Zugzwang
| Zugzwang | ||
|---|---|---|
| KiltedFox | ||
| An icehouse game inspired by chess | ||
| Players: | 2 | |
| Length: | unknown | |
| Complexity: | Low | |
| Trios per color: | 6 | |
| Number of colors: | 4 | |
| - - - - - - Other equipment - - - - - - | ||
| Chessboard | ||
| Setup time: | 1 minute | |
| Random chance: | None | |
| Theme: | Chess | |
| Status: Not Specified (v1.0), Year released: 2007 | ||
Zugzwang is an Icehouse game using a chessboard and 6 stashes.
Zugzwang is a game of my own design, for two players. The name "Zugzwang" is a German word meaning "Compulsion to move," and the term is used in actual chess. More about that can be found at the Zugzwang entry at Wikipedia.
Equipment[edit | edit source]
You will need 6 Icehouse stashes (or 6 same-spectrum Treehouse stashes), and one chessboard. A basic knowledge of how to play chess is useful, but not required. If you do not already know the basic chesspiece movements, then skim over Wikipedia's entry on the subject.
Setup[edit | edit source]
Each player controls two colors. Both players set up as shown.
Gameplay[edit | edit source]
The two colors of each player have different movement abilities. Pieces are named as shown here:
Players may use any method the wish for determining order of play. Pieces may land on top of friendly pieces, but the bottom piece cannot move until the top piece is moved off. If an opposing piece makes a capture move into the square, the entire stack is captured at once. The game is over when both players agree upon a stalemate (in which case the winner is determined by tallying up the pips on the Icehouse pieces), or when one side has no pieces left.
Movement[edit | edit source]
A pawn moves like a pawn in chess (1 square vertically), except that it can move and capture both ways (both torward and away from you). It also captures like a chess pawn, on the diagonal.
A bishop moves and captures identical to a bishop in chess.
A queen moves and captures like a queen in normal chess.
Checkers move and capture like a checker, except that, like A1, it can move and capture both backwards and forwards. It can also make multiple captures on a single move, just like in actual checkers, although it cannot capture or jump any friendly pieces.
A knight, once again, moves identical to a knight in regulation chess.
