Heaven in Flames: Non-Rock Affinity Chess Set/Instructions

## Introduction of Character Pieces

King – Olivia

Queen – Lexia

Bishops – Carina & Grace

Knights – Abworker & Meredith

Castles – Ainsley & Kaia

Pawns – Leah

The 2 teams are identified by different base colors – brown and orange.

## Setting up the Game:

The chessboard is placed between the two players who sit opposite each other. Either player has an orange corner square to his or her right. The pieces are arranged as follows: On the baseline, starting from the outside in, are placed the Castles, the Knights and the Bishops, and on the two middle squares are placed the Kings and their Queens. The Queen with the orange base is always placed on the orange square and the Queen with the brown base is always placed on the brown square. The eight pawns (Leah) are placed on the row directly in front.

## Object of the Game & How to Play:

The aim of the game is to “checkmate” the opposite King. This means that, on the next move, this King could be taken, and there is not further possibility of taking evasive action. The Non-Rock Affinity Team with the orange base goes first, then moves are made alternately. Each piece can take any other, i.e. the piece which is taken is removed from the board because the piece which has taken it has advanced to occupy its square. It is not compulsory to take a piece or to save a piece from threatened loss. This is, however, different when the King is threatened.

If a piece is threatening the opposing King and is able to take him with the next move, then one informs one’s opponent of this by saying “check” out loud. The threatened player now must save his King.

The player can either place another piece between his King and the threatening piece if this is possible or he can move the King. Only when these options are no longer possible is the King in “checkmate”. If neither of the players is able to “checkmate” the other, then the game ends in a draw. “Stalemate” is a situation in which one of the players can no longer execute a permitted move without the King being in a “check” position.

## The Pieces and their Values:

### Pawn (Leah)

The Pawn is the weakest of all pieces. He can only be moved one square forward per move and can never be moved backwards. Only with the very first move can he (if desired) be moved two squares forward. The Pawn takes another piece diagonally forwards, either to the right or left. By doing so, he leaves his own line in order to advance to the adjacent line. As a Pawn on his own, he is very weak, but when playing together with other Pawns, or with other pieces, he gains in strength.

### Castle (Ainsley & Kaia)

The Castle always moves in a straight line in either direction left or right, backwards or forwards, over as many empty squares as it likes. The castle complements the Bishop, but has a higher value.

### Knight (Abworker & Meredith)

The Knight must move three squares, in one of the following patterns:

* A. Two squares in a straight line, plus one square either to the left or right.
* B. One square in a straight line, plus two squares either to the left or right.

He can do this in any desired direction, so that a Knight, standing in the middle of the board, his eight possible moves at his disposal. Because of this, this piece looks at first rather daunting, but its reach is limited.

**(continued on other side)**

### Bishop (Carina & Grace)

The Bishop moves diagonally over as many squares as it likes. However, contrary to the Knight, the Bishop and all other pieces on the baseline must first have space created for them before they can be moved, as the closed row of Pawns in front of them prevents them from moving beyond the basic set-up position.

### Queen (Lexia)

The Queen can move diagonally, like the Bishop, or in a straight line, like the Castle. She is therefore the most agile piece on the board and thus the most valuable. Losing one’s Queen can soon mean losing the game.

### King (Olivia)

The King moves the same way as the Queen, but only one square at a time. He is, in principle, the figure which is the target of all the enemy’s pieces. Therefore, he is in very good need of protection. It is also very difficult for him to take an opposing piece, without he himself being threatened at the same time (in other words, being put in “check”).

## Special Rules:

### Pawn Conversion

If a Pawn has managed to reach the baseline of the opposing player, he is immediately transformed into any chosen piece (Knight, Castle, Bishop or Queen). This piece stays on the board, one would therefore usually choose a Queen. If there is no corresponding piece available, one distinguishes the Pawn by standing him, for example, on a checkers piece.

### Castling

Castling is the only chess move in which two pieces are moved at the same time. This move places the King in safety at the same time as it frees the Castle to take part in the game.

It is therefore an important move, which ought to be made, if possible, very early on. There is, of course, no obligation to do this.

This is how castling is done: First, the King moves over two squares in the direction of the Castle. Then, the Castle moves (over the King) to the square beside him. As there are two Castles, there are also two ways of castling: a long and short way. The possibility of castling depends on the following conditions:

* No piece must stand between King and Castle.
* Neither King nor Castle has yet moved.
* The King must not be in “check”.
* The two squares next to the King in the direction of the relevant Castle must not stand under simultaneous threat of check.

### Taking a Piece en Passant

(In English : “in passing”) This is a special rule which applies to Pawns only. If a Pawn, making his initial move off the base line, moves two squares next to an opposing Pawn, this opposing Pawn has the right to capture the initial Pawn “en passant”, just as though the initial Pawn had been moved only one square.

## Game Tactics:

If you want to know more about skillful game tactics, consult the extensive chess literature in the library.

For beginners and advanced chess players alike, joining one of the many chess clubs is also recommended.