Musketeer Chess, Game Rules


Musketeer Chess is a Chess Variant (Some small and meaningful changes were braught to the Classic Chess game). The same Chess Set to play Chess is used, with an 8×8 chequered board and a set of 32 pieces,  16 for each side.

Main difference: Each army will have 2 additional pieces.

You can watch the rules explained here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBTpiJ-SeGY 

White and Black alternate, chosing one additional piece type. The first version, allows a large choice from a basket of 10 different piece types for White. Black can chose from the 9 remaining possibilities. In total, there 45 possible combinations (10×9/2).

 

In subsequent evolution of the game, it is possible to chose the same piece type twice. This started with Titans Chess, were additional Knights and Bishops are possible, making a Game with 4 Bishops a possibility. Each side can have upto 3 Bishops controlling the same square colour which can lead to inspiring attacking games and sacrifices.

After that, the game evolved to include a wider piece choice, which includes more than 30 different piece types and bringing one of the largest possible choice for a game played on an 8×8 Chess Board: Musketeer Chess version 1.5



All the new chess pieces are uniquely designed and easily identifiable.

They are Staunton Compatible. We recommand to use any Chess set with a King measuring 96mm height (3.75 inches) or bigger and a King Basis of 44mm or slightly bigger. This size is typically a Chess Set used by official FIDE events, Chess Clubs etc. 

Our own Classic Chess set Staunton design is under development. This chess set will be named “Tours de France Excellence Chess Set”. This one of a kind Chess Set is unique, and will be the only chess set with 42 pieces featuring not only an additional Queen but also two different Rook designs with one Tall Rook and another more classic Rook and a Cannon. We recommand to use this Set with the other pieces. 

The additional pieces can also be used as alternate designs for the Classic pieces : Fortress or Citadel replacing Rooks, Camel, Unicorn or Zebra replacing Knights, Elephant or Hawk can replace the Bishop etc. Some of the pieces can be customized, with removable and interchangeable heads (Fortress Spider Dragon). 

Musketeer Chess pieces can be used in plenty other games: Capablanca Chess, Embassy Chess, Gothic Chess, Seirawan Chess, Grand Chess, Janus Chess, Gemini Chess, Shako, Metamachy, Maharajah and the Sepoys, Emperor Chess, Bulldog Chess, Infinite Chess, Castle Siege Chess (aka Thrones Chess), Cerebral Chess, Omega Chess, Gemini Chess etc.

For any Chess Variant, using additional or atypical pieces, our pieces can be used. You can invent your own game. (Dragon Chess is a game invented by a private party and that was inspired by our pieces).

The main artwork behind the first Series of Musketeer Chess was thanks to Mr Frank Camaratta. We probably should call him Sir Frank Camaratta !

The following work and design involved some artists like Oleg Raikis, and a very dynamic indian team that helped in the design and marketing process.

I’m also thankful to GM Yasser Seirawan, who was keen to let me use his pieces and was a big inspiration for Musketeer Chess, with his S-Chess

Rules of the new pieces:

When jumpappears, this means that the piece reaches the square by jumping from its original square to the marked square (similar to a knight, for example).

This piece is called a “leaper”, jumping over any other man in the adjacent squares (it can jump over its own men or enemy pieces). Enemy pieces are captured only if they lie on one of the squares controlled by the new piece.

moveokWhen appears, this means that the square is reached by a “sweeping” movement.

The new piece moves through an unobstructed, defined path. When the path is obstructed by another man, the piece is blocked in the square before the blocking piece, unless the obstacle is an enemy man that can be captured. So, the new piece ends it’s path on the square of the captured piece.

Leopard

The Leopard is a new piece that combines moves of a Knight and a Bishop with a limited range of 2 squares. Compared to Archbishop (Bishop and Knight), it’s a less powerful piece, but this limited Bishop range adds interesting strategical components and sharpens the game with many new tactics.

_wsb_550x550_leopard

The Leopard cannot move orthogonally. It can control a maximum of 16 squares. Compared to the Cannon (see below), it has almost the same value, but it appears to be slightly more aggressive, as it has the ability to “sweep” forward more squares. It can checkmate a bare king without help.

From d4, the Leopard can control 16 squares: It can leap to c2, b3, e2, f3, b5, c6, e6, f5. It slides to: c3, b2, c5, b6, e5, f6, e3, f2. PGN Notation: Le

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Leopard+Kit

Cannon

The Cannon moves differently than the Cannon in Xiangqi, but it can be used to play like the Xiangqi Cannon.

In Musketeer Chess, the Cannon is classified as a leaper. It can leap two squares orthogonally in any direction. But it can also leap like the Knight, only moving 1 square forward then 2 squares horizontally. The Cannon can also move like the King, one square in any direction.

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From d4, the Cannon can control 16 squares: It can leap to d2, d6, b4, b3, b5, f4, f3, f5, It slides to: c3, c4, c5, d3, d5, e3, e4, e5. PGN Notation: Ca

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Cannon+Kit

The Musketeer Cannon is an excellent defensive piece when near it’s own King. It’s also a deadly piece for the opponent King as it controls many nearby squares and can mate without the help of other pieces.

Unicorn

The Unicorn is an enhanced version of the Classic Chess Knight. It moves like a Knight but has expanded jumping capabilities.

It can move like the knight (1+2 or 2+1), but it can also “jump” like an extended knight (1+3 or 3+1), known historically as the Camel. It controls 16 squares. You will see that Musketeer Chess Series2 come with a Camel The rules proposed for the Musketeer Camel are different from the historic rules. But as always, the pieces are yours and you can use them to play your own games, or any known historical game. So don’t hesitate to use your own rules.

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The Unicorn from d4 can control 16 squares: It can leap to c2,c1, c6, c7, b3, a3, b5, a5, e6, e7, f5, g5, f3, g3. PGN Notation: U

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Dragon or Amazone (Queen + Knight)

The Dragon, also historically known as the Amazone, combines powers of  Queen and Knight, making it one of the most powerful pieces. Many historic or modern chess variants use this piece, and it’s name can be different : Amazone, Commander etc. 

The Dragon top is pegged. It can sometimes be removed (at your own risks), adding customization possibilities.

Dragon2

From d4, the Dragon can control a total of 36 squares. PGN Notation: Dr

Unicorn+and+Chancellor

Basis of Black Dragon without the Head and Black Unicorn

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Dragon+Kit

Archbishop and Chancellor Kit:

Archbishop and Chancellor combine respectively, the moves of Bishop+Knight and Rook+Knight. They are sometimes referred to as Marshall, Empress, Princess, Cardinal, Concubine, Adjutant, Guard, Centaur, Equerry, Champion, among others.

It was former World Champion Jose Raul Capablanca, who used these pieces to reinvigorate the game of Chess, which he believed had been “played-out”.

An interesting history must be told. The urrent design was Mr Frank Camaratta idea. He carved them for a specific event. If this event has ever been held, it could have been the greatest Chess event of all modern times. We all remember the Karpov-Fischer rivalry. Bobby Fischer forfeited his title to Russian Grand Master Anatoly Karpov in 1975. Almost 30 years later, there were secret negotiations conducted to arrange a match between Karpov and Fischer for the title of world champion. They would pit these two great players over the board in a Capablanca Chess Variant match. The Chess set with two additional Pawns and One Archbishop and one Chancellor for each side, was presented to Fischer in Iceland through Icelandic Grand Master Friðrik Ólafsson.

Fischer played through a number of games on the set in the privacy of his room and expressed his lavish approval of the chessmen. The match, never took place, due to Fischer’s unrealistic financial demands. The Chessmen and Chessboard on which Fischer played are currently in the possession of Mr. Camaratta.

In Musketeer Chess, Chancellor / Archbishop choice makes the game extremely Sharp, tactical. Explosive combinations abound. Even with a large material advantage, the Archbishop and Chancellor are hard tp contain, with brutal attacks. Both pieces can checkmate without the assistance of other pieces. 

Chancellor

The Chancellor can move like a Rook or a Knight.

From d4, the Chancellor can control a total of 22 squares. PGN Notation: Ch

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Chancellor+Kit

Archbishop

The Archbishop can move like a Bishop and a Knight. It can checkmate without any help.

From d4, the Archbishop can control a total of 22 squares. PGN Notation: Ar

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Elephant and Hawk Kit

These pieces were originally designed by Mr. Camaratta for SHarper Chess, better known as Seirawan Chess, a variant designed jointly by Grand Master Yasser Seirawan and Bruce Harper.

The moves of Elephant and Hawk are significantly different for Musketeer Chess than SHarper Chess. The Elephant in Seirawan Variant moves like Rook+Kight (the Capablanca Chancellor) and Hawk combines the Knight and Bishop moves (the Capablanca Archbishop). Such beautiful pieces needed revisited rules !

The Elephant and Hawk designs are used with courtesy of GM Yasser Seirawan.

Elephant

Similar to the King, the Elephant can move one square in all directions. It also leaps orthogonally or diagonally by 2 squares.

The Elephant is described in some historic Chess Variants such as Xiangqi, but also in the majority of the Chess Variants where it was used. This piece was most of the time of limited range and is a very weak piece (Shogi, Xiangqi, Shatranj, Shako, Courier Spiel, etc.). In Musketeer Chess, the Elephant is much stronger, controlling 16 squares and can mate a lone King single-handedly.

_wsb_550x550_elephant

From d4, It can leap to d6, d2, b2, b4, b6, f2, f4, f6. It slides to: d5, d3, c3, c4, c5, e3, e4, e5. PGN Notation: E

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Elephant+Kit

Hawk

The Hawk is a pure leaper. In Musketeer Chess, the Hawk attacks by jumping over pieces 2 to 3 squares orthogonally or diagonally in any direction. The Hawk is a dangerous piece, but it’s also vulnerable as it cannot protect itself from the short range attacking pieces. You can imagine attacking the opponent king at the opening (especially before castling) with mating patterns.

_wsb_550x550_hawk

The Hawk can control up-to a total of 16 squares: From d4, it can leap to b2, a1, b4, a4, b6, a7, d2, d1, d6, d7, f2, f4, f6, g1,g4,g7. PGN Notation: H

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Hawk+Kit

Fortress

The Fortress is another heavy piece with different capabilities from the already available chess variants.

It can move in an unobstructed path, sliding diagonally in any direction, but limited to a maximum of 3 squares (for example from f1 it can slide to e2, d3, c4, g2 and h3 but cannot reach b5 or a6).

The Fortress can also “jump” like a Knight only 2 squares vertically and 1 square horizontally (from f1 it reaches g3 and e3 but cannot jump to h2 and d2).

The Fortress can also “jump” in any direction vertically or horizontally by two squares (from e3 it can jump to c3, g3, e5 and e1).

The top tower of the Fortress is pegged, so that the tops of the light and dark units can be interchanged (to handle with care).

_wsb_550x550_fortress

From d4, the Fortress can control 20 squares: It can slide to e3, f2, g1, e5, f6, g7, f8, c3, b2, a1, c5, b6, a7. It can “jump” to: d6, d2, b4, f4 and c6, c2, e6, e2. PGN Notation: Fo

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Fortress

Spider

A map of the moves that are possible with the next variant reminds one of the web made by a Spider, hence its name – Spider.

It can move in an unobstructed path, sliding diagonally in any direction, but limited to two squares.

The Spider can also “jump” like a Knight. It can also “jump” in any direction vertically or horizontally by two squares.

When starting from h1 for example, it can move to g2, f3. It can also “jump” to h3, g3 f1 and f2.

The top of the Spider is pegged, offering the possibility of creating two different variants with different moves (to handle with care).

_wsb_550x550_spider

When starting from d4, it can control 20 squares: sliding to e5, f6, e3, f2, c5, b6, c3, b2. It can “jump” towards: c6, b5, c2, b3, e6, f5, e2, f3, d6, d2, b4, f4.

PGN Notation: Sp

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_wsb_440x571_Spider

20 more new pieces are available. 

 

 

Initial placement of the pieces.

Musketeer Chess begins like in Orthodox Chess, by placing all the classic chess pieces on the 8×8 Board.

White and Black have to agree on the new pieces to add. It’s the PIECE SELECTION phase.

First, white makes his choice among the 10 new pieces. If Black agrees he must pick the same black piece. Then it’s his turn to chose among the remaining 9 new pieces. White has no other choice than to pick-up the same piece.

If Black does not agree with white’s choice of the first additioal piece, he tells his disagreement either telling so, or removing white’s piece from the Chess arena or chosing another piece type. In either cases, the default combination will be chosen as the additional pieces. The current default combination is Leopard and Cannon.

The default combination is subject to change, by tournament directors, organizers etc. Usually during a same event, the default combination is the same for whole event. It can be convenient to play thematic tournaments with the same combination, or chose a different one before the start of the round. The choice should be pointed to the players before the round starts and giving them suficient time to become confortable with the new piece rules, especially if the new pieces are different from a simple combination of Knights – Bishops and Rooks.

After the two new chess pieces are defined, both white and black will place their new men respectively on the zero and ninth line.

It’s the GATING SELECTION Phase.

Each new man is placed behind one classic chess piece. It’s strictly forbidden for players to place one man behind the King and the other behind a Rook at the same time (prevent gating both pieces when castling).

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After the first move, the new man must be placed on the board: on the empty square Left by the piece which was previously in front of it.

For example: white will place his Leopard on square d0 (behind the white Queen). His Leopard will be placed on the board when the white Queen first moves away. However, if the White Queen is captured before making its first move, then white forfeits their right in introducing the new man.

If a King is in check, and it must move, gating is then forfeited (if there is a piece waiting behind the King to be gated it cannot gate if the king moves beacsue of a check threat), unless the King can capture the checking piece.

If the piece allowing the introduction of one of the new pieces is captured in it’s initial square before moving, the right to introduce (Gate) the new piece is forfeited. This gives some interesting tactics where you can get rid of two pieces with a same capture or sacrifice. For example: Bishop captures the white g1 Knight. White forfeits his right to introduce the Hawk.

https://musketeerchess.net/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Capturing-and-losing-Gating.png%MCEPASTEBIN%

If the new man is put behind the King, then it is introduced when castling, or when the King makes it’s first move (without being in check).

The same is true when the additional man is put behind a Rook. However, it is forbidden to put the two extra new men behind a King and a Rook at the same time, preventing the introduction of the two new men at the same time when castling.

For example: Fortress is on reserve square e9 behind Black king. When Black castles, Fortress gates on e8 square once the King moves for the first time.

PGN Notation: For short castle: 0-0 (Fo-e8).

If king is in check and cannot capture the checking piece, it has to move and this excludes any gating possibility.

In the above example, Black king is checked, it cannot capture the checking piece. If Black King moves from e8 square after this check, the waiting Fortress in the Gating Zone cannot Gate and thus black loses his right of gating teh Fortress in subsequent moves.

Another situation can arise:

A pinned piece cannot move. It’s not possible to move a pinned piece and Gate at the same time preventing check ! It’s like in Classic Chess, pinned pieces cannot move.

When promoting, a pawn can be promoted into any of the Classic Chess pieces (except the King) and also to the new pieces chosen at the beginning of the game, even if these pieces weren’t gated.

For example, the game begun with Cannon and Unicorn. If a pawn is promoted, it cannot be promoted to a Leopard, but it can be promoted to a Cannon or a Unicorn. If a second pawn is promoted, it can be promoted to a Cannon or Unicorn again (we can then see 2 of the same colored Cannons on the board, etc).

Commercial Links

We no longer sell on Amazon Europe. If you are a European Cusomer and are interested in our products, please contact us directly here so we can answer your needs. 

For customers in America or Worldwide, you can check the links of our commercial partner. We no longer sell products with House of Staunton.

 

The kits are available in two colours: Natural (or Cream or Yellow) and Black but also it is available in Ivory (or White) and Black.

 

_wsb_500x332_Leopard+$26+Cannon+commercial

Musketeer Chess Leopard and Cannon Kit

Chancellor+$26+Archbishop+Commercial Musketeer Chess Archbishop and Chancellor Kit (Fischer-Karpov Kit)

_wsb_500x303_Elephant+$26+Hawk+Commercial Musketeer Chess Elephant and Hawk Kit (Sharper Kit)

_wsb_500x332_unicorn_and_fortress_1 Musketeer Chess Fortress and Unicorn Kit

_wsb_500x332_spider_and_dragon Musketeer Chess Dragon and Spider Kit

 

 

NEXTGEN PAWNS: Musketeer / Raven / Defender / Protector / Gladiator / Conqueror / Guardian

This section presents NextGen Pawns: These are newly designed pieces aimed to replace the Pawns. These “super pawns” will have some extra powers compared to the Classic Pawn.

They can replace part or all the classic pawns. Try the games (Petropolis Chess, Geneva Chess etc, on our online gaming zone).

Can we really replace the soul of chess? Yes, with the NextGen Pawns: Still a Pawn with a touch of MAGIC, for a Chess Game celebrating our historic towns.

Plastic Chess sets, that fit with MUSKETEER CHESS pieces.

We will shortly make available our own Classic Chess Set Staunton design. This chess set will be named “Tours de France Excellence Chess Set” or “Excellence Series”.

We also recommand the Marshall Series, Fischer Series and Collectors Series. They are available at the Chess Shop North Carolina.

 

Marshall SeriesMarshall+series+chess+set

Collector Series

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Excellence Series