Grand Chess - Rules

Rules

Solution: 1. Qj10+ Kxj10 2. h8=C#

The white pieces are placed on the first and second ranks and the white pawns are placed on the third rank as shown in the diagram. The white rooks alone are placed on the first rank, which makes it easier for them to activate earlier in the game since they are not blocked by the other pieces as they are in standard chess. The black rooks are placed the same, for the same advantage. Black's pieces are placed on the ninth and tenth ranks, and the black pawns are placed on the eighth rank.

A white pawn may elect to either promote or remain a pawn upon reaching the eighth and ninth ranks, but must promote upon reaching the tenth rank. Unlike standard chess, a pawn may be promoted only to a captured piece of the same color, so it is illegal for either side to have two queens, or two marshals, or three rooks, etc. If no captured piece is available for promoting a white pawn about to reach the tenth rank, the pawn must stay on the ninth rank, but it can still give check. This is not as strange as it appears, since pinned pieces can still give check in standard chess.

Similarly, a black pawn promotes optionally upon reaching the third and second ranks, but must promote in order to move to the first rank. It can still give check from the second rank to a white king on the first rank, even if it can't yet legally move to the first rank.

As in standard chess, pawns can move one or two squares on their first move, and they may also capture en passant.

As in standard chess, checkmate is a win and stalemate is a draw. There is no castling in Grand chess.