Dunsany's chess

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Dunsany's chess, the starting position.

Dunsany's chess, also known as Dunsany's game, is an asymmetric chess variant in which one side has standard chess pieces, and the other side has 32 pawns. Unlike many chess variants, this one does not feature any fairy pieces, which are pieces not found in conventional chess. This game was invented by Lord Dunsany in 1942. A similar game is called 'horde chess'.

Rules

Object of the game:

• The standard pieces win by capturing all 32 pawns before the pawns run out of legal moves.
• The pawns win by checkmating the king. This is far easier if they first get at least one pawn promoted to queen.
• The pawns can also accomplish a draw, which for them is almost as good as a win, by running out of legal moves.

Piece movement is the same as in regular chess, except that only the eight pawns from the standard side (second row) have the option to move forward two spaces on their first move.

Variations

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Horde chess.

There exists an almost identical game called Horde chess. In difference to Dunsany's chess, the colors of pieces are exchanged, and the middle two columns of pawns are shifted forward one space.

External links

• Lord Dunsany's chess java applet at www.pathguy.com