Help For Renniassance Chess

Introduction

Welcome to the network Renniassance Chess server. The rules of Renniassance Chess are below. The move notation is described on the help page for chess. Other commands are the same for all pbmserv games.

Rules of Renniassance Chess

Renniassance Chess was invented by Eric V. Greenwood. It is played on a 10x12 board, with many new and powerful pieces. The initial setup is shown below.

      a   b   c   d   e   f   g   h   i   j   k   l
    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+   
 10 |*G*|:::|*Q*|:::|*V*|*E*|*S*|*D*|   |*I*|   |*G*| 10
    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+    
  9 |*R*|*H*|*C*|*B*|*N*|*K*|*U*|*A*|*B*|*C*|*H*|*R*|  9
    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
  8 |*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|*P*|  8
    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
  7 |:::|   |:::|   |:::|*F*|*F*|   |:::|   |:::|   |  7
    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
  6 |   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|  6
    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
  5 |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |:::|   |  5
    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
  4 |   |:::|   |:::|   |:F:| F |:::|   |:::|   |:::|  4
    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
  3 |:P:| P |:P:| P |:P:| P |:P:| P |:P:| P |:P:| P |  3
    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
  2 | R |:H:| C |:B:| A |:U:| K |:N:| B |:C:| H |:R:|  2
    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+    
  1 |:G:|   |:I:|   |:D:| S |:E:| V |:::| Q |:::| G |  1
    +---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+    
      a   b   c   d   e   f   g   h   i   j   k   l

The movements of the pieces are described below:

    x x x
    x K x     King          One square in any direction.
    x x x                   Win by checkmating the opponent's King.

    \ | /
   -- Q --    Queen         Any number of squares in any direction.
    / | \ 

      |
   -- R --    Rook          Any number of squares horizontally or vertically.
      |

    \   /
      B       Bishop        Any number of squares diagonally.
    /   \

    x   x
  x       x
      H       Horse         As a Chess Knight.
  x       x
    x   x

    c m c                   As a Chess pawn, including longmoves, 
      P       Pawn          enpassant and promotion.  May also promote 
                            to a Fox on the second to last rank. 

      x
    x F x     Fox           One square horizontally or vertically.
      x                     Promotes to Guard on the last rank. 

    x x x
    x U x     GUard         One square in any direction.
    x x x

    x   x
  x x x x x
    x E x     PagE          As a Horse or Guard.
  x x x x x
    x   x 

  x   x   x
    x x x
  x x S x x   Squire        Jumps one or two squares in any direction.
    x x x
  x   x   x

  x x x x x
  x       x
  x   C   x   Castle       Jumps as a Horse or jumps to the second 
  x       x                square in any direction.
  x x x x x

    x   x
      .
x     .     x
  . . G . .   General      Jumps two squares straight and one diagonally,
x     .     x              like an elongated Knight move.
      .
    x   x

    x   x
  x \   / x
      A       Archbishop   As a Bishop or a Horse.
  x /   \ x
    x   x 

    x   x
  x   |   x
   -- N --    Nobleman     As a Rook or a Horse.
  x   |   x
    x   x

    x   x
  x \ | / x
   -- I --    PrInce       As a Queen or a Horse.
  x / | \ x
    x   x

    \   /
  \   .   /                Moves either one square straight and any number
    . D .     Duke         diagonal, or any number diagonal and one square
  /   .   \                straight.  May not move to an adjacent square.
    /   \                  

    |   |
 -- .   . --               Moves either one square diagonal and any number
      V       CaValier     straight, or any number straight and one square
 -- .   . --               diagonal.  May not move to an adjacent square.
    |   |

Miscellaneous Notes:

• Beware the 3 move fools-mate with the General: Gk4 ... Gh5 ... Ge6#
• Remember that the Pawn and Fox have unusual promoting abilities.
• The Squire and Page are effective in tight spaces and good for defence.
• The Castle and General can do some nasty forks.
• The Archbishop and Nobleman should be familiar from GrandChess and Capablanca where they have different names.
• The Prince is probably the most power piece on the board.
• The Duke and Cavalier may take a little getting used to, but can be quite powerful. They are very effective against the Prince, since they can attack it from squares which the Prince cannot reach.

Links:
Renniassance Chess from the Chess Variants Pages