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Take Two Chess

#Core mechanic#

In this variant of chess, each individual queen or pawn comes with a set of three cards:
- the orthogonal card.
- the diagonal card.
- the hippogonal card.

The order these cards are in defines a queen or pawn’s move abilities.

A queen moves according to the two cards closest to the chessboard. The orthogonal card allows a queen to move like a rook, i.e. any number of free squares in either an horizontal or a vertical direction. The diagonal card allows a queen to move like a bishop, i.e. any number of free squares in a diagonal direction. The hippogonal card allows a queen to move like a knight, i.e. two squares in either an horizontal or a vertical direction then one square at a right angle, with all intermediate squares being leaped over without interaction. Any move done by a queen can end with the capture of an enemy piece, just like a rook, bishop or knight would capture.

A pawn moves differently depending on whether or not the move ends with a capture. The card closest to the chessboard defines a pawn’s non-capturing move ability, while the card second-closest to the chessboard defines a pawn’s capturing move ability. Regardless of capture, a pawn can only move one rank forward. The orthogonal card allows a pawn to move one square vertically forward. The diagonal card allows a pawn to move one square diagonally forward. The hippogonal card allows a pawn to move two squares in an horizontal direction then one square vertically forward, with all intermediate squares being leaped over without interaction.

There are many times during the game when the order of the cards can be modified.

In all other regards, the usual rules of chess remain true.

#Initial setup#

Before the game begins in earnest, each player chooses the initial order of cards for their queen and for each of their pawns. It is advised that both players reveal their complete setup at the same time. This can be done by first placing the cards face-down, or by first creating a hidden area.

The pieces themselves are placed on the board exactly like in regular chess.

#Player’s turn#

The player with the light pieces gets the first turn of the game, as usual.

A player’s turn has two phases:

1) A player can switch the positions of two cards belonging to one of their queens or pawns. That queen or pawn can not move during the same turn. Switching cards is not obligatory.

2) A player must move one of their pieces. This ends the player’s turn.

Winning conditions are the same as in regular chess. If a player has no legal move available while their king is in check, they lose the game. If a player has no legal move available while their king is not in check, the game ends on a draw.

#Special moves#

Promotion
When a pawn reaches the opposite edge of the board, it is promoted to either a queen, a rook, a knight or a bishop. A new queen inherits the cards of the pawn, in the order those cards were in before the promotion. A new rook, knight or bishop has no use for cards.

Double advance
A pawn that moves for the first time has the option to move two ranks forward instead of one. If so, it must be a non-capturing move. The orthogonal card allows a pawn to move two free squares vertically forward. The diagonal card allows a pawn to move two free squares diagonally forward. The hippogonal card allows a pawn to move two squares vertically forward then one square in an horizontal direction, with all intermediate squares being leaped over without interaction.

En passant
When an enemy pawn’s double advance has it pass through a square that is menaced by a pawn, the pawn can then capture the enemy pawn as if it were still on that square. Such a capture "in passing" can only be done during the turn immediately after the double advance. An enemy pawn that makes a double advance according to its hippogonal card is immune to en passant.

Castling
This king/rook move is done exactly like in regular chess. First the king moves two squares toward a friendly rook, then the rook moves to the square the king passed through. Neither the king nor the rook must have ever moved before. All squares between the king and the rook must be free. The king can not castle out of, through or into check.

#Miscellaneous remarks#

By default, the cards are ordered so queens and pawns move and capture like in regular chess.

Move illustrations are displayed on the sides of the table. Use them for reference if the rules were not clear enough for you.

Since at least one person likes to randomize their cards, I took that as an excuse to learn some Lua. Each player now has a "Random" button.

Another person found the symbols on the card quite difficult to understand. I have now made two other versions of the cards, as well as scripted "Relook" buttons to put those cards on the board.