Chessplus: Review
Information:
Mechanics: Abstract
Player Age: 6+ Player Count: 2 PlayersTime to Play: 2 - 45 Minutes
Year Published: 2019BGG Weight: 2.67Disclaimer: A review copy for the game was provided by the publisher.
Player Age: 6+
Introduction:
Love it or hate it, chess is one of the most famous abstract games ever, with many non-board gamers enjoying its depth of strategy. Chessplus is a re-imagining of this epic classic but with one slight, redefining change. Each piece (except the king) is a half piece that can combine with another of their own colour to create a piece with both strategic properties (that is to say the combined piece has both moement styles). Having pieces combined increases the risk of losing both at once, however, with iconic chess-like strategy and contingencies, players can use them to outplay opponents and bring home the victory.
Game Anatomy:
Pieces:
Besides the king, each piece in the game is a half-piece. If they share the same location they become a combined piece and move as one, using the one movement pattern of either piece.
King:
The king is a solid piece to prevent easy avoidance of check and checkmate.
Extra Queens:
There are three extra queen pieces in the game as players will find it easier to upgrade their pawns into Queens. If a combined piece (one side being a pawn) goes to the end of the board, however, the player will lose both of those pieces for the new queen.
Setup:
The setup is the same as regular chess, except the pieces filling the board will be half pieces plus the King.
How to Play:
Assuming the reader knows the base rules of chess, Chessplus adds a small tweak to the rules that expands the strategy vastly.
On a turn, a player can move one of their half pieces into a space containing another of their other half pieces, therefore combining the pieces. Likewise, the opposite can occur where the player can split a combined piece by moving one-half away to a separate location. This can often be used for taking an enemy piece like the image below.
Final Thoughts:
- The King is a solid piece and cannot combine to get out of check.
- Your combined pieces don't interfere with the movement of your other pieces.
- Plenty of added depth and strategy from one change.
- The knight is harder to identify.
Chess is a game I played a lot in my childhood, along with many people. As I discovered other abstract games in the board game hobby, my desire to play chess lessened, but it has been rekindled. Chessplus opens the door to a wider and newer decision space while still keeping the essence of chess the same. With the pieces now able to merge it gives so many advantages, such as; greater value to the pawns, it is easier to unleash and maneuver the stronger back pieces, and it creates new elements that players have to think through carefully before doing any move that may have previously seemed standard. If you're looking to revisit chess and want a larger breath of decisions to sink into, then Chessplus is for you. In fact, for anyone who already enjoys chess or has that chess champion in their life, I would recommend this to you. Chessplus truly does a simple yet outstanding revamp to the world’s most classic abstract.
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