Chess Variation:
M.S.G. Chess / “Salt” Chess
By “Star”
Version 1.0.5
What rules are changed in M.S.G. Chess/ “Salt” Chess from the Standard Version of Chess?
-Nothing! All standard rules of traditional chess are applied to this variation, no changes are made to the core standard chess rules, this version adds three new mechanics to the game to spice up player’s strategies while keeping the base game as is.
-The main features of this variation is the ability:
M.S.G. = Merge/Split/Gallop.
Merging, how does it work?
-Simple! When a piece you control is moved to a position/tile another piece that is also in your possession is on, you can perform a merge!
-It is like capturing your own pieces…
Merging, how does it work?
-...To create new pieces!
-(In this example, the two rooks merge together to create a queen!)
Does the newly merge piece get any special properties from merging?
-Nope! The newly merged piece works exactly the same as regular pieces!
-For example, when you merge two rooks together, you can create a queen, removing the rooks from the board in exchange for the queen taking their place. After the merge, you can use the queen like normal.
What are the rules behind merging?
-The merged piece must be placed in the same spot the merge occurs. For example, if you moved the rook that’s on position H1 to A1, the new queen piece will be placed on the A1 square.
-Then you remove the two pieces involved in the merge from the board. (In this example, you would remove the two rooks)
Merge Rules Continue…
-During your turn, you can either perform a merge with two chess pieces or move a chess piece to another position like usual. You CANNOT perform a merge AND, immediately afterwards, move that piece or another chess piece to a different position on the same turn, and vice versa.
-Performing a merge counts as making a move on your turn, meaning that once you perform a merge, it is now the opponent's turn and you cannot move any pieces until your next turn.
-You cannot merge with your opponents pieces. You can only merge with your own pieces.
Regarding Check/Checkmating with merging:
-During the process of moving one chess piece to another piece to perform a merge, if performing a merge would result in a king being in check or checkmate after the merge is completed, then the king is treated as so. (This also applies to Splitting/Galloping).
-Standard chess rules regarding check/checkmating still apply here.
Merging Chart: Which Pieces can merge with each other?
Excluding the Queen and King (Where, when merged, will have their own mechanic [Split]) and with an exception of a merge of two knights [Gallop]), any piece can merge with each other! Here are two graphs showing all the possible combinations!
(Note: You cannot merge any pieces together to create a King, there will only be one king on the board for each side at any given time)
Pawn+Pawn
Pawn + Knight
Pawn + Knight
Pawn + Rook
Pawn + Bishop
Knight + Rook
Knight + Bishop
Rook + Bishop
Rook + Rook
Bishop + Bishop
Or
[“Gallop”]
Or
Can’t[Split]
Can’t[Split]
[Split]
[Split]
[Split]
[Split]
[Split]
[Split]
Gallop Mechanic
-Just as it was explained in the merge chart section, two knights cannot merge together to create another piece. Instead, knights have a new special movement mechanic that replaces the merge mechanic with the gallop mechanic.
-Here’s how it works, instead of a merge, if a (owned) knight lands on the same tile as another (owned) knight is on, it can perform a gallop, essentially allowing the knight to move twice in one move.
Gallop Explained
-First you take your first knight and move it to the position of the second knight, as if you were performing a capture.
Gallop Explained Contin.
-Then, from the position of the second knight, you can move your knight again!You have just performed a Gallop!
Gallop Explained Contin.
-Once you moved your first knight to the position of your second knight, you can actually place the the knight on any position that a knight can normally reach.
Gallop Mechanic Rules
-While performing a gallop, you cannot land on a space occupy by an opposing piece, meaning you cannot capture another piece while performing a gallop.
-Similarly, you cannot land on a piece of your own while performing a gallop (meaning you cannot perform a gallop and land on another owned piece to perform a merge or a split).
-Thirdly, when performing a gallop, you cannot land on the same space you initiated the gallop, (For example, if you moved a knight from C1 to D3 to perform the gallop, you cannot then place the knight back on C1. You must place the knight on a different tile than it’s starting position through galloping. This rule is in place to prevent potential stalling).
Gallop Mechanic Rules
-Before attempting a gallop, make sure there is an available space for the knight to jump towards prior to performing a gallop.
-If there are no available spaces for the knight to land on, then you cannot perform a gallop.
-Performing a gallop is treated the same as if you just performed a merge, split, or moved a piece, meaning your turn is over once you finished a gallop.
-Unlike special moves like En Passant or Castling, you can perform a gallop at any time so long as conditions are met. However, to prevent abuse (and potential stalling) of this mechanic, you cannot perform a gallop more than twice in a row (more than two consecutive moves), regardless of which Knight pieces were used. Performing three or more gallops in a row is considered to be an illegal move.
-If you perform a move other than a gallop, the counter for consecutive gallops is reseted. For example, you could do 2 gallops, a merge, then 2 more gallops followed by a split and the counter would had been reseted twice in this example (once when you did the merge, the other when you did a split).
-Finally, if performing a Gallop results in a King being in Check/Checkmate after the Gallop occurs, it is treated as so, just like in merging or Splitting.
Gallop Mechanic Rules
(Example of a legal 2 consecutive gallop)
First Move: C1 Knight-A to D3 to perform the gallop then move Knight-A E5.
Second Move: D3 Knight-B moves to E5, perform gallop, then land on D7
Third Move: D7 Knight-B moves to B8
(Counter for consecutive gallops is now reset due to making a move that wasn’t a gallop. Can now gallop again twice in a row if desire but the same restrictions still apply)
A
B
Gallop Mechanic Rules
(Example of an illegal 3 consecutive gallop)
First Move: C1 Knight-A to D3 to perform the gallop then move Knight-A E5.
Second Move: D3 Knight-B moves to E5, perform a gallop, then land on D7
Third Move: E5 Knight-A moves to D7 to perform a gallop to move B6 (ILLEGAL MOVE, Player has just performed 3 consecutive gallops , must revert back to original position prior to this gallop)
A
B
Split
-Splitting works similarly to merging but a bit differently in how it functions. Instead of combining pieces together to form new ones, you are instead doing the opposite, separating valuable pieces into two weaker pieces to allow for more board presence in situations where you have a numbers disadvantage.
-Splitting may also opens up potential opportunities/possibilities for players to set up traps on the board, putting a piece in a position to where you can gain tactical advantage by separating your pieces into two on a later move.
-Splitting, like merging or galloping, is treated as performing a move on your turn, so once you perform a split, your turn is over and is now the opponent’s turn.
Split, How does it work?
-The Split mechanic is tied to the Queen and King pieces exclusively, all Split interactions must involve either a Queen or a King + one other piece.
-Splitting works like merging but in reserve; for example, two pawns when merged together normally create a knight, but if you split a knight you can get those two pawns back.
-The King and Queen pieces are not lost during the process of a Split, only the piece that is being splitted is affected (With the exception of a Split occurring with a King - Queen or 2 Queens, in which case, only ONE Queen is exchange for the two new pieces).
-Kings and Pawns cannot be split (As there must be a King on the board at all times, and Pawns are the smallest piece you can split into).
Same Piece
The Split Piece
Normal Merging
Split Explained
-First, move the Queen (Or a King) to a piece you want to split (In this case the Rook) as if you were capturing your own piece (Just as you would when you perform a merge).
Split Explained
-Now that the Queen is in position, you are now ready to perform a Split!
Split Explained
-In this example, we used a Rook to perform the Split with our Queen piece, Since, in merging, a Knight + a Pawn= Rook, splitting allows us to separate our Rook into these two pieces.
-But where do we place these pieces on the board? Can we place them anywhere? (←The answer to this question is NO)
Split Explained, Placement for Queens
-You can only place the new pieces gain through Splitting in a one-space cross-formation centered on the queen (indicated by the blue squares)
-You can, however, select which two spaces your new pieces will be placed on within the allowed area.
Split Explained, Placement for Queens
-Once you have selected the two tiles you would like to place your pieces, place them down on the board and, congratulations! You have just performed a Split!
-Remember, just like merging and galloping, performing a Split counts as making a move on your turn, meaning when you perform a split, your turn is now over, and is now the opponent's turn.
Split Explained, Placement for Kings
-Splitting with a King works EXACTLY the same way as Splitting with a Queen, with one small change. The range to which you can place your two pieces is increase from a one-space cross-formation to a 3x3 Box/Square centered on the King.
Split Explained
-Remember, Splitting occurs when an owned Queen or King is occupying the same space as another owned piece (that is not a Pawn), meaning you don’t have to move either of these pieces to perform a split, other pieces can be moved to their spaces and perform a split that way.
-In this example, we have a King and a Rook on the board that are about to perform a split, but the King can’t capture the Rook because it is too far away!
-The Rook however can reached the King, so instead we will move the Rook to the same tile as the King.
Split Explained
-All established rules regarding splitting still apply here.
Split Explained, Rules about Piece Placement
-Splitting has similar restrictions to Galloping.
-While performing a Split, you cannot place a splitted piece on the same space occupied by an opposing piece, meaning you cannot capture another piece while performing a Split.
-Similarly, you cannot place a splitted piece on another owned piece while performing a Split (meaning you cannot perform a Split and place them on another owned piece to perform a merge, or another split).
-Before attempting a Split, make sure there is at least two or more available tiles to place the Splitted pieces prior to performing a Split.
-If there are not enough available spaces for you to place your (2) Splitted pieces, then you cannot perform a Split.
-Finally, if performing a Split results in a King being in Check/Checkmate after the Split occurs, it is treated as so, just like in merging or galloping.
Can’t[Split]
Can’t[Split]
Can’t[Split] (Impossible as their can only be one king)
*Remember that these pieces are not lost during the Split, they are like the catalyst that allows Splitting to occur.*
x2
x2
x2
x2
x2
x2
(Treated as Queen - King)
Full Chart of Merging/Splitting Combined
Or
[“Gallop”]
Or
Can’t Merge
Can’t Merge
[Split]
[Split]
[Split]
[Split]
[Split]
[Split]
Can’tSplit
*Remember that these pieces are not lost during the Split, they are like the catalyst that allows Splitting to occur.*
x2
x2
x2
x2
(Treated as Queen - King)
Can’t Split
Can’t[Split] (Impossible as their can only be one king on the board)
x2
x2
Chess Notation
(This is a work in progress, Chess notation not finalized but here is a rough sketch on how it would look like).
m is for merge, s for Split, G for Gallop.
Example of how Gallop notation could look like: Nf3Ge5 (G has to be capitalized to not be confused for the collum “g”)
Example for Splitting notation: Qxd4sRd5.Re4 (the . separates the two splitted pieces for better visual, could be removed)
Example for Merging notation: Rxa2mN
Thank you for your time in learning about
M.S.G. Chess/“Salt” Chess!!!
Author’s Note: Please feel free to play-test this new variation of Chess for me, as I need feedback on if I have somehow missed any important details in the rules about M.S.G. Chess/“Salt” Chess that need to be explained.