.

At this point I would be grateful if I could get help in modifying the pawn rule.

Why not just let the Play-Test Applet generate the GAME code? It should be trivial to set up your variant there; you only have to change the move of the Pawn to fmWcFscW.

Hadn't worked with either Game Courier or Play-Test Applet so far. I have started with Game Courier and would like to start with Play-Test Applet afterwards. I would be happy if it were a little easier to get to grips with.

Surely a GAME code already exists for Standard Chess; where can I find it (maybe a stupid question)? I would then modify the pawn move as you advised - thanks for that.

That is of course up to you. But it is usually more productive to start with the thing that is ~100 times easier. I don't think you would be asking help here in that case...

Indeed, the Play-Test applet seems to be ingenious. You just have to understand the Betza notation, which is what I'm dealing with at the moment.

You said that in the play-test applet you only have to change the pawn movement to fmWcFscW. Do I understand correctly that this notation does not take into account the pawn's initial move? Shouldn't the notation then be written completely as follows: ifmnDfmWcFscW ?

EPC now interactive playable.

@H.G.
In the explanations for the Play-test applet for chess variants, under Automating Game Courier/GAME-Code, it says: 'You will have to tick the checkbox "Do not include moves in code" just above the Pre-Game section'.
In the Game Courier Preset I don't find this checkbox and what happens if the checkbox is not ticked?

In the Game Courier Preset I don't find this checkbox and what happens if the checkbox is not ticked?

Then all moves would be rejected, because Game Courier would have already performed those before the rule checking code is activated, so that the piece would already be gone, and moving empty squares is illegal.

But the button should be the rightmost of the three in the 'Advanced' section, when you hit 'Edit' after loading the preset:

I've been trying to reply for some time, but I can't get more complex answers with pictures posted. What could be the reason for this?

Update: The (error) message looks like this: