Elkrider Chess
This page contains one or more presets for playing a game online with Game Courier, an online server for playing Chess variants by correspondence.
In Elkrider Chess "Elkriders" take the place of the Rooks. The Elkrider moves differently depending on the colour of the square. If positioned on a black square it moves like a Rook. If positioned on a white square it moves like a Nightrider: it can make continuous Knight jumps in the same direction, provided that the interim squares are empty. The Elkrider's value is 5, that is, the same as a Rook. Castling is performed with an Elkrider instead of a Rook. In regular chess the Rooks play a passive role in the first half of the game. The new Elkrider piece has part of the Rook's power, which can now be utilized early in the game. It is powerful enough to give mate to a lonely King. The Elkrider's image also changes when it moves to a square with a different colour (it rotates). This makes it easier to understand the piece.
The elk (amer. "moose") has actually been trained for battle service, in the cavalry of Charles XII of Sweden (1682-1718). Elks are much faster and more powerful than horses. However, it proved a time-consuming and costly task to train elks so the project was abandoned.
The Elkrider is a very interesting piece for the tactician. Positionally, too, it could be quite dangerous because one can sometimes sacrifice an Elk for a light piece (knight or bishop) to achieve positional ends.
The Elkrider, standing on a white
square, can jump like a knight, but
also has the continuous knight jumps.
On a black square it moves like a
rook.
As the Elkrider alters between Rook moves and Nightrider moves the piece image in the preset will be different depending on square colour. This will make it easier. If the Elkrider stands on a black square, it is denoted by ER (that is, Elk-Rook). If the Elkrider stands on a white square, it is denoted by EN (that is, Elk-Knight). Use small characters for black.
The following preset makes a reasonably good validity check of Elkrider moves, etc. Moves are automated, including castling and the 'en passant' move. Pieces can be moved by pointing and clicking. 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). (In case you want to promote to an Elkrider you must use the internal syntax R.N and N.R.) 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.
Elkrider Chess
You can also download a Zillions implementation
here.
See also my other Game Courier presets.
This 'user submitted' page is a collaboration between the posting user and the Chess Variant Pages. Registered contributors to the Chess Variant Pages have the ability to post their own works, subject to review and editing by the Chess Variant Pages Editorial Staff.
By M Winther.
Last revised by H. G. Muller.
Web page created: 2006-07-16. Web page last updated: 2022-12-07