LCCC Not Meeting Nov 13, 2023 Officially - And There Are Several Ways to Play Chess!

 

LCCC will NOT be happening on November 13 officially due to the road construction making traffic a nightmare. Some of us my brave it, but it is not a normal meeting night. But normally;

The Livingston County Chess Club meets every Monday night between

4pm and 10pm

at the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Green Oak Mall in Brighton, MI. 

Stop in for some friendly chess, good food and 'refreshments'.

Everyone of all ages and playing strength are welcome to attend. And free lessons to all beginners!

In Club news, we have been playing our Action Tournament. After four exciting rounds and two Armageddon rounds, we have a champion; Vince V! Congratulations Vince!

We chess players already know that standard chess is as close to an infinite game as there is. With 9 million possible moves in the first 3 moves, 288 billion after the first 4 moves, and that the number of possible moves for all possible games, is more than the number of atoms in the visible universe, it is safe to say that you will never get bored!

But…….some people like even more ‘variety’. Hence the invention of chess derivatives or variants.

I will leave out chess training derivatives, such as “pawn wars”, “Queen vs 8 pawns” and “Knights Move Only” types. Those things help beginners lock down how the more difficult pieces move.

I am also leaving out derivatives that require special boards or sets, I am also leaving out the “Team” variants of game variants of “Bughouse” and “Crazy House” (see photo). Although those are fun to play!

Here is a list of just some of them that your scribe thinks are the best. That is not to say that the ones left out or better or worse. Wikipedia did an excellent job of listing almost all of them (see List of Chess Variants on that site.

Ø Fischer 960 or 960 Random: The pawns are normal but the back rank pieces are “mixed up”. The only two rules are that the bishops must be on opposite colors and the king must be in between the two rooks for castling purposes. There are phone apps that will randomize the pieces for you.

Ø Transcendental Chess: Same as Fischer 960, but the set up does not have to mirror each other. You just hit the app twice for two different set ups.

Ø King of the Hill: First one to move his King legally to the center squares; e4, e5, d4 or d5.

Ø Racing Kings: First one to move his King to their 8^th rank. Captures are allowed on your opponent’s King to win, but there are no checks or checkmates.

Ø Three-check Chess: Check your opponent's king 3 times for the win. Obviously, a perpetual check is now a win!

Your humble scribe enjoys Random 960 very much but would consider playing these other variants listed above.

Never played these, but consider these variants also;

Ø Deity Chess: Bishop also moves like a knight!

Ø Atheist Chess: Knight also moves like a bishop!

Ø Agnostic Chess: Rooks moves like a knight and also like a bishop, but only one square diagonally.

Ø Chauvinist Chess: Rooks also moves like a bishop and a knight, and the queens are not used to give the Kings some peace and quiet.