PlunderChess is a commercial

chess variant A chess variant is a game related to, derived from, or inspired by chess. Such variants can differ from chess in many different ways. "International" or "Western" chess itself is one of a family of games which have related origins and could be co ...

, first sold in 2004. PlunderChess introduces a new mechanic, called "plundering".

Rules

The variant's original move, ''plundering'', occurs when a piece captures an opposing piece, allowing it to obtain a "vest". Players making captures do not need to take the vest. Plundering may not happen if the piece already has the moveset of the piece captured. Vests allow the piece to move like the piece captured. For example, if a

knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...

captures a rook, then that knight can move like a rook. This is called a "vest move". If a piece has a pawn's vest, it may capture via , or move 2 spaces on its second rank. This opens it up to en passant. If the piece in question is the

king King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an Absolute monarchy, absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted Government, governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation. Conversely, he is a Constitutional monarchy, ...

, then the king may not move 2 spaces if it would result in the king being captured en passant. Vests can be used at any time, as long as the piece still has the vest. Vests can only be used once, afterwards, they are returned to the stand until the piece the vest represents is captured again. Pawns with vests can use their vest moves to reach the last

rank A rank is a position in a hierarchy. It can be formally recognized—for example, cardinal, chief executive officer, general, professor—or unofficial. People Formal ranks * Academic rank * Corporate title * Diplomatic rank * Hierarchy ...

. If this happens, the pawn gets immediately promoted. Pieces with pawn vests can't promote, nor can a pawn vest be promoted. Pawns can also move to the first rank with a vest move, but can only move 2 squares on the 2nd rank. Pieces with vests can give checks, as well as

checkmate Checkmate (often shortened to mate) is any game position in chess and other chess-like games in which a player's king is in check (threatened with ) and there is no possible escape. Checkmating the opponent wins the game. In chess, the king is ...

, to the opponent's king using vest moves.

Variants of the rules

Vest-shifting variant

''Vest-shifting'' is a variant of PlunderChess in which players may "vest-shift" instead of moving. Vest shifts allow players to move vests from one piece to another, giving it the vest.

Corner king variant

References

External links

PlunderChess
- official website.

by Hans L. Bodlaender. {{Chess variants Chess variants 1988 in chess Board games introduced in 1988