TOURNAMENT RULES FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL CHESS

by Jens Meder & friends PREFACE Diese Seite auf Deutsch In the meantime, there exists quite a variety of different versions for 3D-Chess. One of the most famous is - and will remain - the 3D-Chess-Set you know from the Television Series STAR TREK. Contrary to the impression held by some people that 3D-Chess is just a fictious game, this game is as real as variants of other games developed by fans of games (as an example I name here "Settlers of Catan" distributed in the US by "Mayfair Games" - see http://www.universityofcatan.com/scenarios/scenarios.html ). Already by watching the different STAR TREK Series (i.e. TOS & TNG) you learn that there is some freedom to the appearance of the 3D-Chessboard. The only thing which matters is the number of squares and their position in relation to one another. In the Manufacture Guide you will find a totally new design. The advantages of this design are that the set is inexpensive to build, and even more that the set is predestined to be use as Travel-3D-Chess. Nonetheless this design has its own elegance. Regarding rules for three-dimensional chess: It is written in the "STAR TREK ENCYCLOPEDIA" , page 342: "... No Official rules were ever developed for this game, although ever-ingenious Star Trek fans have developed several sets of rules for themselves. ..." (THE STAR TREK ENCYCLOPEDIA ; MICHAEL OKUDA , DENISE OKUDA , DEBBIE MIREK ; Simon & Schuster Ltd. ; 1994 ; Great Britain). One of the eldest and most well known rules for "STAR TREK Chess" is the first version created by Andrew Bartmess (in the meantime, a version 5.0 has been made available). But without belittling the rules of Bartmess, these rules just aren't specific enough for a tournament, and can only be used as hints. The Tournament Rules for Three-Dimensional Chess on this site are the result of plenty of work done by me (Jens Meder) and some friends (e.g. Michael Klein). The beginning of this work goes back to the year 1992, when the first article about 3D-Chess written by Michael Klein was published in TREKWORLD 24. (TREKWORLD was the official club magazine of STAR TREK CENTAL EUROPE - Augsburg; Germany. The club is now the Official Star Trek Fan Club - Germany.) From this a complete rule set was developed. For the wording, a German translation of the " FIDE Laws of Chess " (dated 1993) was used. (The FIDE Laws of Chess are the international rules covering (two-dimensional) chess.) Other sources for this work include:

"TRIDIMENSIONAL CHESS: STARFLEET ACADEMY TRAINING MANUAL"; these are probably some of the first rules for three-dimensional chess, created by Andrew Bartmess a German translation of the "Bartmess rules" made by Ingo Meinerzhagen another German translation of the "Bartmess rules" made by Michael Mnnig ; published in TREKWORLD 26 Additionally I like to mention: "STAR TREK - STAR FLEET TECHNICAL MANUAL"; FRANZ JOSEPH ; BALLANTINE BOOKS ; NEW YORK ; SEPT.1986 ; pages T0:03:98:30 and T0:03:98:31 The authentic version of "my" TOURNAMENT RULES FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL CHESS was written in German in November 1995. The English version is a translation made by me (the author Jens Meder) in 1999. For the English version of this text I used the authentic version of the Laws of Chess which was adopted at the 67th FIDE Congress at Yerevan, September-October 1996, coming into force on 1 July 1997. Today's FIDE Laws of Chess came into force on 1 July 2005, and were adopted at the 75th FIDE Congress at Calvia (Mallorca). Most of the changes simply involve a more detailed description of the task and rights of the arbiter, without changing the content. Because of this a total revision of the 3D-Chess-Rules isn't necessary. Nevertheless (and even though it is very unlikely there will be a big tournament of "STAR TREK" chess soon), I like to implement the "mobile phone ban" (see arcticle 12.2.). The FIDE Laws of Chess (in English, as well as German) can be downloaded via my Chess-Link-Page . Last but not least, I like to thank all the friends of three-dimensional chess who have helped to improve the TOURNAMENT RULES, and continue to do so, by sending in letters. This is a living document, to be changed on an as-needed basis. If you have questions concerning the rules, Manufacture Guide or about the 3D-Chess-Problems, don't hesitate to contact me (the author). Ideas and suggestions are always welcome. Jens Meder Weichelweg 9 85241 Hebertshausen GERMANY jens.meder@gmx.de

INTRODUCTION The Laws of Chess cannot cover all possible situations that may arise during a game, nor can they regulate all administrative questions. Where cases are not precisely regulated by an Article of the Laws, it should be possible to reach a correct decision by studying analogous situations which are discussed in the Laws.

The Laws assume that arbiters have the necessary competence, sound judgement and absolute objectivity. Too detailed a rule might deprive the arbiter of his freedom of judgement and thus prevent him from finding the solution to a problem dictated by fairness, logic and special factors. In these Laws the words 'he', 'him' and 'his' include 'she' and 'her'. Three-dimensional chess is an extremely beautiful and logical game, known and respected from one edge of the galaxy to another. From Cestus III to the planet Vulcan, from Sol III to the very heart of the Klingon Empire, it is played by numerous forms of intelligent life and honored for its cool logic. However, the basic form of this game is to be found on 20th century Earth, where it was developed from "normal", twodimensional chess. Nevertheless the Romulans say: "You haven't experienced three-dimensional chess until you read the rules in original Romulan."

Article 1: The nature and objectives of three-dimensional chess 1.1 Three-dimensional chess is played between two opponents who move pieces or attack boards alternately on a game set called a '3D-Chessboard'. The player with the white pieces commences the game. A player is said to 'have the move', when his opponent's move has been completed. 1.2 The objective of each player is to place the opponent's king 'under attack' in such a way that the opponent has no legal move which would avoid the 'capture' of the king on the following move. The player who achieves this is said to have 'checkmated' the opponent and to have won the game. The opponent who has been checkmated has lost the game. 1.3 If the position is such that neither player can possibly checkmate, the game is drawn.

Article 2: The initial position of the pieces on the 3D-Chessboard 2.1 The 3D-Chessboard is composed of 3 main boards and 4 movable attack boards. 2.2 A main board is composed of a 4x4 grid of 16 equal squares alternately clear (the 'white' squares) and coloured (the 'black' squares). 2.3 An attack board is composed of a 2x2 grid of 4 squares. 2.4 By looking at the 3D-Chessboard from the top, the 3 main boards form one board, 8 squares long and 4 squares wide. The lower-most board is termed "White's Board (W)", the middle board is the "Neutral Board (N)" and the top board is "Black's Board (B)". 2.5 The attack boards start the game on the rear pins of the White and Black Boards, and are referred to as "Queen's Level (QL)" and "King's Level (KL)" depending on which side of the board they are located.

2.6 At the beginning of the game one player has 16 light-coloured pieces (the 'white' pieces) and 2 'white' attack boards; the other has 16 dark-coloured pieces (the 'black' pieces) and 2 marked ('black') attack boards. The pieces are as follows: a white king, a white queen, two white rooks, two white bishops, two white knights, eight white pawns; a black king, a black queen, two black rooks, two black bishops, two black knights, eight black pawns. 2.7 The initial position of the pieces on the chessboard is as follows:

2.8 By looking from the top: The vertical columns of squares are called 'files' (z, a, b, c, d, e). The ten horizontal rows of squares are called 'ranks'. A straight line of squares of the same colour, touching corner to corner, is called a 'diagonal'. Due to the attack boards a 3D-Chessboard has a very individual shape, which may vary. Consequently, there are squares which are part-time or permanently (e.g. b0) non-existent. Also, non-existent squares are part of 'files', 'ranks' and 'diagonals'.

Article 3: The moves of the pieces and of the attack boards 3.1 (a) Any move which can be made in a standard chess game (i.e. flat board), can be made in three-dimensional chess. Since every overlapping square is the same colour, you have the option of deciding which

level you wish a piece to land on. For this reason two pieces of the same (or different) colours can occupy the same square (on different levels). (b) No piece can be moved to a square (on the same level) occupied by a piece of the same colour. If a piece moves to a square occupied by an opponent's piece the latter is captured and removed from the chessboard as part of the same move. A piece is said to attack a square if the piece could make a capture on that square according to Articles 3.2 to 3.5. A piece is considered to attack a square, even if such a piece is constrained from moving to that square because it would then leave or place the king of its own colour under attack (compare Article 3.5(b)). (c) A piece, on any individual square, blocks the abiltiy of other pieces to move at all levels (according to Article 3.1(a) and 3.2 to 3.5). But the moving piece may land above or below the occupied square and continue its move on the next turn. (d) Vertical moves without horizontal movement of a piece are forbidden. I.e., a piece cannot move to the same square on another level. (e) A move which ends on a non-existent square is forbidden. (See Article 2.8) 3.2 (a) The queen moves to any square along the file, the rank or a diagonal on which it stands. (b) The rook moves to any square along the file or the rank on which it stands. (c) The bishop moves to any square along a diagonal on which it stands. When making these moves the queen, rook or bishop cannot move over any intervening pieces. (See Article 3.1(c)) 3.3 The knight moves to one of the squares nearest to that on which it stands but not on the same rank, file or diagonal. It does not pass directly over any intervening square. 3.4 (a) The pawn moves forward to the unoccupied square immediately in front of it on the same file, or (b) on its first move the pawn may advance two squares along the same file provided both squares are unoccupied (a pawn which has been moved by the move of an attack board (see Article 3.6) is NO LONGER allowed to move two squares) , or (c) the pawn moves to a square occupied by an opponent's piece which is diagonally in front of it on an adjacent file, capturing that piece. (d) A pawn attacking a square crossed by an opponent's pawn which has advanced two squares in one move from its original square may capture this opponent's pawn as though the latter had been moved only one square. This capture can be made only on the move following this advance and is called an 'en passant' capture. According to Article 3.1(a) you have the option of deciding which level you wish the pawn to land on. A pawn which has been moved by the move of an attack board (see Article 3.6) cannot be captured 'en passant'. (e) (i) When a pawn reaches the rank furthest from its starting position it must be exchanged as part of the same move for a queen, rook, bishop or knight of the same colour. The player's choice is not restricted to pieces that have been captured previously. This exchange of a pawn for another piece is called 'promotion' and the effect of the new piece is immediate. (ii) Which rank is considered 'furthest' depends on the specific situation during the game. For files b and c, rank 1 (or 8) would be considered 'furthest'. For files z and e, rank 0 (or 9) would always be 'furthest'. For files a and d, the furthest rank varies depending on whether an attack board overhanging the corner is present. If present, the furthest rank is 0 (or 9). If not present, the furthest rank is 1 (or 8). (iii) A special situation comes up, if a white pawn is located on a8B or d8B (or a black pawn on a1W / d1W) and is not 'promoted', because an attack board is overhanging the corner. If the attack board leaves later on that corner, the pawn will be 'promoted' before the next move will be done. (This implements that such an attack board move is prevented temporarily, if this move would place the king of its own colour under attack - see Article 3.5(b).) 3.5 (a)The king can move in two different ways, by: (i) moving to any adjoining square that is not attacked by one or more of the opponent's pieces, or (ii) 'castling'. This is a move of the king and either rook of the same colour on the same rank, counting as a single move of the king and executed as follows: To castle on the king's side: The king exchances its place with the rook. To castle on the queens's side: The king is transferred from its original square to the square beside the rook, then that rook is transferred to the square the king has vacated. (1) Castling is illegal: [a] as first move, or [b] if the king has already been moved, or [c] with a rook that has already been moved. (2) Castling is prevented for the time being: [a] if the square on which the king stands, or the square which it is to occupy, is attacked by one or more of the opponent's pieces. [b] if there is any piece between the king and the rook with which castling is to be effected. (b) The king is said to be 'in check', if it is under attack by one or more of the opponent's pieces, even if such pieces cannot themselves move. Declaring a check is not obligatory. A player must not make a move which places or leaves his own king in check.

3.6 An attack board can only be moved, if it holds no more than one piece (regardless which piece that is). Attack boards are controlled by the player whose piece is located on it. Empty attack boards are the property of the original owner (marking). The movement of an attack board is similar to the move of a rook. The distance is any adjacent pin. "Adjacent" means the next pins of the same or the next main board. (Levels 1 & 6 have three, levels 2 & 5 have four, and levels 3 & 4 have five adjacent pins.) Also, only empty attack boards can be moved to an inverted (i.e. backward) pin position. Occupied attack boards can only move forward or to the side. The diagram to the right should help to better understand the meaning of "adjacent pin". A 'black' attack board located at Queen's Level 6 (QL6) has three adjacent pins: QL5 and QL4 can be reached with a move forward, King's Level 6 (KL6) can be reached with a move to the side. A 'white' attack board located at QL3 has five adjacent pins: QL5, QL4 and QL2 in front, KL3 beside and QL1 inverted (i.e. backward).

Article 4: The act of moving the pieces 4.1 Players should feel free to use more than one hand when executing moves (such as when moving attack boards) due to the special nature of the 3D-Chess-Set. 4.2 Provided that he first expresses his intention (e.g. by saying "j'adoube"), the player having the move may adjust one or more pieces on their squares. 4.3 Except as provided in Article 4.2, if the player having the move deliberately touches on the chessboard (a) one or more pieces of the same colour, he must move or capture the first piece touched that can be moved or captured, or (b) one piece of each colour, he must capture the opponent's piece with his piece or, if this is illegal, move or capture the first piece touched which can be moved or captured. If it is unclear the player's own piece shall be considered to have been touched before his opponent's. 4.4 (a) If a player deliberately touches his king and a rook he must castle on that side if it is legal. (b) If a player deliberately touches a rook and then his king he is not allowed to castle on that side on that move and the situation shall be governed by Article 4.3. (c) If a player, intending to castle touches the king or king and a rook at the same time, but castling on that side is illegal, the player must choose either to castle on the other side, provided that castling on that side is legal, or to move his king. If the king has no legal move, the player is free to make any legal move.

4.5 If none of the pieces touched can be moved or captured, the player may make any legal move. 4.6 If the opponent violates Article 4.3 or 4.4 the player cannot claim this after he himself deliberately touches a piece. 4.7 When, as a legal move or part of a legal move, a piece has been released on a square, it cannot then be moved to another square. The move is considered to be made when all the relevant requirements of Article 3 have been fulfilled.

Article 5: The completed game 5.1 (a) The game is won by the player who has checkmated his opponent's king with a legal move. This immediately ends the game. (b) The game is won by the player whose opponent declares he resigns. This immediately ends the game. 5.2 The game is drawn when the player to move has no legal move and his king is not in check. The game is said to end in 'stalemate'. This immediately ends the game. 5.3 The game is drawn upon agreement between the two players during the game. This immediately ends the game. (See Article 9.1) 5.4 The game may be drawn if the identical position is about to appear or has appeared on the chessboard three times. (See Article 9.2) 5.5 The game may be drawn if the last 50 consecutive moves have been made by each player without the movement of any pawn and without the capture of any piece. (See Article 9.3)

TOURNAMENT RULES Article 6: The chess clock 6.1 'Chess clock' means a clock with two time displays, connected to each other in such a way that only one of them can run at one time. 'Clock' in the Laws of Chess means one of the two time displays. 'Flag fall' means the expiry of the allotted time for a player. 6.2 When using a chess clock, each player must make a certain number or all moves in an allotted period of time; or may be allocated an additional amount of time after each move. All this must be specified in advance. The time saved by a player during one period is added to his time available for the next period, except in the 'time delay' mode. In the time delay mode both players receive an allotted 'main thinking time'. They also receive a 'fixed extra time' for every move. The count down of the main time only commences after the fixed time has expired. Provided the player stops his clock before the expiry of the fixed time, the main thinking time does not change, irrespective of the proportion of the fixed time used. 6.3 Each time display has a 'flag'. Immediately after a flag falls, the requirements of Article 8.1 must be checked. 6.4 The arbiter decides where the chess clock is placed. 6.5 At the time determined for the start of the game the clock of the player who has the white pieces is started. 6.6 The player shall lose the game if he arrives at the chessboard more than one hour after the scheduled start of the session (unless the rules of the competition specify or the arbiter decides otherwise).

6.7 (a) During the game each player, having made his move on the chessboard, shall stop his own clock and start his opponent's clock. A player must always be allowed to stop his clock. His move is not considered to have been completed until he has done so, unless the made move ends the game. (See Articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3) The time between making the move on the chessboard and stopping his own clock and starting his opponent's clock is regarded as part of the time allotted to the player. (b) A player must stop his clock with the same hand as that with which he made his move. It is forbidden to keep the finger on the button or to 'hover' over it. (c) The players must handle the chess clock properly. It is forbidden to punch it forcibly, to pick it up or to knock it over. Improper clock handling shall be penalised in accordance with Article 13.4. 6.8 A flag is considered to have fallen when the arbiter observes the fact or when a valid claim to that effect has been made by either player. 6.9 Except where Articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 apply, if a player does not complete the prescribed number of moves in the allotted time, the game is lost by the player. However, the game is drawn, if the position is such that the opponent cannot checkmate the player's king by any possible series of legal moves, even with the most unskilled counterplay. 6.10 Every indication given by the clocks is considered to be conclusive in the absence of any evident defect. A chess clock with an evident defect shall be replaced. The arbiter shall use his best judgement when determining the times to be shown on the replacement chess clock. 6.11 If both flags have fallen and it is impossible to establish which flag fell first, the game shall continue. 6.12 (a) If the game needs to be interrupted, the arbiter shall stop the clocks. (b) A player may stop the clocks in order to seek the arbiter's assistance. (c) The arbiter shall decide when the game is to be restarted. 6.13 If an irregularity occurs and/or the pieces have to be restored to a previous position, the arbiter shall use his best judgement to determine the times to be shown on the clocks. 6.14 Screens, monitors, or demonstration boards showing the current position on the chessboard, the moves and the number of moves made, and clocks which also show the number of moves, are allowed in the playing hall. However, the player may not make a claim based on anything shown in this manner.

Article 7: Illegal positions 7.1 If during a game it is found that the initial position of the pieces was incorrect, the game shall be cancelled and a new game played. 7.2 If a game has begun with colours reversed then it shall continue, unless the arbiter rules otherwise. 7.3 If a player displaces one or more pieces, he shall re-establish the correct position on his own time. If necessary the opponent has the right to restart the player's clock without making a move in order to make sure the player re-establishes the correct position on his own time. 7.4 If during a game it is found that an illegal move has been made, or that pieces have been displaced from their squares, the position before the irregularity shall be re-instated. If the position immediately before the irregularity cannot be identified the game shall continue from the last identifiable position prior to the irregularity. The clocks shall be adjusted according to Article 6.13 and, in the case of an illegal move, Article 4.3 applies to the move replacing the illegal move. The game shall then continue.

Article 8: The recording of the moves

8.1 In the course of play each player is required to record his own moves and those of his opponent, move after move, as clearly and legibly as possible, in the algebraic notation (Appendix E), on the scoresheet prescribed for the competition. A player may reply to his opponent's move before recording it, if he so wishes. He must record his previous move before making another. The offer of a draw must be recorded on the scoresheet by both players.(Appendix E.12) If a player due to physical or religious reasons, is unable to keep score, an amount of time, decided by the arbiter, shall be deducted from his allotted time at the beginning of the game. 8.2 The scoresheet shall be visible to the arbiter at all times. 8.3 The scoresheets are the property of the organisers of the event. 8.4 If a player has less than five minutes left on his clock and does not have additional time of 30 seconds or more added with each move, then he is not obliged to meet the requirements of Article 8.1. Immediately after one flag has fallen the player must update his scoresheet completely. 8.5 (a) If neither player is required to keep score under Article 8.4, the arbiter or an assistant should try to be present and keep score. In this case, immediately after one flag has fallen, the arbiter shall stop the clocks. Then both players shall update their scoresheets, using the arbiter's or the opponent's scoresheet. (b) If only one player is not required to keep score under Article 8.4, he must update his scoresheet completely as soon as a flag has fallen. Provided it is the player's move, he may use his opponent's scoresheet. The player is not permitted to move until after he has completed his own scoresheet and returned his opponent's. (c) If no complete scoresheet is available, the players must reconstruct the game on a second chessboard under the control of the arbiter or an assistant, who shall first record the actual game position before reconstruction takes place. 8.6 If the scoresheets cannot be brought up to date showing that a player has overstepped the allotted time, the next move made shall be considered as the first of the following time period, unless there is evidence that more moves have been made.

Article 9: The drawn game 9.1 A player can propose a draw after making a move on the chessboard. He must do so before stopping his own clock and starting his opponent's clock. An offer at any other time during play is still valid, but Article 12.5 must be considered. No conditions can be attached to the offer. In both cases the offer cannot be withdrawn and remains valid until the opponent accepts it, rejects it orally, rejects it by making a move, or the game is concluded in some other way. The offer of a draw shall be noted by each player on his scoresheet with the symbol (=). 9.2 The game is drawn, upon a correct claim by the player having the move, when the same position, for at least the third time (not necessarily by repetition of moves) (a) is about to appear, if he first writes his move on his scoresheet and declares to the arbiter his intention to make this move, or (b) has just appeared. Positions as in (a) and (b) are considered the same, if the same player has the move, pieces of the same kind and colour occupy the same squares, and the possible moves of all the pieces of both players are the same. Positions are not the same if a pawn could have been captured en passant or if the right to castle immediately or in the future has been changed. 9.3 The game is drawn, upon a correct claim by the player having the move, if

(a) he writes on his scoresheet, and declares to the arbiter his intention to make a move which shall result in the last 50 moves having been made by each player without the movement of any pawn and without the capture of any piece, or (b) the last 50 consecutive moves have been made by each player without the movement of any pawn and without the capture of any piece. 9.4 If the player makes a move without having claimed the draw he loses the right to claim, as in Article 9.2 or 9.3, on that move . 9.5 If a player claims a draw as in Article 9.2 or 9.3 he shall immediately stop both clocks. He is not allowed to withdraw his claim. (a) If the claim is found to be correct the game is immediately drawn. (b) If the claim is found to be incorrect, the arbiter shall deduct half of the claimant's remaining time up to a maximum of three minutes and add three minutes to the opponent's remaining time. Then the game shall continue and the intended move must be made. 9.6 The game is drawn when a position is reached from which a checkmate cannot occur by any possible series of legal moves, even with the most unskilled play. This immediately ends the game.

Article 10: Quickplay Finish 10.1 A 'quickplay finish' is the last phase of a game, when all the remaining moves must be made in a limited time. 10.2 If the player has less than two minutes left on his clock, he may claim a draw before his flag falls. He shall stop the clocks and summon the arbiter. (a) If the arbiter is satisfied the opponent is making no effort to win the game by normal means, or that it is not possible to win by normal means, then he shall declare the game drawn. Otherwise he shall postpone his decision. (b) If the arbiter postpones his decision, the opponent may be awarded two extra minutes thinking time and the game shall continue in the presence of the arbiter. (c) Having postponed his decision, the arbiter may subsequently declare the game drawn, even after a flag has fallen. 10.3 Illegal moves do not necessarily lose. After the action taken under Article 7.4, for a first illegal move by a player the arbiter shall give two minutes extra time to his opponent; for a second illegal move by the same player the arbiter shall give another two minutes extra time to his opponent; for a third illegal move by the same player, the arbiter shall declare the game lost by the player who played incorrectly. 10.4 If both flags have fallen and it is impossible to establish which flag fell first the game is drawn.

Article 11: Scoring 11.1 A player who wins his game scores one point (1), a player who loses his game scores no points (0) and a player who draws his game scores a half point ().

Article 12: The conduct of the players 12.1 High standards of etiquette are expected of the players.

12.2 (a) During play the players are forbidden to make use of any notes, sources of information, advice, or to analyse on another chessboard. (b) It is stricly forbidden to bring mobile phones or other electronical means of communication, not authorised by the arbiter, into the playing venue. If a player's mobile phone rings in the playing venue during play, that player shall lose the game. The score of the opponent shall be determined by the arbiter. (c) The scoresheet shall be used only for recording the moves, the times of the clocks, the offer of a draw, and matters relating to a claim and other relevant data. 12.3 No analysis is permitted in the playing room when play is in progress, whether by players or spectators. Players who have finished their games shall be considered to be spectators. 12.4 The players are not allowed to leave the 'playing venue' without permission from the arbiter. The playing venue is defined as the playing area, rest rooms, refreshment area, area set aside for smoking and other places as designated by the arbiter. The player having the move is not allowed to leave the playing area without permission of the arbiter. 12.5 It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever; this includes the persistent offer of a draw. 12.6 Infraction of any part of the Articles 12.2 to 12.5 shall lead to penalties in accordance with Article 13.4. 12.7 The game is lost by a player who persistently refuses to comply with the Laws of Chess. The opponent's score shall be decided by the arbiter. 12.8 If both players are found guilty according to Article 12.7, the game shall be declared lost by both players.

Article 13: The role of the arbiter (see Introduction) 13.1 The arbiter shall see that the Laws of Chess are strictly observed. 13.2 The arbiter shall act in the best interest of the competition. He should ensure that a good playing environment is maintained and that the players are not disturbed. He shall supervise the progress of the competition. 13.3 The arbiter shall observe the games, especially when the players are short of time, enforce decisions he has made and impose penalties on players where appropriate. 13.4 Penalties open to the arbiter include: (a) a warning, (b) increasing the remaining time of the opponent, (c) reducing the remaining time of the offending player, (d) declaring the game to be lost, (e) expulsion from the event. 13.5 The arbiter may award either or both players additional time in the event of external disturbance of the game. 13.6 The arbiter must not intervene in a game to indicate the number of moves made, except in applying Article 8.5, when at least one player has used all his time. The arbiter shall refrain from informing a player that his opponent has made a move, or that he has failed to press his clock. 13.7 Spectators and players in other games are not to speak about or otherwise interfere in a game. If necessary, the arbiter may expel offenders from the playing room.

APPENDIX A. Adjourned games A1. (a) If a game is not finished at the end of the time prescribed for play, the arbiter shall require the player having the move to 'seal' that move. The player must write his move in unambiguous notation on his scoresheet, put his scoresheet and that of his opponent in an envelope, seal the envelope and only then stop his clock without starting the opponent's clock. Until he has stopped the clocks, the player retains the right to change his sealed move. If, after being told by the arbiter to seal his move, the player makes a move on the chessboard, he must write that same move on his scoresheet as his sealed move. (b) A player having the move, who adjourns the game before the end of the playing session, shall be considered to have sealed at the nominal time for the end of the session. A2. The following shall be indicated upon the envelope: (a) the names of the players (b) the position immediately before the sealed move (c) the time used by each player (d) the name of the player who has sealed the move (e) the number of the sealed move (f) the offer of a draw, if the proposal was made before the adjournment of the game (g) the date, time and venue of resumption of play. A3. The arbiter shall check the accuracy of the information on the envelope and is responsible for the safe-keeping of it. A4. If a player proposes a draw after his opponent has sealed his move, the offer is valid until the opponent has accepted it or rejected it as in Article 9.1. A5. Before the game is to be resumed, the position immediately before the sealed move shall be set up on the chessboard, and the times used by each player when the game was adjourned shall be indicated on the clocks. A6. If prior to the resumption the game is agreed drawn, or if one of the players notifies the arbiter that he resigns, the game is concluded. A7. The envelope shall be opened only when the player who must reply to the sealed move is present. A8. Except in the cases mentioned in Article 6.9 and 9.6, the game is lost by a player whose recording of his sealed move (a) is ambiguous, or (b) is false, in such a way that its true significance is impossible to establish, or (c) is illegal. A9. If, at the agreed resumption time (a) the player having to reply to the sealed move is present, the envelope is opened, the sealed move made on the chessboard and his clock started. (b) the player having to reply to the sealed move is not present, his clock shall be started. On his arrival, he may stop his clock and summon the arbiter. The envelope is then opened and the sealed move made on the chessboard. His clock is then restarted. (c) the player who sealed the move is not present, his opponent has the right to record his reply on the scoresheet, seal his scoresheet in a fresh envelope, stop his clock and start his opponent's clock instead of making his reply in the normal manner. If so, the envelope shall be handed to the arbiter for safe-keeping and opened on the opponent's arrival. A10. The game is lost by the player who arrives more than one hour late for the resumption of an adjourned game. However, if the player who made the sealed move is the late player, the game is decided otherwise, if: (a) the absent player has won the game by virtue of the fact that the sealed move is checkmate, or (b) the absent player has produced a drawn game by virtue of the fact that the sealed move is stalemate, or a position as described in Article 9.6 has arisen on the chessboard, or (c) the player present at the chessboard has lost the game according to Article 6.9. A11 (a) If the envelope containing the sealed move is missing, the game shall continue from the adjourned position, with the clock times recorded at the time of adjournment. If the time used by each player cannot be re-established the clocks shall be set by the arbiter. The player who sealed the move makes the move he states he sealed on the chessboard.

(b) If it is impossible to re-establish the position, the game is annulled and a new game must be played. A12. If, upon resumption of the game, either player points out before making his first move, that the time used has been incorrectly indicated on either clock, the error must be corrected. If the error is not then established the game continues without correction unless the arbiter feels that the consequences will be too severe. A13. The duration of each resumption session shall be controlled by the arbiter's time piece. The starting time and finishing time shall be announced in advance.

B. Rapidplay B1. A 'rapidplay game' is one where all the moves must be made in a fixed time between 15 to 60 minutes. B2. Play shall be governed by the Laws of Chess, except where they are overridden by the following Laws. B3. Players do not need to record the moves. B4. Once each player has made three moves, no claim can be made regarding incorrect piece placement, orientation of the chessboard or clock setting. B5. The arbiter shall make a ruling according to Articles 4 and 10, only if requested to do so by one or both players. B6. The flag is considered to have fallen when a valid claim to that effect has been made by a player. The arbiter shall refrain from signalling a flag fall. B7. To claim a win on time, the claimant must stop both clocks and notify the arbiter. For the claim to be successful, the claimant's flag must remain up and his opponent's flag down after the clocks have been stopped. B8. If both flags have fallen, the game is drawn.

C. Blitz C1. A 'blitz game' is one where all the moves must be made in a fixed time less than 15 minutes. C2. Play shall be governed by the Rapidplay Laws as in Appendix B except where they are overridden by the following Laws. C3. An illegal move is completed once the opponent's clock has been started. The opponent is then entitled to claim a win before making his own move. Once the opponent has made his own move, an illegal move cannot be corrected. C4. In order to win, a player must have 'mating potential'. This is defined as adequate forces eventually to produce a position legally, possibly by 'helpmate', where an opponent having the move cannot avoid being checkmated in one move. Thus two knights and a king against a lone king is insufficient, but a rook and king against a knight and king is sufficient. C5. Article 10.2 does not apply.

D. Quickplay finishes where no arbiter is present in the venue. D1. Where games are played as in Article 10, a player may claim a draw when he has less than two minutes left on his clock and before his flag falls. This concludes the game. He may claim on the basis (a) that his opponent cannot win by normal means, or (b) that his opponent has been making no effort to win by normal means. In (a) the player must write down the final position and his opponent verify it. In (b) the player must write down the final position and submit an up-to-date scoresheet which must be completed before play has ceased. The opponent shall verify both the scoresheet and the final position. The claim shall be referred to an arbiter whose decision shall be final.

E. Algebraic notation Hereby the use of the Algebraic chess notation is recommended for tournaments and for chess literature and periodicals. Scoresheets using a notation system other than algebraic may not be used as evidence in cases where normally the scoresheet of a player is used for that purpose. An arbiter who observes that a player is using a notation system other than the algebraic should inform the player in question of this requirement. Description of the Algebraic System E1. The files (from left to right for White and from right to left for Black) are indicated by the small letters, z, a, b, c, d and e, respectively. E2. The ten ranks (from front to back for White and from back to front for Black) are numbered 0,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, respectively. Consequently, in the initial position the white pieces and pawns are placed on ranks 0, 1 and 2; the black pieces and pawns on ranks 7, 8 and 9. E3. The levels are indicated by capital letters: B = 'Black's' Board, N = 'Neutral' Board, W = 'White's' Board. The position of an attack board is indicated by capital letters and a number: (from left to right for White and from right to left for Black) QL = Queen's Level and KL = King's Level, and (from front to back for White and from back to front for Black) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (See diagrams, Articles 2 and 3) E4. As a consequence of the previous rules, each of the squares is invariably indicated by a unique combination of a letter, a number and a level declaration. E5. Each piece is indicated by the first letter, a capital letter, of its name. Example: K = king, Q = queen, R = rook, B = bishop, N = knight. (In the case of the knight, for the sake of convenience, N is used.)

E6. For the letter of the name of a piece (or attack board position) , each player is free to use the first letter of the name which is commonly used in his country. Examples: F = fou (French for bishop), L = loper (Dutch for bishop). In printed periodicals, the use of figurines for the pieces is recommended. E7. Pawns are not indicated by their first letter, but are recognized by the absence of such a letter. Examples: d6B, c4N, a4W. E8. Attack boards are recognized by the absence of the file and rank declaration. Examples: QL1, QL5, KL3. E9. Each move of a piece (or of an attack board) is indicated by (a) the first letter of the name of the piece in question and (b) the square of arrival. There is no hyphen between (a) and (b). Examples: Bd5N, Nc6B, Rd0KL1. In the case of pawns, only the square of arrival is indicated. Examples: d6B, c4N, a4W. In the case of attack boards, only the pin of arrival is indicated. Examples: QL1, QL5, KL3. E10. When a piece makes a capture, an x is inserted between (a) the first letter of the name of the piece in question and (b) the square of arrival. Examples: Bxd5N, Nxc6B, Rxd0KL1. When a pawn makes a capture, not only the square of arrival but also the file (and the level) of departure must be indicated, followed by an x. Examples: aWxb4W, cBxb6N, dWxe5KL5. In the case of an "en passant" capture, the square of arrival is given as the square on which the capturing pawn finally rests and "e.p." is appended to the notation. E11. If two identical pieces can move to the same square, the piece that is moved is indicated as follows: (1) If both pieces are on the same rank, but different files: by (a) the first letter of the name of the piece, (b) the file of the square of departure, and (c) the square of arrival. (2) If both pieces are on the same file, but different ranks: by (a) the first letter of the name of the piece, (b) the rank of the square of departure, and (c) the square of arrival. (3) If the pieces are on different ranks and files, method (1) is preferred. (4) If the pieces are on same ranks and files, but different levels: by (a) the first letter of the name of the piece, (b) the level of the square of departure, and (c) the square of arrival. In the case of capture, an x must be inserted between (b) and (c). Examples: (1) There are two knights, on the squares b3W and d3W, and one of them moves to the square c5N: either Nbc5N or Ndc5N, as the case may be. (2) There are two knights, on the squares b3W and b7B, and one of them moves to the square c5N: either N3c5N or N7c5N, as the case may be.

(3) There are two knights, on the squares b3W and a4N, and one of them moves to the square c5N: either Nbc5N or Nac5N, as the case may be. (4) There are two knights, on the squares b3W and b3N, and one of them moves to the square c5N: either NWc5N or NNc5N, as the case may be. If a capture takes place on the square c5N, the previous examples are changed by the insertion of an x: (1) either Nbxc5N or Ndxc5N, (2) either N3xc5N or N7xc5N, (3) either Nbxc5N or Naxc5N, (4) either NWxc5N or NNxc5N, as the case may be. E12. If two pawns (on different files) can capture the same piece or pawn of the opponent, the pawn that is moved is indicated by (a) the letter of the file of departure, (b) an x, (c) the square of arrival. Example: If there are white pawns on squares a3W and c3W and a black pawn or piece on the square b4N, the notation for White's move is either axb4N or cxb4N, as the case may be. If two pawns are on same ranks and files, but different levels, the pawn that is moved is indicated by (a) the letter of the file of departure, (b) the level of the square of departure, (c) the square of arrival. In the case of capture, an x must be inserted between (b) and (c). Example: If there are white pawns on squares a3W and a3N, the notation for White's move is either aWa4N or aNa4N, as the case may be. If a black pawn or piece is captured on the square b4N, the notation for White's move is either aWxb4N or aNxb4N, as the case may be. E13. If two attack boards can move to the same pin, the attack board that is moved is indicated by (a) the level of departure, (b) a hyphen, and (c) the level of arrival. Example: If there are attack boards (each occupied with only one white pawn) on KL1 and QL3, and one of them moves to KL3, the notation for White's move is either KL1-KL3 or QL3-KL3, as the case may be. E14. In the case of the promotion of a pawn, the actual pawn move is indicated, followed immediately by the first letter of the new piece. Examples: d8BQ, e9KL6N, b1WB, d0KL1R. E15. The offer of a draw shall be marked as (=). Essential Abbreviations: 0-0 : castling with rook e0KL1 or rook e9KL6 (kingside castling) 0-0-0 : castling with rook z0QL1 or rook z9QL6 (queenside castling) x : captures

+: check ++ or # : checkmate e.p. : captures "en passant"

Sample game: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. b4N c3W Nc2W a3N a3W Ba2W Qb1W Nb2W Ra0QL1 Ra1W Nd4W Nd3N Nxc6B Na5N bxa5N Nb4N Nd3N (=) b5B a6N c6B a6S Bd6N Nc7B Qb8B Ra9QL6 0-0 Nb7B a5B d6B Qa8B Nxa5N a4W a5B .... etc.

RECORD OF CHANGES DATE 10/2005 ARTICLE 12 3.1(b) 3.4(e)(iii) DESCRIPTION mobile phone ban implemented wording partly adjusted to actual FIDE Laws of Chess extended added

3.6 12/2005 04/2006 05/2006 06/2006 04/2006 07/2007 08/2008 3

example reworked changed article to Article

INTRO, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7. 2.8, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 6.9, 12.2, E, misprint corrections / rewording E2, E3, E8, E10, E11, E13, EPILOGUE 3.1(a) to 3.1(b) E12 sample game misprint correction extended misprint corrections 3D-Chess960-variants added misprint correction misprint corrections / rewording misprint correction variant added

04/2010 08/2010 12/2010 12/2010 12/2010

Variants Variants Variants V.P6. V.P5.3.3(c) V.P7.

EPILOGUE Besides rules, the thing you need most to play 3D-Chess is a 3D-Chess-Set. Unfortunately all games which are occasionally offered for sale are not inexpensive. As a "real" alternative there are Manufacture Guides for building your own 3D-Chessboard or letting a friend build it. I like also to mention here that there is some freedom to the appearance of the 3D-Chessboard. The only thing which matters is the number of squares and their position in relation to one another. As futher supplement beside the rules I'd like to offer "3D-Chess Problems" of different levels - for beginners as well as for advanced players. When creating some of the problems I noticed myself, differences from "normal" chess. Questions and remarks concerning the rules are always welcome. Please don't hesitate to contact me: Jens Meder Weichselweg 9 85241 Hebertshausen GERMANY jens.meder@gmx.de In case of requests by "normal" mail, please insert a self addressed envelope and enough international reply coupons. Thanks.

Another version of the same 3D-Chess-Rules is available on the 3D-Chess-Site of Michael Klein: http://www.3dschach.de

Manufacture Guide for a 3D -Chess-Set Diese Seite auf Deutsch Introduction To ensure that you won't get too confused by reading this Manufacture Guide, you should read the Preface first.

The Measurements Often people don't realize that the height of the king is in direct correspondence to the size of the chessboard. That's true for "normal", "two-dimensional" chess and extremely important for 3D-chess. The side length of a square is about 50 to 65% of the height of the king. For that reason this Guide will use multiples of height of the king (abbreviated "h") for all measurements. This way the Manufacture Guide works for tournament size sets (h = 95mm, board size approx. TxWxD : 64cm x 38cm x 64cm) as well as for travel chess sets (h = 15mm, board size approx. TxWxD: 12cm x 10cm x 16cm). Nevertheless for convenience I will also give an example for a midsize 3D-Chess-Set (height of the king = 58mm). I'd like to point out that my own travel chess set is the prototyp for this Guide, by that it means it differs a bit from the final solution. One reason is I compensated a calculation error by a modification of the design. Another reason is the basis for this set was the travel chess by company RCR TERRY Berlin: height of the king and length of a square are idendical in that set (1.5cm) - a variation, which I copied in this instance. Hint: Before you start, read the complete Manufacture Guide carefully, because the measurements are in relation to one another. description abbreviation example

height of the king side length of a square thickness of the board thickness of the support height of strut height of an attack board height of a pin

h l = ca. 0,6 h s ( 3 - 5 mm ) r=2s t=5s a>h p = 1/6 h

5,8 cm 3,5 cm 0,3 cm 0,6 cm 1,5 cm 6,0 cm 1,0 cm

height of a nut border of main board lowness of slots

m f ( ca. 2 cm ) > r n = 1/2 t

0,3 cm 2,0 cm 0,75 cm

distance between struts height of support length of support length of main board length of strut

2a + 2s + p g = 4a + 4s + 4t + 2p 7 l + 3,5 f 4l+2f 4l+4f

13,5 cm 33 cm 31 cm 18 cm 22 cm

The Support The basis for a 3D-chessboard is the support, it provides the basic three-dimensional characteristic to the game. For the first STAR TREK series this support was probably made from metal and built by modifying a globe support. Of course easier to work with is wood. Concentrating on that material I designed a more stable support. The support has two side plates and five struts (for very small chess sets three struts are enough). If you work accurate to size and the parts fit, you can simply snap the parts, gluing won't be necessary. Snaping components becomes handy when you have to transport your chess set, because the support can be easily disassembled. The thickness of the wood should be r = 6 to 10mm (that's about twice the thickness of the main boards). The shape of the support parts is visualized by the drawings of this guide. The black rectangles are slots: width of a slot = thickness of the support "r" (i.e. 6mm) ; lowness of a slot = 1/2 height of a strut (i.e. 0.75cm).

To get most out of your wood plate, you should place your parts as demonstated in the drawing next to this text. In this case you need only a plate of approx. size: 40cm x 47.5cm. After all parts have been sawn out, the side plates have to be connected by using the five struts (how to do it should be self-explanitory). Treating the wood or decorating it is left to everyone's own preference.

The Main Boards For the three main boards as well as for the four attack boards you should use a clear material, which most people call "Plexiglass". I intentionally don't use that name, because there are quite some materials with similar properties: plexiglass, acrylic, hobby glass (this should be available and inexpensive in a building center) ... and there are a lot more. The hobby glass should be 3 to 5mm thick. A main board is composed of a 4x4 grid of equal squares, you have to add a border for the support, and should add a border for the notation too. This explains why the border has to be at least as big as the thickness of the support "r". For the example I chose a border of "f" = 2 cm. This results in a calculated area for main boards equal to 18x18 cm = ( 4 l + 2 f ) . Hobby glass can be "cut" by scatching it with a knife and breaking it over a sharpe edge. BUT BE CAREFUL: This sounds easier than it is! The edges of the board should be finished with fine sandpaper. The next step is to color the "dark" squares. There are two major possibilities to do this. Regardless which method you choose, you should color the bottom side of the hobby glass (this makes it easier to remove dust in the future).

The method I prefer is to use self-adhesive transparent colored foil. Such transparencies can be bought in office stores or hobby shops. In the past such transparencies were used to color overhead foils, with the development of computer technology this changed, the last time I bought such foils they were marketed as "transparencies for windows" (and I am not talking about the computer system). Unfortuntely those "transparencies for windows" are less transparent than their elder bothers for overhead projectors. The transparencies are to be cut into squares l x l (i.e. 3.5x3.5 cm) and placed on the hobby glass - see corresponding drawing. (Of course you have to remove the protective film from the hobby glass first, at least on this side.) Now drill a hole (i.e. 4mm) in each corner of the game board - this is for the bolt which will be used as pin. WARNING: Hobby glass will break under stress - drill smoothly. As a last step, notation (letter and number columns) should be added. You can use rub letters, self-adhesive letters or even letters from video labels. To protect the notation you can put a clear film over it. The other method is to leave the protective film on both sides of the hobby glass and cut the squares (i.e. 3.5x3.5 cm) with a hobby or carpet knife on one side out of the film. You remove the film from each square which is going o be "dark". Don't remove the film from the border. Now you can spray any color you like on those squares - "Classic" / "TOS" would be red, "TNG" would be white, but you can use any color you prefer. The best are those colors which are transparent and used for painting on glass. Don't forget: Coloring should be applied to the bottom side, so pieces stand on the unsprayed side. After this you continue as described in the other method, drilling holes and positioning notation (which is recommended). The Attack Boards The four attack boards are made of two major parts: a pole and "the board". The board has 2x2 squares and is therefore half the size of a main board, or even only a quarter if you name the square size (i.e. 9x9cm). Coloring the attack boards should be done in same manner as coloring the main boards. For the game it's important to differ between "white" and "black" attack boards. A marking can be placed on the pole or on the edges of the attack boards - it is also possible to use different colors for the attack boards. When you take a look at 3D-Chess-Set of The Original Star Trek Series, you will see that the main boards are red, but the attack boards are white. Differnt from the main boards, you drill a hole in the middle of the boards and NOT on their edges! And also notation doesn't make sense! The pole MUST be a bit taller than the king. (For the example I chose 6 cm.) For a pole you need a tube, which can be put over the pins. Aluminum tubes are easy to work with and have good appearance. For small up to midsize chess-sets the outside diameter of the tube should be 6mm, the inside diameter should be 4mm. For tournament size chess a bigger tube should be used. By using the hole in the middle of the attack boards, screw the pole onto the boards (i.e. 4mm countersunk head screw). Finally, the main boards need a pin in each corner, over which you can put the attack boards. The length of a pin should be approximately one sixth of the length of an attack board pole. The easiest way is to put bolts from the bottom side through the holes and fix them with nuts (i.e. M4). For the length of the bolts take also into account the thickness of the boards and the height of the nuts (i.e. 1.6 cm). If the length of the pin is approximately equal to the thickness of the board, you can attach the pin to the pole, and keep the holes in the main board. This method has been used, for example, in the "Franklin Mint chess - sets". Travel 3D-Chess Set If you build your 3D-Chess as Travel Chess, of course you have to drill a hole in the middle of each square.

Final Assembly Put all things together - DONE - have fun! If you have any question don't hesitate to contact me. Ideas and suggestions concerning the Manufactor Guide are always welcome. Jens Meder Weichselweg 9 85241 Hebertshausen jens.meder@gmx.de

Material Requirements for a midsize 3D-Chess-Set: approx. 39 cm tall x 23 cm wide x 39 cm deep measure price: Aug. 2000 DM approx.

remnant / plywood varnish 4 x hobby glass transparencies for windows aluminum tube 4 countersunk head screws 12 cheesehead bolts and nuts self-adhesive letters

40cm x 47,5cm x 0,6cm

4,18,-

18 cm x 18cm x 0,3cm

16,6,-

outside 6mm ; inside 4mm 4 x 40 mm M4 x 16mm

3,1,4,6,-

total costs

58,-

A set of game pieces - height of the king: 58mm - costed 20 to 40 DM. 1.00 DM = 0.511292 Euro ; 1.00 Euro = 1.95583 DM

VARIANTS
Diese Seite auf Deutsch As mentioned in the preface, in the meantime exists quite a variety of different versions for 3D-Chess. To list all variants would go beyond the scope of this page. In consequence I name here only some rules which can be easily addopted to the Tournament Rules for Three-Dimensional Chess or replace paragraphs without problem. Based on your personal preference you may combine different variants. But it is recommend to stay to "basic" rules for tournament purpose.

Variants for Attack Board Rules V.A1. Rook and King - Forced Mate - Variant by Ralph Peters It seems like in "Tournament Rules" for STAR TREK 3D-Chess a single King can not be forced mate by an opponent Rook and King alone. This is probably changed by modifying article 3.6. - the movement of attack boards: Occupied attack boards can only move forward or to the side. Empty attack boards can only move backward or to the side. V.A2. Rotating Attack Boards It is possible to exchange the clear ('white') and coloured ('black') squares by rotating an attack board 180 degrees. This wouldn't change anything if an attack board is empty, but might be quite interesting if the attack board is occupied by one piece. So, the rule is: An attack board occupied by one piece may be rotated 180 degrees. This is especially interesting if that piece is a pawn on file z or e, as the rotation would 'free' that pawn without a 'side-move', which leads to the next variant. V.A2.1. "Adjacent pin" means in reach of two squares By this variant in contradiction to article 3.6.: "Adjacent pin" means in reach of two squares. Eg. adjacent pins for QL3 are QL2 or QL4 and QL1. This makes side-moves impossible, which makes a combination with variant "V.A2." necessary. V.A2.2. Upside-down Attack Boards Some rules allow to rotate an empty attack board around the main board or let's say to put the attack board upside down. This wouldn't have any effect in a game by Tournament rules, as long you don't put two attack boards at the "same" pin. So it is not recommend to use that rule with Tournament rules. Nevertheless it might be quite interesting if the movement of the pieces is changed completely.

V.A3. Promote Pawn to Attack Board - Variant by Jens Meder In this variant if a pawn promotes on a1, d1, a8 or d8, the player can choose an additional attack board instead of a piece. This leads to five, six or more attack boards, which was shown in some episodes of STAR TREK. V.A4. Six Attack Boards, No Waiting - Variant by Andrew Bartmess There is also a known board variation using six attack boards. The two additional attack boards begin the game located attached to KL3 and QL4, and are refered to as "Neutral Attack Boards". They start the game as unclaimed attack boards, and cannot be moved by either side. The first player to move a chess piece onto either board takes possession of that attack board. V.A5. Three Pins each Rule by Ken Dayson Each player may move only its own two attack boards. Each attack board may move up or down one main board at a time, remaining on the same relative corner, when empty or occupied (only by one of the player's own paws if that pawn does not move backwards). Such limit each attack board to three pins, eg. QL1, QL3 and QL5.

Variants for Piece Movement V.M1. Real 3D There exist quite some variants which should give the piece a more "real" 3D movement. For more information about that, please search the internet yourself.

Variants of Initial Positions V.P1. Exchange Bishops and Knights eg. by Jeremy Trylch This enables the bishops to move out to the fourth rank on their initial move.

V.P2. King and Queen to the Center eg. by Larry L. Smith

V.P3. Another King and Queen to the Center eg. based on a variant by Franz Wurmser

V.P4. Unconventional Setup eg. by Larry L. Smith

V.P5. LEER 3D-Chess960 Rules LEERidea by Carsten Kullik / realization Jens Meder V.P5.1.1 Chess960, previously known as "Fischer Random Chess", is a chess variant developed by Chess-Grandmaster Bobby Fischer with 960 different possible starting positions. The rules were presented for the first time in the year 1996. The World Chess Federation FIDE added the Chess960 Rules to its Laws of Chess as appendix F in the year 2009. Here you will get now a conversion for 3D-Chess. V.P5.1.2 Before a Chess960 game a starting position is randomly set up, subject to certain rules. After this, the game is played in the same way as regular chess. In particular, pieces and pawns have their normal moves, and each player's objective is to checkmate the opponent's king. V.P5.2. Starting position requirements V.P5.2.1 The starting position for Chess960 must meet certain rules. White pawns are placed as in regular chess. Which means for 3D-Chess: z1QL, a1QL, a2W, b2W, c2W, d2W, d1KL and e1KL. All remaining white pieces are placed randomly on the fields in front: z0QL, a0QL, a1W, b1W, c1W, d1W, d0KL and e0KL. But with the following restrictions: a) The king is placed somewhere between the two rooks. Virtually the remaining fields function for that as one rank: d0KL and e0KL follow a1W, b1W, c1W, d1W; z0QL and a0QL are in advance. b) The bishops are placed on opposite-colored squares. V.P5.2.2 The black pieces are placed equal-and-opposite to the white pieces (or you could say symmetrical to the central axis). V.S5.2.3 The starting position can be generated before the game either by a computer program or using dice, coin, cards, etc. A possible procedure to place the pieces is as follows (it also explains well why there are 960 possible starting positions): There are 4 possible squares for each bishop; after their positioning you have 6 possiblities to place the queen, then 5 respectively 4 for the two knights. The rest is set, as the king has to be placed between the two rooks according to rule "V.P5.2.1 a)". If you could tell the difference between the two kinghts, you would have 4x4x6x5x4=1920 possible starting positions. As the knights appear the same, you have to divide that number by two which leads to the 960 variations. V.P5.3. LEER 3D-Chess960 Castling Rules V.P5.3.1 Chess960 allows each player to castle once per game, a move by potentially both the king and rook in a single move. However, a few interpretations of regular chess games rules are needed for castling, because the regular rules presume initial locations of the rook and king that are often not applicable in Chess960. V.P5.3.2 After castling, the rook and king's final positions are exactly the same positions as they would be in standard chess. Clarification: Thus, after a-side castling (notated as O-O-O and known as queen-side castling in regular chess), the king is on an a-square (a0 for White and a9 for Black) and the rook is on a d-square (d0 for White and d9 for Black). After e-side castling (notated as O-O and known as king-side castling in regular chess), the king is on an e-square (e0 for White and e9 for Black) and the rook is on a d-square (d0 for White and d9 for Black). V.S5.3.3 How to castle In Chess960, depending on the pre-castling position on the castling king and rook, the castling manoeuvre is performed by one of these four methods: (a) Double-move castling: by on one turn making a move with the king and a move with the rook. Example: The rooks are placed on the squares b1W and d1W, the king is placed on c1W. As well a-side as e-side castling are in this case a double-move castling. (b) Transposition castling: by transposing the position of the king and the rook. Example: The rooks are placed on the squares a0QL and e0KL, the king is placed on d0KL. As well a-side as e-side castling are in this case a transposition castling. (c) King-move-only castling: by making only a move with the king. Example: One rook is placed on the square d0KL, the king is placed on c1W. The e-side castling is in this case a king-move-only castling. (d) Rook-move-only castling: by making only a move with the rook. Example: One rook is placed on the square z0QL, the king is placed on a0QL. The a-side castling is in this case a rook-move-only castling. V.P5.3.4 (a) All the squares between the king's initial and final squares (including the final square), and all of the squares between the rook's initial and final squares (including the final square), must be vacant except for the king and castling rook. (b) Clarification: If the king's and/or the castling rook's initial square is on rank "1", all of the other squares towards the final square must be vacant. A move within rank "0" isn't blocked by (own) pieces placed on rank "1". Examples: (1) The rooks are placed on the squares b1W and e0KL, the king is placed on d0KL: For a-side castling the squares c1W, d1W and a0QL have to be vacant, but not a1W. E-side castling is possible under the regulations of Tournament Rules for 3D-Chess article 3.5(a) without any futher restrictions. (2) The rooks are placed on the squares b1W and e0KL, the king is placed on c1W: For a-side castling the squares a0QL, a1W, d1W and d0KL have to be vacant. For E-side castling he squares d1W and d0KL have to be vacant. V.P5.3.5 In addition to the Tournament Rules for 3D-Chess article 3.5(a)(II)(2)[a] castling is also prevented for the time being, if the king's initial square is on rank "1" and one or more of the of the squares on rank "1"

which it must cross, is attacked by one or more of the opponent's pieces. V.P5.3.6 Recommendation (a) When castling on a physical board with a human player, it is recommended that the king be moved outside the playing surface, the rook then be moved from its starting to ending position, and then the king be placed on his final square. (b) To avoid any misunderstanding, it may be useful to state "I am about to castle" before castling. V.P5.3.7 Notes (a) In contradiction to the FIDE Laws of Chess it is illegal to castle as the first move (see Tournament Rules for 3D-Chess article 3.5(a)(II)(1)[a]). (b) In some starting positions, the king or rook (but not both) do not move during castling. (Examples see above king-move-only or rook-move-only castling.)

V.P6. LEER 3D-Chess960x960=921.600 Rules LEER by Jens Meder V.P6.1 This game is a further development of Chess960 (see above). In principle the rules are the same as in Chess960, but with the following exceptions: a) The starting position isn't determined by luck but by each player's own will. b) The starting positions of White and Black don't have to be mirror images of one another. V.P6.2 At the beginning, the pawns are placed as usual. After that, White positions his first bishop. Black continues with his two bishops. Now White places his second bishop and one knight. Black positions both knights. Finally White places his queen which also defines the positions for the rooks and the king. Black follows. As usual, White has the first move. V.P6.3 Based on these rules there are 960 multiplied by 960 different, possible starting positions, a total of 921.600. (960 diversities in 960 combinations)

V.P7. Board and Game-Play-Direction rotated by 90 degrees by Jens Meder This starting position was invented during discussions about variants with more "real" 3D movemonet (compare V.M1.). The starting position might be usefull for such games.

back to 3D-Chess overview Last Revision 12.DEC.2010

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3D chess problems
In the meantime I developed different sets of problems for three-dimensional chess. As examples I will list here three problems: Problem 5 of Level 1 In a game there is the following situation: White: QL1, KL1, Ke0KL1, Rd0KL1, Ba6N, Nb3W, Pawns: z1QL1, d1KL1, e1KL1 Black: QL6, KL6, Kd9KL6, Re9KL6, Nb6N, Nc7B, Pawns: z8QL6, d8KL6, e8KL6 Black is in check. Which possibilities has Black to escape from check? Can Black castle, yes or no?

Problem 3 of Level 2 White: QL1, KL1, Kd1KL1, Rb1W, Pawns: z1QL1, b2W, d2W, e1KL1 (6 pieces) Black: QL6, KL5, Kd8B, Qa4N, Rc4N, Nb3W, Pawns: z8QL6, d3N, d7B, e4KL5 (8 pieces) White believes to be able to get quality of material by playing a "fork". What does White play? Problem 4 of Level 2 Continuation of Problem 3 (of Level 2). Black is smarter and checkmates White in two moves. How?

To know if you found the correct solutions or not, contact Jens Meder; Weichselweg 9; 85241 Hebertshausen; GERMANY jens.meder@gmx.de. Also there you can get the first set of three-dimensional chess problems (level 1). Higher levels are to be send to those who did pass the lower levels.