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rules of fischer random chess
A little known and long-discarded offshoot of Classical Chess is the realm of
so-called "Randomized Chess" in its various forms. Fischer Random Chess (here
after referred to as "F.R. Chess") stands for Bobby Fischer's new and
improved version of "Randomized Chess". F.R. Chess uses algebraic notation
exclusively.
STARTING POSITION
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At the start of every game of F.R. Chess, Pawns are set up exactly as they
are at the start of every game of Classical Chess -- namely the second ranks.
However, the pieces have a randomized arrangement on the first ranks. The
pieces are placed using the Fischer Random Chess Computerized Shuffler. This
Shuffler is programmed with the following restrictions: (1) one Rook has to
be on the left and one Rook has to be on the right of the King, and (2) one
Bishop has to be on a light-colored square and one Bishop has to be on a
dark- colored square. Otherwise, the pieces are placed at random with White
and Black having identical positions facing each, symmetrically. For example,
if the Shuffler places White's back row pieces in the following position:
Ra1, Bb1, Kc1, Nd1, Be1, Nf1, Rg1, Qh1, it will place Black's back row Pieces
in the following position, Ra8, Bb8, Kc8, Nd8, Be8, Nf8, Rg8, Qh8. F.R. Chess
has 960 possible starting positions, the regular Classical Chess starting
position and 959 other starting positions.
FR RULES
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The rules of F.R. Chess are the same as Classical Chess, except for the
castling rule. Castling is somewhat modified and broadened to allow for the
possibility of castling in the various 960 starting positions. Please note
the following points about castling:
o Depending on the pre-castling position of the castling King and Rook, the
castling maneuver is performed by one of these four methods:
1. By on one turn making one move with the King, and making one move with
the Rook ("double-move" castling).
2. By transposing the position of the King and the Rook ("transposition"
castling).
3. By making only one move - with the King ("King-move-only" castling).
4. By making only one move - with the Rook ("Rook-move-only' castling).
o In "double-move" castling, if the King is standing on the square the Rook
will occupy naturally you must move the King first and then the Rook; if
the Rook is standing on the square the King will occupy naturally you must
move the Rook first and then the King; otherwise whether you move the King
first and then the Rook, or the Rook first and then the King is strictly
your choice.
o In "double-move" castling either the King jumps over the Rook or else the
Rook jumps over the King.
o In "King-move-only" castling the King always jumps over the Rook.
o In "Rook-move-only" castling the Rook always jumps over the King.
o "a"-side castling (0-0-0), and "h"-side castling (0-0) are the F.R. Chess
equivalents of Queen-side or long castling (0-0-0), and King-side or short
castling (0-0) respectively, of Classical Chess.
o In F.R. Chess:
1. White's "a"-side castling (0-0-0) is performed with the previously
unmoved White King and the previously unmoved Rook standing to its
left. After White's "a"-side castling (0-0-0) the White King stands on
c1 and the Rook stands on d1. Black's "a"-side castling (... 0-0-0) is
performed with the previously unmoved Black King and the previously
unmoved Rook standing to its right. After White's "a"-side castling
(0-0-0) the Black King stands on c8 and the aforementioned Rook stands
on d8.
2. White's "h"-side castling (0-0) is performed with the previously
unmoved White King and the previously unmoved Rook standing to its
right. After White's "h"-side castling (0-0) the White King stands on
g1 and the Rook stands on f1. Black's "h"-side castling (... 0-0) is
performed with the previously unmoved Black King and the previously
unmoved Rook standing to its left. After Black's "h"-side castling
(... 0-0) the Black King stands on g8 and the Rook stands on f8.
o When castling, you are not allowed to make any capture(s).
o When castling, no other piece(s), yours or your opponent's, are allowed to
stand between the castling King and Rook.
o You are not allowed to castle if you are in check.
o You are not allowed to castle into check.
o Your King is not allowed to move through check or a "checked" square,
whether such squares are vacant or have a Rook on them. (A "checked"
square is a square that is attacked by one or more of your opponent's
pieces.)
o During "double-move" castling it is quite possible and not at all illegal
for a momentary stalemate, check, or checkmate to occur. Ignore it! You
must complete the "double-move" castling and then check for position
status.
o A given King or Rook move could be the first move of "double-move"
castling -OR- it could be a standard non-castling move. To avoid
ambiguities, your move is complete only when you push the appropriate
button on the chess clock.
o Suggestion: When playing a friendly game of F.R. Chess without benefit of
a chess clock, it might sometimes be a good idea to announce to your
opponent just before you castle, "I'm going to castle."
o In F.R. Chess:
1. Once the White King has moved, White is not allowed to castle for the
rest of the game. Once the Black King has moved, Black is not allowed
to castle for the rest of the game.
2. If the rook Rook starting on the left of the White King has moved,
White is not allowed to "a"-side castle (0-0-0) for the rest of the
game. If the Rook starting on the right of the unmoved Black King has
moved, Black is not allowed to "a"-side castle (... 0-0-0) for the
rest of the game.
3. If the rook Rook starting on the right of the White King has moved,
White may not "h"-side castle (0-0) for the rest of the game. If the
Rook starting on the left of the Black King has moved, Black may not
"h"-side castle (... 0-0) for the rest of the game.
4. Once White has castled, White is not allowed to castle again for the
rest of the game. Once Black has castled, Black is not allowed to
castle again for the rest of the game.
o Observation: In F.R. Chess, it may be momentarily impossible to "a"-side
castle (0-0-0) and/or to "h"-side castle (0-0) because of the obstructing
position of your other unmoved Rook. These are frequent occurrences in
F.R. Chess.
If you are ever in any doubt about the correct "before" and "after" castling
positions in F.R. Chess, please consult the following tables, showing all
(84) possibilities of castling, (42) for White, and (42) for Black. Note that
there are only four (4) "After" positions, the same ones as for Classical
Chess.
White "a"-side castling (0-0-0):
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Before: Kg1; Rf1, e1, d1, c1, b1 or a1 After: Kc1; Rd1.
Before: Kf1; Re1, d1, c1, b1, or a1 After: Kc1; Rd1.
Before: Ke1; Rd1, c1, b1, or a1 After: Kc1; Rd1.
Before: Kd1; Rc1, b1 or a1 After: Kc1; Rd1.
Before: Kc1; Rb1 or a1 After: Kc1; Rd1.
Before: Kb1; Ra1 After: Kc1; Rd1.
White "h"-side castling (0-0):
------------------------------
Before: Kb1; Rc1, d1, e1, f1, g1 or h1. After: Kg1; Rf1.
Before: Kc1; Rd1, e1, f1, g1 or h1 After: Kg1; Rf1.
Before: Kd1; Re1, f1, g1 or h1 After: Kg1; Rf1.
Before: Ke1; Rf1, g1 or h1 After: Kg1; Rf1.
Before: Kf1; Rg1 or h1 After: Kg1; Rf1.
Before: Kg1; Rh1 After: Kg1; Rf1.
Black "a"-side castling (... 0-0-0):
------------------------------------
Before: Kg8; Rf8, e8, d8, c8, b8 or a8 After: Kc8; Rd8.
Before: Kf8; Re8, d8, c8, b8 or a8 After: Kc8; Rd8.
Before: Ke8; Rd8, c8, b8 or a8 After: Kc8; Rd8.
Before: Kd8; Rc8, b8 or a8 After: Kc8; Rd8.
Before: Kc8; Rb8 or a8 After: Kc8; Rd8.
Before: Kb8; Ra8 After: Kc8; Rd8.
Black "h"-side castling (... 0-0):
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Before: Kb8; Rc8, d8, e8, f8, g8 or h8 After: Kg8; Rf8.
Before: Kc8; Rd8, e8, f8, g8 or h8 After: Kg8; Rf8.
Before: Kd8; Re8, f8, g8 or h8 After: Kg8; Rf8.
Before: Ke8; Rf8, g8 or h8 After: Kg8; Rf8.
Before: Kf8; Rg8 or h8 After: Kg8; Rf8.
Before: Kg8; Rh8 After: Kg8; Rf8.
SEE ALSO
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wild
AUTHORS
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Created: 1 September 1996 Friar
Last Modified: 28 February 2008 mhill
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