In fact, we face a following paradox - on one hand, the knight is vulnerable on a small board due to predictable movement and limited escape squares. On the other hand, dropping a knight in cramped positions becomes a game-changing tactical weapon, disrupting the opponent’s plans and creating sudden threats.
I would say that in this variant, the knight’s fragility and drop potential create a high-risk, high-reward dynamic.
Need an idea for a name for this variant
For standard chess it could be easily done too. However, such an idea would require a decent number of additional pieces.
In this case, it would be necessary to change the abilities of the chess bishop from a diagonal runner to a slow-moving strongman in the form of Gold from Shogi.
In Kyoto Shogi, a piece like the Gold-Knight is simply incomparable.
The synthesis of the abilities of these two pieces (taking into account the drops) gives us an incredibly productive combat unit.
Theoretically, the game can be drawn, which only confirms the principle of balance. By their nature, all games with perfect information must be drawish. Examples of "solved" games, such as checkers or Othello, confirm this. Standard chess, by the way, is also most likely a draw. And that's good - neither side has an advantage other than intellectual.
Here is a game between two top-level engines:
lishogi.org/study/IBo2aluq/XQg1bKHR#0
Around 120 moves for a 5x5 board is quite significant. Perhaps this is not the limit.
Of course, if we introduce a punishment for Repetition, for example, like in Xiangqi, then only God will know where it will all lead.
The variant was added to Shogitter.com:
shogitter.com/rule/%E9%87%91%E6%A1%82%E8%88%9E%E5%B0%86%E6%A3%8B
Thanks to the Japanese masters for the positive feedback about the game.
perhaps royal knight shogi? *if you'r still looking for an idea for the name
You can't post in the forums yet. Play some games!