1. Four-player chess (also known as four-handed chess) is really a family of chess variants used four people. The game features a special board typically manufactured from a typical 8�8 square, with 3 rows of 8 cells each extending from each side, and requires two sets of differently colored pieces. The rules are similar to, however, not exactly like, regular chess. There are a variety of different rule variations; most variations, however, share a somewhat similar board and piece setup.
2.  
3. Variation of four-handed chess have been around for centuries. The modern game has been around for over 200 years, showing up in different places in Europe. Historically, the Four-Handed Chess Club, that was founded by George Hope Verney around 1884 in London, is the renowned iteration. Currently, it could be played online, or bought commercially to be played personally.
4.  
5. Gameplay can be in teams, typically with the two partners across from each other. It is also free-for-all, with each one of the players attempting to gain a decisive advantage, with no set alliances. Free-for-all can be played for points, or till the initial checkmate. Table-talk, such as for example move suggestions, is not allowed beneath the FFA rules; players must decide for themselves who, when, or how to attack.
6.  
7. Definition
8. According to D. B. Prichard, Four-player chess "is normally understood to be a casino game played with two sets on a typical board with four extensions, one on each side, usually of 8x3 squares (arguably the best arrangement) but sometimes 8x2 or 8x4, on which the pieces are create in the standard array positions."
9.  
10. History
11.  
12. The Taqq m li-l-hind min maq lah maqblah fal-aql aw mardhlah of al-Brn (973-1048), an encyclopaedia of Indian culture, includes a description of four-handed chess used dice, which al-Brn claims was unknown among the Arabs of his time. Originally a four-sided rectangular die, later a six-sided cubic die, was rolled to determine which type of piece (king, bishop, knight, rook, pawn) was to be shifted confirmed turn. This version may have been played down to the 15th century. A version of the game without dice was still played in India in 1900, according to a contemporary article in the British Chess Magazine.
13.  
14. The earliest known reference to a Western four-player chess game is really a pamphlet from Dessau, Germany, in 1784. Four-handed Chess, as it was called, grew in popularity throughout the 19th century, with variations of the game appearing in Germany, Britain, Russia, and america, among others. Many different pamphlets sprang up, with minor rule changes, such as for example where in fact the king and queen were, or how to deal with pawns that ran into one another.
15.  
16. The biggest & most well known of the variations was the Four-handed Chess Club, founded by George Hope Loyd Verney. It began in 1884, in London. It had been somewhat well known in London, and had eighty people attend its inaugural meeting. The club played until World War Two.
17.  
18. There are many celebrities who played, or are alleged, to play the game. George Hope Verney claimed that the Czar, probably Alexander III, played the game. Prince Albert is thought to have played it. Furthermore, the game was likely played by Vladimir Lenin.
19.  
20. FFA is a newer invention, popping up in commercial games, while teams may be the game mode historically. Contemporarily, Four-player Chess is not particularly popular. Nevertheless, there are some commercial versions for in-person play. It can also be played online, with the biggest website being Chess.com's variants.
21.  
22. Rules
23. Further information: Rules of chess
24. Piece movement and captures remain exactly like regular chess.
25.  
26. A board made of a typical 8�8 square having an additional 3 rows of 8 cells extending from each side is what is typically used for Four-player chess. Variants vary concerning where the king and queen are placed; this won't matter for casual play. Otherwise, https://worldseniors2014.org are create like regular chess.
27.  
28. Rules vary, in teams, as to how to approach partners pawns when they run into one another. This happens sometimes because everybody moves in the forward direction, as in regular chess. At these times for the Chess.com variant, the pawns are blocked, while some variants historically allowed pawns to jump over one another if this happened.
29.  
30. Players are of course absolve to change all rules to their convenience (start to see the rules section in the links tab for different variations of the guidelines).
31.  
32. Strategy
33. For teams, players try to coordinate their attacks making use of their opposite. If this isn't possible, then players should try to play strong moves, developing their pieces to premtively prevent typically double attacks from their opponents and put their pieces in strong positions in order to coordinate attacks with their opposite. It is smart to play openings, such as (for the initial player) moving the king's pawn up one, which shields against double-attacks, checks, and develop strong pieces.
34.  
35. In FFA, it really is wise to become more cautious, developing pieces and improving kings safety. Trades should only be achieved when they are beneficial, because, when there are four people, this weakens the traders compared to the other players. Bishops are about as strong as rooks, and both are more powerful than knights. The queen is the strongest piece. One should make an effort to develop their pieces and protect their king. Furthermore, players should try to avoid opening themselves around attacks. For example, if the player to the left attacks them, then your player across from them or the player with their right can attack them as-well, guaranteeing loss of material. Likewise, players should often look for ways to attack players that allow other players to join in.
36.  
37. Homepage: https://worldseniors2014.org