Chess Is War

Chess Is War!

Satirical Chess Variants With A War Theme

Little Bighorn Chess

According to the book, Son of the Morning Star: Custer and the Little Bighorn by Evan S. Connell, Lieutenant Colonel (Brevet Major General) George Armstrong Custer, Union Calvary Hero from the American Civil War, also played chess. He probably didn't play very well, because none of his games are known to have survived. Sadly, neither did George. I wonder if he even knew notation or the difference between a horsey and a knight...

This variant recreates in a chess sense the Battle of the Little Bighorn. It is Custer versus Sitting Bull.

The special rules are stacked in Bull's favor, much the same as in the real battle. Custer's forces are split and he can only coordinate an attack with the utmost difficulty. It is possible to win this variant with the white pieces. Possible, but not likely...

George A. Custer, Chess player

Sitting Bull,

Medicine Man

Equipment Needed:

Standard chess set (board and pieces)

Starting Position:

White:

Kh3, Qa3, Rg2, Ra1, Bc3, Bd3, Nh2, Ng3, Ph4, Pg4, Pf3, Pa4, Pb4, Pc4, Pd4, Pb3

Black:

Ke8, Qd8, Rg8, Rb8, Bc8, Bg7, Nf8, Nb7, Pc7, Pd7, Pe7, Pf7, Pc6, Pd6, Pe6, Pf6

Custer

Bull

Suggested Coffee House Quips While Playing This Game:

For White:

"You have the Gall to deny me a victory!?"

"Reno THIS!"

"Benteen just dropped his canteen."

"I shoulda brought the Gatlin guns..."

For Black:

"You capture a piece, I put it back on."

"Some hero you are!"

"Don't shoot the horses."

Special Rules:

The normal rules of chess apply, except:

1. No castling is allowed.

2. Pawns can only move one square forward on the first move. No en passant!

3. For the first seven moves, any pawn or piece that black loses is replicated, and black can replace the figure anywhere on his first or second rank, i.e., a8-h8 or a7-h7. This he does before it is his turn to move.

4. White draws if he can survive to his 41st move, or wins if he checkmates the black king.

5. Black wins by checkmating the

white king.

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Entire contents Copyright Ó 1999 by John C. Knudsen


	George A. Custer, Chess player		Sitting Bull, Medicine Man
			Sitting Bull, Medicine Man


The normal rules of chess apply, except: 1. No castling is allowed. 2. Pawns can only move one square forward on the first move. No en passant! 3. For the first seven moves, any pawn or piece that black loses is replicated, and black can replace the figure anywhere on his first or second rank, i.e., a8-h8 or a7-h7. This he does before it is his turn to move. 4. White draws if he can survive to his 41st move, or wins if he checkmates the black king. 5. Black wins by checkmating the white king.

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	Entire contents Copyright Ó 1999 by John C. Knudsen