Crook Chess

created February 2024
by Mats Winther (malwinse@gmail.com)

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In Crook Chess, the interesting tactical capabilities of the Chinese Cannon is introduced in a standard chess context. The rooks are replaced by Crooks (Cannon-Rooks). This magic piece can change movement capability by using up a move to transform itself. A Crook rook can change into a Crook cannon by turning the rook upside down, or vice versa. The Crook cannon uses Chinese Cannon movement: it moves as a rook or jumps a piece to capture. It is somewhat weaker than a knight, but its tactical capability is great. In any case, the Crook cannon can always transform itself back into a Crook rook, which is the same as a normal rook. Note! After the piece is transformed it must make a move before making yet another transformation. Thus, it's not possible to stay put and make continual transformations on the same square. The Crook has great attacking potential and is easier to maneuvre than the clumsy rook. It is more valuable than a rook, but it costs time to transform back and forth between its cannon and rook guises.

There is also a variant with an "improved pawn," which has an additional movement direction. The improved Pawn, provided that it (1) has reached the fifth rank, and (2) the forward movement is blocked, has the additional moves of a knight, but only in two forward directions: east-north-east, and west-north-west, and only to empty squares. There are no additional capture moves. Middlegame and endgame are more aggressive while improved Pawns are not easy to block. The improved pawn derives from my "Improved Chess." The primary piece graphics was created by P. Wong, Australia. See also my Warlock Chess.