V. R. Parton - Dodo Chess (and Racing Kings)

Dodo Chess (and Racing Kings)

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8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
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Dodo Chess starting position

Played on a regular chessboard, this variant is a simple race game: the first player to reach a square on the last rank with his king is the winner.

Game rules

Checking is not permitted, neither is exposing one's own king to check. Captures are allowed, however, as in normal chess.

"By way of compensating for the first move (always an advantage in a race game) if White gets there first but Black follows on the next move the game is a draw." (Pritchard 2000:14)

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8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Racing Kings start position


Variation

This game, Racing Kings, was the original Dodo Chess before being renamed. The rules are the same as Dodo Chess.

Sample game

R. Betza–J. Leitel: 1. Bd4 Be4 2. Kh3 Ka3 3. Nxc1 Rxc1 4. Be2? Nb3 5. Bh8? Ka4 6. Kg4 Ka5 7. Qh6 Rc6 8. Qe3 Rxe2 9. Qxe4! Qxh8? 10. Qxc6 Qc3 11. Qh6 Rxe1 12. Rxe1 Qxe1 13. Kf5 Qe7 14. Qe6 Qb7 15. Kg6 Nc5 16. Qf7 Ka6 17. Kh7 Ka7 18. Rg8 (18.Kg8 only draws) 1–0

Parton suggests also that play can be extended to a "double course", where a player wins by being first to go to the eighth rank and then return to the first.

Read more about this topic:  V. R. Parton

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