Grand Chess Rules
To play Grand Chess it will be sufficient to point out the differences
with Chess. The first is the presence of the Marshall, combining
the powers of Rook and Knight, and the Cardinal, combining the
powers of Bishop and Knight. Here's a nice introduction: white checkmates
in two.
The second difference is the absence of a castling rule: there's no need for it.
The third difference concerns pawns and promotion. Pawns basically behave
like Chess pawns: they have the option to move two squares initially and en passant
capture applies as usual.
There are two differences concerning promotion:
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Pawn promotion is optional on moving to the 8th or 9th rank, compulsory on
moving to the 10th.
-
A pawn can only promote to a piece lost by its side.
There's one detail demanding attention:
a pawn on the 9th rank, no piece being lost by its side - a legal possibility - cannot move. If it simultaneously
attacks the opponent's King, it nevertheless gives check.
I can't think of a better way to show that an option to promote is better than an obligation,
than Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg's checkmate in 2.
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