Musketeer Chess (2011)

Overview

A variant of western chess with a large variety of special pieces. The main setup remains the same, but two additional musketeer pieces (all powerful, non-standard pieces) are selected by the players and setup on a phantom row behind their own back row.

Musketeer pieces enter the game when the position right in front of them is freed by a move. If the piece in front of a musketeer piece is captured before it entered the game, the musketeer piece is also removed from the board.

The extra pieces create a more dense and cluttered board, but their odd method of entry creates early game information about where your opponent is likely to develop.

Computer based analyses have been run on the musketeer chess pieces providing estimates of their valuation. These valuations help unlock the early game by giving players an idea of what an advantageous trade would be.

Pawn : 100 Knight : 315 Bishop : 315 Bishop Pair Bonus : 50 Rook : 500 Queen : 975

Leopard : 670 Archbishop : 770 Cannon : 750 (not Chinese Chess cannon) Chancellor : 800 Dragon or Amazone : 1250 – 1400 Unicorn : 560 Hawk : 550 Elephant : 630 (not Chinese Chess elephant) Fortress : 760 Spider : 815

Pieces are sold separately in packs of 4 -- two similar pieces each in white and black. One or more such packs plus a regular western chess set are required to play. 5 Kits are currently available on amazon Europe, Amazon USA, houseofstaunton.com