Four File Chess Kris Barski sent in October 1999 the rules of Four File Chess, as a submission to the contest to design a chess variant on a board with 40 squares . The game begins with ten ranks and four files. Each player has four pawns, beginning on the second and ninth ranks.
Players begin with king, bishop, knight, rook.
Kings and pawns on their first move may cover three unobstructed squares, other pieces move as in standard chess. Pawns may promote to queens upon reaching the tenth rank. Upon reaching the tenth rank any piece may be swapped, for one that was lost earlier, except a pawn. No en passant or castling. The following diagram shows the board and starting setup again.