A fairy chess piece is a game piece that is not in regular chess but appears in an alternate version of chess with different rules. Such an alternate version is known as a chess variant. In addition, fairy chess pieces are used in fairy chess, an area of chess problems involving changes to the rules of chess.
Takes Knight steps, in a general (1,1)-Bishop direction e.g. b1-a3-c2-b4-d3...[1]
(2,0)-Zigzag Nightrider
S2
Fairy Chess problems
Takes Knight steps, in a general (2,0)-Rook direction e.g. b1-c3-d1-e3-f1...[1]
(3,3)-Zigzag Nightrider
S3
Fairy Chess problems
Takes Knight steps, in a general (3,3)-Bishop direction e.g. b1-c3-e4-f6-h7[1]
(4,0)-Zigzag Nightrider
S4
Fairy Chess problems
Takes Knight steps, in a general (4,0)-Rook direction e.g. b1-c3-b5-c7...[1]
A
Aanca
1X.n+
t[FR]
Grant Acedrex (Alfonso X, 1283)
A word borrowed in medieval Spanish from Persian/Arabic legendary anqa, an elephant bird (a giant eagle preying elephants), see Gryphon. A name erroneously applied by some modern chess variant inventors to a piece moving t[WB] in Betza's notation and also called Manticore, creating confusion.
Sac Chess (Pacey, 2014), Large Chess Variants by Cazaux 2020, e.g., Terachess II
Combination of Rook and Ferz. Also known as Dragon King in Shogi, or Crowned Rook,or SuperRook in Pocket Mutation chess, or Sailor in Sac Chess (Pacey).
Ferz that cannot leave the palace (3×3 zone at the center of South and North sides). Originally 士 Shì (Black Advisor) and 仕 Shì (Red Advisor) in Chinese. Also known as Counsellor, Mandarin, Guard, Officer, Scholar and, ambiguously, Minister.
Elephant in Shatranj. A (2,2)-leaper. Originally Fil in Persian. Also called Gaja, Hasty, Pil (Shatranj), Archer (Schütze) (Courier). Simply the move of the European Bishop before 1475. (The word alfil is the regular Bishop in Spanish.)
Alfilrider
n(~ 2X) (in same direction)
AA
Fairy Chess problems
A rider which moves any number of (2,2) cells (i.e., Alfil moves) in the same direction in a straight line. It is the Skip-bishop of problemists (G.P. Jelliss).
Alibaba
~ 2✳
AD
Fairy Chess problems
Combines the moves of Alfil and Dabbaba.
Alibabarider
n(~2✳)in same direction
AADD
Fairy Chess problems
Combination of Dabbabarider and Alfilrider. It is the Skip-queen of problemists (G.P. Jelliss).Compare Nightrider.
Russian chess around 1770,[2] Gustav III Chess (end of 18th c.), Kaiserspiel (1819), Pacific Chess (1971), Renn Chess (1980), Knightmare Chess, Musketeer Chess, Sac Chess (Pacey, 2014)
Combines the powers of Queen and Knight. Also called Angel (Autremont, 1918), Commander (Feldherr in original German Peguilhen, 1819; Trouillon, 1953), Wyvern (Parton, 1970s), Queen (Pacific Chess), Prince (Renn Chess), Superqueen, Dragon (Musketeer Chess).
Amazonrider
ET
n✳, n(~1/2)
QNN
Pocket Mutation Chess
Combination of Queen and Nightrider. Also called Queen of the Night. See also Elephant (von Wilpert).
A Grasshopper that changes the colour of the hurdle it leaps over.
Angry Boar
1-2X>,1>=
fF2fsW
Chu shogi, Dai shogi and other large shogi variant
Moves forward and sideward as a Wazir and can make up to two Ferz moves forward.
Antelope
AN
~ 3/4
(3,4)
Fairy Chess problems
Jumps three squares diagonally followed by one square orthogonally outwards.
Atlantosaur
c1✳
cWcF
Fairy Chess problems (J. de A. Almay, 1940)
Captures like a Mann (non-royal King) but never moves from his position unless to capture.
Anti-King
1✳ (captures friendly, not enemy pieces)
K (captures friendly, not enemy pieces)
This piece is in check when not attacked. If a player's Anti-King is in check and unable to move to a square attacked by the opponent, the player is checkmated. A King may not attack the opponent's Anti-King. The Anti-King may not check its own King.
Combines the powers of Bishop and Knight. First named Centaur (Carrera), also called Princess (fairy chess), Adjutant (Peguilhen), Equerry (Bird), Cardinal, Minister (Vicente Maura's Modern Chess), Janus (Janus Chess), Paladin (Duniho), Hawk (Seirawan Chess).
Heroine, Superchancellor (Pocket Mutation Chess), Octopus (original German term Krake[4] by German problemists) or Crowned Chancellor: Combination of Empress/Chancellor and Ferz. Originally Erzkanzler in German.
Archer
2X
FA
Reformed Courierspiel Chess variant
see Elephant(modern).
Archer (Modern)
VA
c^nX, onX
mBcpB
Bigorra
Moves like a Bishop when not capturing, but captures by leaping over an intervening piece and taking the piece on its destination square (the captured piece can be any number of squares beyond the hurdle). Also called Vao, Arrow, Crocodile.
Arrow (Duniho)
VA
c^nX, onX
mBcpB
Yang Qi, Eurasian Chess (Duniho)
Moves like a Bishop when not capturing, but captures by leaping over an intervening piece and taking the piece on its destination square (the captured piece can be any number of squares beyond the hurdle). Also called Vao, Archer, Crocodile.
Arrow Pawn (Persson)
o2+, c1X
mW2cF
Arrow Pawn Chess (R. Persson variant, 1938)
Moves orthogonally one or two squares and captures diagonally one square.
Bound to lower board. 3D movement: Can freeze any opposing piece on the cell directly above it automatically until the Basilisk moves away or is captured.
Moves one square diagonally forward (except on its first move, when it may move two), but captures by moving one square straight forward. Also known as Berlin Pawn, Peasant (Faerie Chess) or Anti-Pawn. Cf. Pawn.
Berolina Pawn which can also capture one step orthogonally to the side.
Biok
onX, cn+
mBcR
Enlarged & Improved Chess, Parton's Chess
Moves like a Bishop and captures like a Rook. First proposed in Holland in 1696 as an Ensign (or Fähnrich in German), then by V.R. Parton in Chess Curiouser & Curiouser (1961). See also Roshop.
Bion
BL
pB
Fairy Chess problems
Fairy chess Lion confined to diagonal lines. Also known as Bishlion and Bishop-lion-hopper.
Moves any number of free squares diagonally. Also called Cocatriz (Grant Acedrex, medieval Spanish for cockatrice, representing a crocodile), Courier (Kurrier) (Courier chess), Kakugyo (angle-mover) in shogi, or Ferzrider.
Bishop's dog
3X
F3
Typhoon (A.King, 2009)
Moves and captures like a Bishop but limited to a maximum of 3 squares distance.[6]
Bishopper
BH
^nX
gB
Fairy Chess problems
Grasshopper confined to diagonal lines. Also known as Bishop-hopper.
A Nightrider making an obtuse turn after every Knight's move. Discussed as Crooked Nightrider by Ralph Betza, but not used in a game [1]. Combination of (3,3)-Zigzag-Nightrider and (4,0)-Zigzag-Nightrider. Its first two steps form a nice 8-pointed star on the chess board.
Moves like a Queen but only one or two squares. Special power: any sliding piece must stop if it moves within a King's move from the Bodygard. Called Hia in Mongolian.
Boyscout
BT
zB
Fairy Chess problems
Moves like a bishop, but takes 90 degree turns after each step. Invented by J. de Almay in the years 1940s. Also called Crooked Bishop (Ralph Betza). Compare Girlscout.
Brontosaur
cnX
cB
Fairy Chess problems (J. de A. Almay, 1940), Megasaur Chess (Parton's Enduring Spirit of Dasapada)
Captures like a Bishop but never moves from his position unless to capture.
Old historic piece. Jumps 2 squares orthogonally followed by one square diagonally outwards. Also called Jamal (Persian for camel). Called Chevalier (Mideast Chess), General (Renn Chess), Sage (Devingt Chess) or Giraffe in Giraffe Chess.
Camelrider
CR
n(1/3) (in same direction)
CC = LL
Fairy Chess problems
A rider which moves any number the Camel's moves in the same direction. A piece in its path of the opposing color could be captured, but the Camelrider could not move any further. Also known as Mehari by French problemists.
Moves and captures along orthogonal lines by jumping exactly one piece. There can be any number of free squares before and after the hurdle. Also called Rook-line-hopper, Rook Lion, or Rion by problemists.
Cannon (Musketeer)
1✳, ~2+, ~1/2 (narrow)
DWFsN
Musketeer Chess (Haddad, 2012)
Moves like a Mann, Dabbaba and limited Knight sideways.
Combines the powers of Bishop and Knight. Also called Princess or Archbishop.
Carpenter
~ 2+, ~ 1/2
ND
Avon (C.Gilman)
Combination of Knight and Dabbaba. Also known as Templar (Jelliss), Doughnut (Betza), Ouroboros (Knappen), or Scribe (Joyce and Bagley-Jones). Name used in the Chess Variant Pages.
Jumps to any square a distance of two. Also called Squirrel (Fairy Chess problems). Compare with the Centurion in Arch-Chess.
Cavalier
1X.n+, n+.1X
t[RF]t[FR]
Mideast Chess (California, 1971), Renn Chess (Greenwood, 1980)
Either one square diagonal followed by an orthogonal slide outwards or an orthogonal slide followed by one square diagonal outwards. More powerful than the Gryphon. (Note that a Cavalier is a Knight in French).
Combination of Knight and Mann. Also known as Crowned Knight, Counselor (Albers), Page (Greenwood), Paladin (Clément Begnis), Judge (Kevin Pacey).
Centaur (Carrera)
PR
nX, ~ 1/2
BN
Carrera's chess (1617), Ouroboros King
Combines the powers of Bishop and Knight. Later on better known as Princess, Archbishop, Cardinal, and many other names.
Centurion
~ 0/2, ~ 1/2, ~ 2/2
NnAnD
Arciscacchiere (Archchess, Francesco Piacenza, 1683)
Despite an error often reported in English modern references, the Centurion cannot jump over an intermediate piece when jumping like Alfil or Dabbaba in Arciscacchiere.[2] Compare with Squirrel.
Chameleon
Fairy Chess problems
Changes its powers, but not its color, on each move. Starts as a Knight on its first move, then plays as Bishop, then as Rook, then as Queen, then reverts as Knight and again always in this order.[9]
Combines the powers of the Rook and Knight. First named Champion (Carrera), later also called Empress (fairy chess), Guard (Bird), Marshal (Tressan, Freeling), Nobleman (Greenwood), or Elephant (Seirawan Chess).
Moves forward one diagonal square without capturing, or captures by jumping diagonally over an opponent's piece. Promotes to Checker King after it reaches the far rank.
Moves forward one diagonal square without capturing, or captures by jumping in any direction forward or sideways over an opponent's piece. Promotes to Checker King after it reaches the far rank.
Moves forward one diagonal square without capturing, or captures by jumping diagonally over an opponent's piece. Promotes to Checker King after it reaches the far rank (Russian man can promote mid-capture). Harzdame (Benedikt Rosenau, 2010) rotates this piece into mfrW[cl]W.
Checker Man
cn(^nX), o1X>
mfF[cl]B
Loca (Christian Freeling, 2020)
Moves forward one diagonal square without capturing, or captures by jumping any distance diagonally over an opponent's piece. Promotes to Checker King after it reaches the far rank.
Moves forward one diagonal square without capturing, or captures by jumping in any direction over an opponent's piece on the same color. Promotes to Checker King after it reaches the far rank.
Moves forward or sideways one square without capturing, or captures by jumping forward or sideways over an opponent's piece. Promotes to Checker King after it reaches the far rank. Ossetian Keny men can capture backwards.
Moves forward any direction one square without capturing, or captures by jumping orthogonally over an opponent's piece. Promotes to Checker King after it reaches the far rank.
Moves forward any direction or sideways one square without capturing, or captures by jumping orthogonally over an opponent's piece. Promotes to Checker King after it reaches the far rank.
Promoted Checker at Old German (“Gothic”) Checkers that can move in any direction and may be flying (it can move any distance). Such a piece is also known as the marine King or Queen or poseidon or mermaid.
Promoted Checker at Armenian Checkers that is flying (it can move any distance).
Cheetah
~ 1/3,~ 2/3,~ 0/3,~ 3/3
CZGH = LJGH
Modern Variants (Silverman, Cazaux)
Leaper combining Camel, Zebra, Threeleaper and Tripper. Named Titan in Fantasy Grand Chess (P. Hatch, 2000).[11] Used in modern chessvariants played with AI AI.[12]
Chicken General
1-4>, 1X<
fW4bF
Taikyoku shogi
Can move up to four steps forward or one step diagonally backward. The Pup General in Taikyoku shogi has the same moves.
Moves any number of free squares diagonally. Cocatriz in medieval Spanish for cockatrice but it was represented as a crocodile in the medieval codex, moving like the orthodox Bishop.
Iron General that can also move (but not capture) one or two steps straight backward without jumping when past the river. It promotes to Congo Superpawn (on last rank).
Congo Pawn that can move and capture one step straight sideways, and move (but not capture) one or two steps straight or diagonally backward without jumping.
Captures any opposing piece that is on either of the two squares found at a) the intersection of its own file and the King's rank, and b) the intersection of the King's file and its own rank.
Combination of Iron General and Backslider: moves one square in any direction forward or one square straight backward. Also known as Climbing Monkey, Flying Goose, or Yale.
Corporal
1X>, o1>, io2>
fFmfWimfnD
Improved Pawn that can also move without capture diagonally forward. Compare with Pawn and Sergeant.
It is a Mann (anywhere), a file-restricted Rook towards the river (outside the river), or a rank-restricted Rook (inside the river)
Crocodile (Modern)
VA
c^nX, onX
mBcpB
Zanzibar Chess, Terachess
Moves like a Bishop when not capturing, but captures by leaping over an intervening piece and taking the piece on its destination square (the captured piece can be any number of squares beyond the hurdle). Also called Vao, Archer, Arrow.
Combination of Bishop and Wazir. Also known as Dragon Horse in shogi and Quintessential Chess, and as Missionary (Kevin Pacey, Cazaux).
Crowned Rook
n+, 1X
RF
Shōgi, Shatar, The Duke of Rutland's Chess (J. Manners, 1747),[13][2] Sac Chess (Pacey, 2014), Heavy/Very Heavy Chess (Cazaux, 2020)
Combination of Rook and Ferz. Also known as Dragon King in shogi, Bers or Baras in traditional shatar (Mongolian chess). Also Sailor (Kevin Pacey) or Admiral (Cazaux).
Also known as Popess (Very Heavy Chess), Supercardinal (Pocket Mutation Chess). Combination of Princess/Archbishop and Wazir. Originally Kronprinzessin in German.
Old historic piece, also known as War Machine. The Arabic word dabbāba formerly meant a type of medieval siege engine, and nowadays means "army tank". Alternate notation: ~ 0/2
Dabbaba-checker
D[cl]W
A Dabbaba that can also capture an enemy piece by leaping over it. This piece can potentially capture 2 enemy pieces at a time, one by jumping over it and the other by landing on it.
Dabbabante
~ 0/2n
(0,2n)
Dabbabante Chess (V.R. Parton 1971)
A piece that can jump directly to any square a Dabbabarider can reach.
Dabbabarider
n(~ 2+) (in same direction)
DD
Fairy Chess problems
A rider which moves any number of (0,2) squares (i.e., Dabbaba moves) in the same direction. It is the Skip-rook of problemists (G.P. Jelliss).
Dayrider
o1✳n(~2✳)in same direction
mKAADD
Typhoon (1999), Jupiter (1999)
An enhanced Alibabarider with additional non-capturing steps to free neighbouring squares thus removing the bindings of an Alibabarider. Invented by Adrian King (1999)
A six-directional piece, moving sidewards as a Knight and forwards and backwards as a Dabbaba. Also see Knave.
Diplomat
Fairy Chess problems
Does not capture, cannot be captured, cannot move, but it saves from capture any adjacent piece to it. Other pieces can be granted diplomatic power.[9]
Dinosaur
cn✳
cQ
Fairy Chess problems (J. de A. Almay, 1940), Megasaur Chess (Parton's Enduring Spirit of Dasapada)
Captures like a Queen but never moves from his position unless to capture.
Direwolf
~ 0/2,~ 1/2,~ 2/2,~ 1/3,~ 2/3,~ 0/3,~ 3/3
ANDHCZG=ANDHLJG
Bigorra (Cazaux)
Super-leaper combining Squirrel+Cheetah, that is to say Dabbaba, Knight, Alfil, Camel, Zebra, Threeleaper and Tripper. Also called Sabertooth.
Moves one square directly forward (as Wazir), or diagonally backward (as a Ferz). Also called Strutting Crow (Taikyoku shogi and Wa shogi), Swooping Owl, or Wazir/Ferz-Hunter.
Dolphin
3+,o~ 2+,o~ 3+
R3mDmH
Falconry (Russia,1982)
Moves and captures 1, 2 or 3 squares like a limited Rook. It may leap over occupied squares but only when non capturing.
Generalization of a Bishop to higher dimensions. Quadragonal movement: Any moves must incorporate all of the game's four axes equally, resulting diagonal spacial dimension movements paired with "diagonal" temporal and multiversal movements. Compare with Unicorn (5D).
Combination of Rook and Ferz. Also called Crowned Rook (Rutland), Sailor (Kevin Pacey) or Admiral (Cazaux). It is the Bers or Baras in traditional shatar (Mongolian chess).
Moves 1 square forward or sideways. Same as Korean Pawn in Janggi and promoted Pawn in Xiangqi (after crossing the river).
Duchess
1*, ~ 2/2, ~ 3/3, ~ 0/2, ~ 0/3
(1,1)(0,1)(2,2)(0,2)(3,3)(0,3) = KADGH = WFADGH
Modern Chess variants by Cazaux
Combination of the Mann, Alfil, Dabbaba, Tripper and Threeleaper.
Duck
o~ n/n
Duck Chess (Dr. Tim Paulden, 2016)
Colorless piece, may jump to any space on the board, though cannot capture nor be captured.
Duke
1+.nX, nX.1+
t[BW]t[WB]
Renn Chess (Greenwood, 1980)
Either one square horizontal or vertical followed by a diagonal slide outwards or a diagonal slide followed by one square horizontal or vertical outwards. Compare with Manticore.
Duke (Jelliss)
1X, ~ 2+
FD
Fairy chess
Combination of Ferz and Dabbaba. Better known as Kirin (large shogis).
Duke (Musketeer chess)
1-2+, ~1/2
WDN
Musketeer chess: Castellum armies
Combination of War Machine and Knight. See Minister.
Combination of Ferz and Knight. Known as Prince among problemists and named Priest in Scirocco. The name Dullahan was chosen as a male counterpart to Banshee.
Dummy
DU
A piece with no moves at all. It may gain temporarily moving ability by relay, or pushed or pulled by other specific pieces. It can be captured. Compare with Pyramid, and Zero.
Moves like non-leaping King+Dabbaba, captures like non-leaping Wazir+Dabbaba; on lower board. 3D movement: Can move or capture on any non-leaping Wazir pattern above or below.
A (2,2)-leaper but cannot jump over an intervening piece. In xianqi the Elephant is restricted to its half of the board. Originally 象 Xiàng (Black Elephant) and 相 Xiàng (Red Minister).
Combination of Ferz (medieval Queen) and Alfil (medieval Bishop, shatranj Elephant). Also called Falafel (R. Betza), Ferfil (G.P. Jelliss), or Ferz Alfil. It is the Archer in Begnis's Reformed Courier-Spiel.
Elephant (Musketeer)
1✳, ~2+, ~2X
KAD = WFAD
Musketeer Chess (Haddad, 2012)
Moves like a Mann (Wazir + Ferz) or Dabbaba or Alfil. Also known as Mammoth, Mastodon, Squire, Pasha.
Combines the powers of the Rook and Knight. Also called Champion (Carrera's Chess), Chancellor, Concubine (The Duke of Rutland's Chess, J. Manners, 1747),[13]Elephant (Seirawan Chess), Marshal, or Wolf (Wolf Chess).
Ensign
onX,cn+
mBcR
Enlarged & Improved Chess (1696)
Moves like a Bishop but captures like a Rook. Also named Biok.
Moves forward as a Bishop, and backward as a Rook. Also known as Bishop/Rook-Hunter, and Free Tile in Maka dai dai shogi and Tai shogi.
Falcon (Falcon Chess)
1/3, 2/3
nCnZ = nLnJ
Falcon Chess patent (George Duke, 1996)
A non-jumping Bison with multiple paths consisting of three straight or diagonal steps towards its endpoints. It can be blocked by two pieces and it can create a double pin.
Falcon (Falconry)
3X,~ 1/3
CB3
Falconry (Russia, 1982)
Moves like a Camel (3,1) or 1,2,3 squares diagonally like a limited Bishop without jumping over occupied squares. It is a colorbound piece.
Faro
FA
cn+, o^n+
cRmpR
Fairy Chess problems (M. Rittirsch, 2016)
Argentinian Rook, captures as a Rook but needs to jump over a hurdle for non-capturing moves,[1] compare Cannon
Ferfil
1X, ~ 2X
FA
Fairy Chess Problems (Jelliss)
Combination of Ferz and Alfil. Also called Elephant (Modern).
Moves one square diagonally in any direction. Usually spelled Fers by problemists, and Ferz in chess variants. Also called Cat Sword (Dai shogi), Decurion (Archchess), Martian Pawn (Martian Chess), Minister, Persian Queen. Simply the move of the Queen in Europe before 1475. (The word ferz, Ферзь, is the regular Queen in Russian.)
Combination of Ferz and Threeleaper. The simplest amphibian.
Fusilier
o1+, c1X
mWcF
Jeu de la Guerre (Prague, 1770), Centennial Chess (J.W.Brown, 1999)
Extended Pawn, moves one square orthogonally in all four directions, and captures diagonally in all four directions; also called a Quadrapawn, a Steward (Brown) or a Hobbit.
Chinese King. Royal Wazir that cannot leave the palace (3×3 zone at the center of South and North sides), except for executing the Flying General move: a capturing forward Rook against the enemy General that is used to force checkmate. Originally 將 Jiàng (Black General) and 帥 shuài (Red General) in Chinese. Also called Governor in Xiangqi.
General (Ciccolini)
nX,n(~ 2+)
BDD
Ciccolini's Chess (1820)
Combine Bishop and Dabbabarider, a colorbound piece.
Alibaba that moves but does not capture as a Mann. Compare with Pasha
Giraffe (Giraffe Chess)
CA
~ 1/3
C = L = (1,3)
Giraffe Chess
Old historic piece. Jumps 2 squares orthogonally followed by one square diagonally outwards. Mostly known as Camel but called Giraffe in Giraffe Chess, popular in India.
Girlscout
GT
zR
Fairy Chess problems, Jupiter (A. King 1999)
Moves like a Rook but takes a 90 degree bent after each step in a zig-zag manner. Also named Crooked Rook (R. Betza). Compare Boyscout.
Combination of Knight and Camel. Called Wildebeest in Wildebeest Chess. Called Unicorn in Musketeer Chess. Invented by Walter Jacobs (Fairy Chess Review, 1934/8).
A hopper which moves along the same lines as Queen and lands on the square immediately beyond the hurdle, which can be of either color. It captures on its destination square. One of the most popular fairy pieces. Also known as Queen-hopper.
Combines the powers of the Berolina Pawn and the standard Pawn. It occurs (without the initial double move) as Iron General in large shogi variants from the 15th century, e.g., in Tenjiku shogi. Compare with Sergeant.
Great Horse
n<>, 2=, nX>
fBvRsW2
Taikyoku shogi
Moves as a forward Bishop, vertical Rook, or up to 2 squares sidewards. The Horseman in Taikyoku Shogi has the same moves.
See Zebra (on upper board). 3D movement: Can move or capture one jump along a space diagonal below or above.
Gryphon
1X.n+
t[FR]
Grant Acedrex (Alfonso X, 1283), Metamachy, Ouroboros King
Originally Aanca in the ancient Castillan codex, a giant eagle mistaken for a Gryphon by Murray (1913). Moves one square diagonally followed by moving any number of spaces like a rook outwards (moving away from where it started). Also known as Eagle.
Moves forward as Rook, and backward as Bishop. First proposed in Spanish Chess (Germany,1739),[2] as Archer. Also known as Rook/Bishop-Hunter, and Multi General in Tenjiku shogi and Taikyoku shogi.
Colorless piece; cannot capture; moves only in dependence of other pieces – its move being simultaneous to every piece's move, parallel and of same length and direction. If a line piece's move is imitated, the imitator's path must not be blocked. Neither can the imitator be moved outside the board. If complete imitation is not possible, the respective move is illegal.
Moves as Queen; any enemy piece that is adjacent to the immobilizer is frozen and cannot move until the immobilizer moves away or is captured. If two immobilizers are next to each other, they are both frozen until the end of the game or one is captured. Also known as Freezer.
Combination of Ferz and Soldier: moves one square in any direction diagonally or one square straight forward. Also called Burmese Elephant, Hsin in sittuyin (Burmese chess), Elephant in some versions of Indian chess, Silver General in shogi, and Violent Stag in taikyoku shogi and wa shogi.
Moves one square in any direction. (Combination of Wazir and Ferz). Royal in orthodox chess. Also called Raja (chaturanga), Shah (shatranj), Jeweled General (shōgi), or Phoenix (tori shōgi). For a non-royal piece which moves like the King, see Mann, Commoner or Guard.
Combination of Lance, Ferz and a backward Bishop restricted to right side.
Leo
LE
on✳, c^n✳
mQcpQ
Dawson (<1914), Akenhead's Chess (1947)
Combines the powers of Pao (Cannon) and Vao (Crocodile). Moves like a Queen when not capturing, but captures by leaping over an intervening piece and taking the piece on the Leo's destination square (the captured piece can be any number of squares beyond the hurdle). Also called Lion (Caïssa Britannia, F.Duniho, 2003), Tank (Ch.Gilman, 2003), Sorceress (Cazaux's variants).
Move 2 steps or jumps per turn in any adjacent direction. It can capture up to two pieces per turn, capture an adjacent piece without moving (stationary feeding), or move and return (effectively passing a turn).
Lion (Modern)
1✳, ~ 2✳, ~ 1/2
KAND = WFAND
Metamachy, Terachess, Scirocco
A KAND Lion is moving and capturing anywhere one or two squares around, i.e. one or two squares in any direction or like a Knight. Also known as Lioness (Scirocco), Joker.
Lion (Murray)
~ 2✳, c1✳
ADcK
Chess variants
Can move and capture as an Alfil or Dabbaba, and capture only as a King. This piece stems from a misinterpretation of the Lion of Chu shogi. It is named after the chess historian H.J.R. Murray,1913 who brought it up.
Moves as a Wazir and continues as a bishop outwards. Also called Aanca (R. Betza), Acromantula (H. G. Muller), Anchorite (C. Gilman), Rhinoceros (Cazaux), Spider (A. King), or Unicorn. Compare with Gryphon and Duke.[25]
Chinese Horse. Moves like a Knight except that it does not leap. It steps one square orthogonally in any direction, then continues one square diagonally in the same general direction. The square stepped to orthogonally must be vacant.
Mastodon Chess and Mammoth Chess (M.Winther, 2006)
Combination of Mann (non-royal King), Alfil and Dabbaba. Also known as Pasha(Paulovits), Mammoth or Squire (Renn Chess).
Megasaur
cn✳, c~ 1/2
cQcN
Fairy Chess problems, Megasaur Chess (Parton's Enduring Spirit of Dasapada)
Combine the Dinosaur and the Hipposaur, i.e. captures like an Amazon but never moves from his position unless to capture.
Mehari
CR
n(1/3) (in same direction)
CC = LL
Fairy Chess problems
A rider which moves any number the Camel's moves in the same direction. Also known as Camelrider, Mehari was the name given by problemist (A mehari is a mounted dromedary).
Wolf Chess (1943),[17] Edgehog Chess II (John Driver, 1966) & III (P. Aronson),[16] Cavalier Chess (Fergus Duniho, 1998)
A rider which moves any number the Knight's moves in the same direction. A piece in its path of the opposing color could be captured, but the Nightrider could not move any further. Also played in Fairy Chess problems (T.R. Dawson).
Combines the powers of Bishop and Knight. Better known as Princess (fairy chess), Archbishop or Cardinal. Proposed name by several chessvariant fans as it reflects the nature of this piece (Duniho).
Chinese Cannon. Moves like a Rook when not capturing, but captures by leaping over an intervening piece and taking the piece on the Pao's destination square. Compare with Cannon (Korean).
Pasha
1✳, ~ 2✳
KAD = WFAD
Paulovits's Game (1890), Renniassance Chess (1980), Mastodon Chess (2006)
Combination of non-royal King or Mann (Wazir+Ferz) and Alibaba (Alfil+Dabbaba). Also known as Mastodon, Mammoth, Squire (Renn Chess).
Orthodox chess, Chadarangam (Telugu chess) and many other chess variants
Moves one square straight forward (except on its first move, when it may move two squares), but captures one square diagonally forward. Compare with Berolina Pawn and Torpedo Pawn.
Originally Zú (Black Private (Mercenary)) and Bīng (Red Soldier) in Chinese. Moves one square orthogonally forward (like Japanese Pawn) before crossing the river, and one square orthogonally forward or sideward (like Korean Pawn) after crossing the river.
Moves one square orthogonally forward. It is the Pawn from Xiangqi (Chinese chess), before crossing the river and the Pawn in Shōgi (Japanese chess). Also called Soldier, Fish (Shattrong), Sparrow Pawn (Wa shogi), or Swallow (Tori shogi).
Moves one square orthogonally forward or sideward. It is the Pawn from Xiangqi (Chinese chess), after crossing the river and the Pawn from Janggi (Korean chess). Also called Soldier.
Pawn (Shatranj)
Pawn of piece(s)
o1>, c1X>
mfWcfF
Shatranj (Persian and Arabic chess), Chaturanga (medieval Indian chess), Makruk (Thai chess), Shatar (Mongolian chess), Tamerlane Chess (1336–1405), Full Tamerlane Chess (al-Âmulî & Arabshâh, 14th–15th centuries)[27]
Baidaq (Persian/Arabic Pawn). Orthodox Pawn without double step on first move. It is the same Pawn from Chaturaji (4-player Indian chess), Ouk Chatrang (Cambodian chess), and Senterej (Ethiopian chess). Also called Padati (pawns or soldiers) in some Indian texts.
Tamerlane Chess and Full Tamerlane Chess have Pawns that promotes to a certain piece. Examples: Pawn of Dabbabas, Pawn of Elephants, Pawn of Minister (Ferz), Pawn of Shah (King), Pawn of Vizir (Wazir), Pawn of Vanguards (Bishops), Pawn of Knights, Pawn of Rukhs (Rooks). A Pawn of Pawn promotes to Pawn of King.
Moves two square straight forward, but captures one square diagonally forward. Can capture a Torpedo Pawn en passant if the other Torpedo Pawn moves two squares forwards to the immediate square left or right of the Torpedo Pawn. Simply called Pawn in many chess variants.
Pegasus
NNgQ
Fairy Chess problems
Combines the powers of the Grasshopper and of the Nightrider.[29]
Pegasus (Beastmaster)
~ 1/4 ~ 2/3
Z(1,4) = J(1,4)
Beastmaster Chess (G. Overby, 2002)
Combination of Giraffe and Zebra
Pegasus (Zacharias)
~ 1/2.n+
t[NR]
Tiger Chess (Zacharias)
Moves as a Knight followed by moving any number of spaces outwards like a Rook. Compare with Gryphon.
A non-royal King or Mann, promoted from a Pawn of King. Originally Shâhzâda in Persian. Also known as Adventice King (Shâh masnû‘a) when promoting from Pawn of Pawns. Called Taishi, promoted Drunk Elephant in Chu shogi.
Prince (Ouroboros King)
1✳
WF = K
The Ouroboros King
Mann that can make inmortal any royal pieces if they are being 3 or less squares away vertically and horizontally from the Prince.
Combines the powers of Bishop and Knight. Also called Archbishop, Cardinal, Janus, Paladin, or Centaur (Carrera's Chess, Pietro Carrera, 1617). Called Adjutant in Kaiserspiel, Fox in Wolf Chess (Originally Fuchs in German), and Minister in Modern Chess (Gabriel Vicente Maura's, 1968).
Moves like a Queen but is restricted to using only a maximum of two of the game's four playable axes, whereas a Queen may use as many of the axes as desired.
Princess (CEO)
2✳
2K
Chess Evolved Online (Joseph Lormand)
Moves like a Queen but is restricted to a maximum of two spaces.
The simplest triple range amphibian. George Jelliss demonstrated a pterodactyl's knight's tour on a 16×16 board in 1985.
Pyramid
Fairy Chess problems
Rediscovered by Joseph Boyer (Les Jeux d'échecs non orthodoxes, 1951), never moves, cannot be taken. It blocks its square. Compare with Dummy, and Zero.
Q
Quadrapawn
o1+,c1X
mWcF
Jeu de la Guerre (Prague, 1770), Centennial Chess (J.W.Brown, 2001)
It moves as a Pawn in all four directions. Optionally, may move two squares forward without capture like a Pawn. Originally called a Fusilier (1770). Also called Steward, Hobbit.
Quartermaster
K
1✳
K = WF
The Ouroboros King
Moves like a King, promotes to a Pawn & leaves another Pawn behind where it was
Combines the powers of the Bishop and Rook. In Pacific Chess (Hawaii, 1971) a piece with Queen-like moves is called the Nobleman. Called Honno or Free King in Chu shogi
A piece that changes its move according to the file where it is standing, moves as a Rook from files a and h, as a Knight from files b and g, as a Bishop from files c and f, as a Queen from file d, and as a King from file e. Also known as Odysseus (H. Schmidt 1988), Lumberjack, or Zelig.
Quight
on✳, c~ 1/2
mQcN
Parton's Chess
Moves like a Queen and captures like a Knight. First proposed by V.R. Parton in Chess Curiouser & Curiouser (1961). See also Kneen.
Combination of Rook and Gryphon. Compare with Harvester.
Reflecting Bishop
RB
nX (bounce edges)
B (bounce edges)
Billiards Chess (M. Jacques Berthoumeau, 1950s), Edgehog Chess II (John Driver, 1966) & III (P. Aronson)[16]
Bishop allowed to "bounce" off any number of edges of the board, similar to a hockey puck or billiard ball. It bounces from the center of each edge square and continues on a diagonal.[32]
Revealer (Tamerlane)
~ 3X
G = (3,3)
Full Tamerlane Chess (al-Âmulî & Arabshâh, 14th–15th centuries)[27]
Rook restricted to forward and backward directions.
Rhinoceros
1+.nX
t[WB]
Modern (e.g. Zanzibar Chess, Gigachess, Terachess)
Moves as a Wazir (1-step as a Rook) followed by moving any number of spaces diagonally outwards. Inspired by medieval Unicornio. Now known as Manticore.
Combination of Lance, Ferz and a backward Bishop restricted to left side.
Rion
RL
^n+
pR
Fairy Chess problems
Fairy chess Lion confined to horizontal and vertical lines. Used in Janggi (Korean chess) as Cannon (Korean). Also called Rook-line-hopper or Rook Lion by problemists.
Moves any number of free squares orthogonally. Also called Gliding Swallow in taikyoku shogi and wa shogi, Ratha (chariot) in chaturanga, Rukh in shatranj and tamerlane chess, Wazirrider, or Castle (colloquial).
Rook (Quang Trung)
TR
on+,c^n+
mR[cl]R
Quang Trung Chess (V. Q. Vo, 1999)
Moves as Rook but when capturing must move on square away from captured piece in the same direction. It can be described as a Marine Rook or Triton (see Compound pieces)
Rookhopper
RH
^n+
gR
Fairy Chess problems
Grasshopper confined to horizontal and vertical lines. Also spelled Rook-hopper.
Root-25-leaper
BU
~ 5+, ~ 3/4
(0,5)(3,4)
Fairy Chess problems
Leaper making moves of length units (i.e. a (0,5)-leaper or a (3,4)-leaper). Also called Fiveleaper.[33] and Bucephalus (Fairy Chess problems)
Root-50-leaper
RF
~ 1/7, ~ 5X
(1,7)(5,5)
Fairy Chess problems
Leaper making moves of length units (i.e. a (5,5)-leaper or a (1,7)-leaper). Also spelled Root-fifty-leaper.
Moves as a Nightrider except rather than moving in a straight line, it moves in a pseudo-circular shape (e.g. e1-g2-h4-g6-e7-c6-b4-c2-e1). A piece on any of these squares can be captured but prevents the rose from progressing any further. It may return to its starting point if its path is unblocked, effectively passing a turn.
Roshop
on+, cnX
mRcB
Enlarged & Improved Chess, Parton's Chess
Moves like a Rook and captures like a Bishop. First proposed in Holland (1696) as a Guard, then by V.R. Parton in Chess Curiouser & Curiouser (1961). See also Biok.
Rotating Spearman
Centennial Chess (J.W.Brown, 2001)
Piece marked with a direction. It slides any number of squares in its direction or in its reverse direction (forward and backward, never sideward). Captures forward only, never backward. In addition, may rotate after a move or rotate without moving. It cannot rotate and then move.
Super-leaper combining Squirrel+Cheetah, that is to say Dabbaba, Knight, Alfil, Camel, Zebra, Threeleaper and Tripper. Also called Direwolf. Used in modern chessvariants played with AI AI.
Saltador
SA
c~1/2, o1/2
cnNmpN
Fairy Chess problems (M. Rittirsch, 2016)
Argentinian Knight, captures like a Knight when one of the intermediate squares is unoccupied, and moves without capturing as a Knight when one of the intermediate squares is occupied[1]
Scorpion
1✳n^✳
KgQ
Fairy Chess problems
Combination of Mann (non-royal King) and Grasshopper
Extended Pawn, combining the regular Pawn and the Berolina Pawn that is, it can move to, or capture on, any of the three squares immediately in front. Generally, it cannot make the initial diagonal double-step from Berolina Pawn, only that straight double-step of the regular Pawn. Originally Vogt (Sergeant, Inspector) in German.
Moves one square diagonally followed by moving any number of spaces like a rook vertically outwards (moving away from where it started). Also called Twin Tower by Betza due the pattern of its move. Compare with Gryphon or Eagle.
Combination of Ferz and Soldier: moves one square in any direction diagonally or one square straight forward. Also called Burmese ElephantHsin in sittuyin (Burmese chess), Elephant in some versions of Indian chess, Khon in makruk (Thai chess), and Violent Stag in taikyoku shogi and wa shogi.
Sissa
n+.nX, nX.n+
Coherent Chess, Sissa Chess
Moves as a certain number of squares as a Rook followed by exactly the same number of squares as a Bishop. Or the opposite. The Sissa does not leap. This piece (invented by Carlos Cetina in the 1980s) has been named after the mythical inventor of chess in Persian legends.
Snake
1<>.nX
t[vWB]
Modern Variants (Betza, Silverman, Cazaux)
Moves vertically one step and continues as a Bishop outwards. Originally called Snaketongue by Betza due to the pattern of its move.
Moves like a Queen when not capturing, but captures by leaping over an intervening piece and taking the piece on the Sorceress's destination square (the captured piece can be any number of squares beyond the hurdle). Also called Star, or Leo by problemists.
Spider (Musketeer)
~ 1/2, 1-2X, ~ 2+
NDF2
Musketeer Chess 5 (Zied Haddad, 2012)
Moves like a Knight or a limited Bishop to 2 squares or a Dabbaba
In Courier Chess see Fool. In Chess Empire the spy can move two spaces forwards or sideways, or can move like a knight one forward and then one horizontally or vice versa. In Waterloo and Amsterdam Medieval Chess the spy moves as a non-royal King (see Mann).
Squire
1✳, ~ 2✳
KAD = WFAD
Fairy Chess Problems, Renn Chess (Greenwood, 1980)
Combination of non-royal King or Mann (Wazir+Ferz) and Alibaba (Alfil+Dabbaba). Also known as Mastodon and Mammoth (Winther), Squire (Renn Chess) and Pasha (Paulovits).
Jumps to any square a distance of 2. Also called Castle (Mideast chess, Pacific chess, Renn chess), Bear (Sosnovsky, 1985) or Centurion (Quintessential Chess). Compare with the historical Centurion in Arch-Chess.
Stag
~ 2/4
(2,4)
Cazaux's chess
Jumps two squares diagonally followed by two squares orthogonally outwards. Also known as Lancer or Hare (original German name Hase) by problemists.
Steward
o1+,c1X
mWcF
Jeu de la Guerre (Prague, 1770), Centennial Chess (J.W.Brown, 2001)
A Quadra-Pawn. It moves as a Pawn in all four directions. Optionally, may moves two squares forward without capture like a Pawn. Originally called a Fusilier (1770).
Moves one square diagonally forward. Also called Goose in Fox and Geese. Compare with Berolina Pawn.
Superpawn
SP
on>, cnX>
mfRcfB
Fairy Chess problems
Moves without capture any number of fields forward, captures diagonally forwards like a Bishop. Promotes on the 8th rank. May be placed in the first rank. By Werner Speckmann (1967).[33]
Full Tamerlane Chess (al-Âmulî & Arabshâh, 14th–15th centuries)[27]
Jumps three squares orthogonally, leaping over any intermediate piece. Also called Trébuchet. Known as 'dromedary' (original German Dromedar) by German problemists.[4] Possibly the Lion in Full Tamerlane Chess.
Threerider
n(3+)
HH
Fairy Chess problems
Tiger
~ 2/3.nX
t[ZB]=t[JB]
Tiger Chess (Zacharias)
Moves as a Zebra followed by moving any number of spaces diagonally outwards like a Bishop.
Ferocious Leopard that can move forward or backward as Alibaba. Occurs in Taikyoku shogi with a different move.
Tripper
~ 3X
G = (3,3)
Jumps three squares diagonally, leaping over any intermediate piece. Known as Gecko by German chess problemists.[4]
Troll
o1>, c1X>,~ 0/3,~ 3/3
mfWcfFGH
Modern Variants (Cazaux)
Amphibian piece combining Threeleaper, Tripper with the simple moves of the Pawn (no e.p., no double step) in order to be able to reach all squares of the board. Used in modern chessvariants played with AI AI.[12]
Twin Tower
1X.n<>
t[FvR]
Tamerlane II chess
Moves one square diagonally followed by moving any number of spaces like a rook vertically outwards (moving away from where it started). Also called Ship.
Generalization of a Bishop to higher dimensions. 3D diagonal movement: Any moves must incorporate three of the game's four axes equally, resulting in either diagonal spacial dimension movements paired with orthogonal temporal and multiversal movements, or vice versa. Compare with Dragon (5D).
Moves as a Knight followed by moving any number of spaces diagonally outwards (most probably, or forwards?). Originally Unicornio in ancient Spanish, obviously designating a Rhinoceros. For Murray's interpretation, see Unicorn.
Bishop that cannot move as a Ferz (adjacent diagonal squares must be free and skipped). Originally known as Talî'a in Persian. Also known as Scout.
Vao
VA
cnX, o^nX
mBcpB
Akenhead's Chess (1947)
Moves like a Bishop when not capturing, but captures by leaping over an intervening piece and taking the piece on the vao's destination square (the captured piece can be any number of squares beyond the hurdle). Also called Crocodile (Zanzibar Chess, Gigachess, Terachess).
Moves one square orthogonally in any direction. Persian Vizir. Also known as Angry Boar (Dai shogi), Crocodile (Tamerlane Chess, originally Luxm, "sea monster" in Persian) or Fool, Jester (German: Schleich for Courier chess), Fox (Renn Chess).
Moves and captures like a chess pawn, but instead of an initial double step it has a final double step move from the 6th to the 8th rank. Named after the cycling sprinter Erik Zabel
Zaraffa
Z
~ 2/3
Z = J = (2,3)
Grant Acedrex (Alfonso X, 1283)
Old historic piece. Jumps one square orthogonally followed by two squares diagonally outwards. Also called Zebra by problemists.
Full Tamerlane Chess (al-Âmulî & Arabshâh, 14th–15th centuries),[27] Grant Acedrex (Alfonso X, 1283), Ciccolini's Chess (1820), Mideast Chess (1971)
Old historic piece. Jumps one square orthogonally followed by two squares diagonally outwards. Also called Zaraffa (Grant Acedrex), Elephant (Ciccolini's Chess), Courtier (Mideast Chess).
Zebrarider
ZR
n(2/3) (in same direction)
ZZ = JJ
Fairy Chess problems
A rider which moves any number of (3,2) cells (i.e., Zebra moves) in the same direction in a straight line.
^Tomašev, Nenad; Paquet, Ulrich; Hassabis, Demis; Kramnik, Vladimir (2020). "Assessing Game Balance with AlphaZero: Exploring Alternative Rule Sets in Chess". arXiv:2009.04374 [cs.AI].
^Giffard, Nicolas; Biénabe, Alain (1993). Le Guide des échecs. Traité complet.
^Cazaux, J.L. (2023). More Chess & More Than Chess. Pionissimo. p. 96. ISBN978-1-4477-6560-8.
^Cazaux, J.L. (2023). More Chess & More Than Chess. Pionissimo. p. 96. ISBN978-1-4477-6560-8.
Bibliography
Cazaux, Jean-Louis; Knowlton, Rick (2017). A World of Chess, Its Development and Variations through Centuries and Civilizations. McFarland. ISBN978-0-7864-9427-9.
Cazaux, Jean-Louis (2023). More Chess & More Than Chess. Pionissimo. ISBN978-1-4477-6560-8.
Dickins, Anthony S. M. (1969) [1967]. A Guide to Fairy Chess (1971 Dover repub. of 2nd ed.). Richmond, England; New York: Q Press; Dover. ISBN0-486-22687-5.
Fabel, Karl; Kemp, Charles E. (1969). Schach ohne Grenzen (T.R. Dawsons Märchenschach) = Chess Unlimited (T.R. Dawson's Fairy Chess) (in German and English). Arnfried Haupt (cover design). Düsseldorf & Kempten/Allgäu, Germany: Walter Rau Verlag. ASINB0000BQXG3. OCLC601619310.
Giffard, Nicolas; Biénabe, Alain (1993). Le Guide des échecs. Traité complet. Paris: Robert Laffont - Bouquins. pp. 1173–1219. ISBN9782221059135.
