Andernach chess
Encyclopedia
Andernach chess is a chess variant
in which a piece making a capture (except kings) changes colour. For instance, if a white bishop on a2 were to capture a black knight on g8, the end result would be a black bishop on g8. Non-capturing moves are played as in orthodox chess. If a pawn captures on 8th rank, it is promoted first and then changes color.
The game was named after the German town of Andernach
, which is the site of annual meetings of fairy chess
enthusiasts. It was during the 1993 meeting there that Andernach chess was introduced with a chess problem
composing tournament for Andernach problems. It has since become a popular variant in problem composition, though it has not yet become popular as a game-playing variant.
) changes colour when it captures a white piece of a different type. As in Andernach chess, the king is not affected by capture. For example, if black pawn on d7 captures white queen on c6, it becomes white pawn and can be moved by white on the next move. This game has nothing to do with Chandraki, a chess variant played in Tibet
.
A variant on Andernach chess is anti-Andernach, in which pieces except kings change colour after non-captures, but stay the same colour after a capture. There is also super-Andernach in which all pieces except kings change colour after every move, whether a capture or not. Super-Andernach was introduced by John Rice in The Problemist Supplement in March 2006.
Chess variant
A chess variant is a game related to, derived from or inspired by chess. The difference from chess might include one or more of the following:...
in which a piece making a capture (except kings) changes colour. For instance, if a white bishop on a2 were to capture a black knight on g8, the end result would be a black bishop on g8. Non-capturing moves are played as in orthodox chess. If a pawn captures on 8th rank, it is promoted first and then changes color.
The game was named after the German town of Andernach
Andernach
Andernach is a town in the district of Mayen-Koblenz, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, of currently about 30,000 inhabitants. It is situated towards the end of the Neuwied basin on the left bank of the Rhine between the former tiny fishing village of Fornich in the north and the mouth of the...
, which is the site of annual meetings of fairy chess
Fairy chess
Fairy chess comprises chess problems that differ from classical chess problems in that they are not direct mates. The term was introduced before the First World War. While selfmate dates from the Middle Age, helpmate was invented by Max Lange in the late 19th century. Thomas Dawson , pioneer of...
enthusiasts. It was during the 1993 meeting there that Andernach chess was introduced with a chess problem
Chess problem
A chess problem, also called a chess composition, is a puzzle set by somebody using chess pieces on a chess board, that presents the solver with a particular task to be achieved. For instance, a position might be given with the instruction that White is to move first, and checkmate Black in two...
composing tournament for Andernach problems. It has since become a popular variant in problem composition, though it has not yet become popular as a game-playing variant.
Example problem
At the right an example Andernach chess problem is shown. The task is to find a proof game, which would last 3 moves and lead to the shown position. The solution is: 1.Nf3 Nc6 2.Ne5 Nxe5 (=wN) (Black knight turns to white knight after capture on e5. White can now move this knight.) 3.Nxd7 (=bN) (This time white knight turns into black knight.) Nb8. This leads to the position shown on the diagram.Variations
Predecessor of Andernach chess was Tibetan chess, in which a black unit (called lamaLama
Lama is a title for a Tibetan teacher of the Dharma. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term guru .Historically, the term was used for venerated spiritual masters or heads of monasteries...
) changes colour when it captures a white piece of a different type. As in Andernach chess, the king is not affected by capture. For example, if black pawn on d7 captures white queen on c6, it becomes white pawn and can be moved by white on the next move. This game has nothing to do with Chandraki, a chess variant played in Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
.
A variant on Andernach chess is anti-Andernach, in which pieces except kings change colour after non-captures, but stay the same colour after a capture. There is also super-Andernach in which all pieces except kings change colour after every move, whether a capture or not. Super-Andernach was introduced by John Rice in The Problemist Supplement in March 2006.