Rhombic chess starting setup. Each side commands a standard set ofchess pieces. Cell colors highlight pointwise movement.
Rhombic chess is achess variant for two players created by Tony Paletta in 1980.[1][2] Thegameboard has an overallhexagonal shape and comprises 72rhombi in three alternating colors. Each player commands a full set of standardchess pieces.
The game was first published inChess Spectrum Newsletter 2 by the inventor. It was included inWorld Game Review No. 10 edited by Michael Keller.[3]
The diagram shows the starting setup. As in standardchess,White moves first andcheckmate wins the game. Piece moves are described using two basic types of movement:
Edgewise—through the common side of adjoining cells. If an edgewise move is more than one step, it continues in a straight line from the side of a cell through its opposite side, the line being orthogonal to these sides.
Pointwise—through the sharpest corner of a cell, in a straight line to the next cell. (The paths are highlighted on the board by same-colored cells.)
A bishop moves pointwise. It can also move one step edgewise.[a]
The queen moves as a rook and bishop.
The king moves one step edgewise or pointwise. There is nocastling in rhombic chess.
A knight moves in the pattern: one step edgewise followed by one step pointwise (or vice versa), away from its starting cell. Like a standard chessknight, it leaps any intervening men.[2]
A pawn moves forward one step edgewise, with the option of two steps on its first move. A pawn captures thesame as it moves. There is noen passant in rhombic chess. A pawnpromotes to any piece other than king when reachingranki (for White) and rankc (for Black).[b]
A bishop moves pointwise (as in rhombic chess) or along a wavepath.
The queen moves as a rook and bishop.
The king moves one step edgewise, pointwise, or arcwise. As in rhombic chess, there is no castling.
Thesorcerer moves in the pattern: one step pointwise, followed by one step edgewise or arcwise, or vice versa. It leaps any intervening men.
A pawn moves forward one step edgewise, pointwise, or arcwise; there is no initial two-step option. A pawn captures forward one step edgewise or pointwise. There is noen passant. A pawn must reach the opponent's furthest rank in order to promote.
