Symmetrical Fischer Random Chess

One of the criticisms often levelled at Chess960 is that many of the starting positions lack the symmetry and elegance of the Standard Chess starting array.

Symmetrical Fischer Random Chess was proposed on this site by Lux in an attempt to restrict the possible starting arrays to ones that have a degree of symmetry, yet maintain independence from opening theory enjoyed by FRC players.

 

Rules of the game

The game is played with Chess960 rules, except the fact that only a few initial setups can happen.

Rooks always start on the a and h files, the king and queen always start on the d and e files (but may be transposed) and the two bishops are always on opposite coloured squares. Black and White start with the same position and castling and en-passant is allowed. Castling works as in Chess960 (after castling pieces stay as in standard chess).

There are eight possible starting arrays, including the Standard Chess array, only the seven non-standard arrays are used on SchemingMind for this game. These are:

 

RBNQKNBR/8/RNBKQBNR/8/RBNKQNBR/8/RBBKQNNR/8

 

RBBQKNNR/8/RNNKQBBR/8/RNNQKBBR/8/8/8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Game hints

The game plays more-or-less as standard chess, although one must remember that changed minor pieces position and (possibly) switched king position can lead to a bit different game characteristics. Simple example - in the position below, squares g2 and g7 are not defended at all.

 

rbbkqnnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RBBKQNNR

Another thing to remember is that castling in the positions with kings staying on d1/d8 seems to be a little bit unnatural. Even in this case, after O-O king stays at g1 and rook at f1, after O-O-O king stays at c1 and rook at d1. See for example O-O played by Kd1 and O-O-O played by Kd1.

 

Instructive games

Links to interesting Symmetrical Fischer Random games played on SchemingMind are welcome


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