For those interested in the details of the study, here is the link to the academic paper: arxiv.org/abs/2009.04374
@sunnyc89004 жыл бұрын
I am guessing this would mean fewer checkmate in the middle game, as the King is not trapped by his own pieces, and the attacker can't sacrifice too many pieces to force a mate.
@digan23034 жыл бұрын
This self capture rule would end all back rank mates/tactics.
@wixom014 жыл бұрын
And all "smothered mates".
@alexchin38164 жыл бұрын
You can make it so the king can’t self capture
@Mgtr144 жыл бұрын
It's still better to give your king breathing room as it'd otherwise force you to lose a piece via self-capture and make your king open to similar attacks. Just sounds like a slower death to me.
@vampireducks16223 жыл бұрын
@@alexchin3816 That's a great nuance!
@TalEl593 жыл бұрын
True!
@parlabaneisback4 жыл бұрын
Cannibal chess, very enjoyable while nibbling a few fava beans and sipping a light Chianti.
@bornon2212694 жыл бұрын
Ah ah unforgettable Hannibal Lector
@philipstevenson51664 жыл бұрын
losing self blockade would diminish the game; i suspect this was sussed out about 1000 years ago, without a computer!
@RomanTurovskyy2 жыл бұрын
A separate rule "the king cannot capture its own pieces" can be added.
@AnlamK4 жыл бұрын
Chief advantage of self-capture chess seems to be the ability to resign *in style* by capturing one’s own king.
@Mortyst4 жыл бұрын
That's still an illegal move in this variant but hey.
@greengoblin95674 жыл бұрын
It should not be illegal
@mikaelstrandgren63684 жыл бұрын
lol
@vampireducks16223 жыл бұрын
@@greengoblin9567 I agree, it should not be illegal. It should be legal, just that self-capuring the King loses the game. This allows for "resigning in style", a delightful possibility!
@markphc994 жыл бұрын
I enjoy playing variants as a bit of fun, but I don’t want to see the rules of classical chess changed
@vampireducks16223 жыл бұрын
The rules of classical chess are only what they are after having changed and changed again for centuries (chaturanga and even shatranj being quite different to mad-queen chess, i.e "classical"). Change is inevitable. And on the whole probably a good thing, at least where chess is concerned. The transformation of the Ferz or Vizier into the Queen (i.e. from moving diagonally one square to any number of squares both diagonally and orthogonally), for example, was probably a healthy development, livening up the game. Same might be said about the two-square pawn rule, etc. There's no guarantee that self-capture, say, or torpedo, or any of the other rule changes, would improve chess as we currently play it. But it's certainly a possibility! Therefore, should be explored - and if there really is improvement, then yes, adopted - whyever not?
@maxwelljann54624 жыл бұрын
Did this variant result in more or less draws? More attacking possibilities but also more escape routes.
@philipstevenson51664 жыл бұрын
To reduce the number of draws, require each player to stand on one leg.
@gregtechno5064 жыл бұрын
This is an absolutely beautiful concept. Would love to see more of these self capture games for sure. I think this rule could actually work. Big fan
@davidfranklin54264 жыл бұрын
When AlphaZero plays AlphaZero, Black is stronger because it has one more ply of game history to learn from. :)
@julioandresgomez32014 жыл бұрын
You can also try what I call "all promotion chess". Only difference being, pieces promote at the 8th rank. Have to make it there to gain power. Knights gain the ability to move in “L” shape 3+1 and 3+2 squares, still can jump through pieces. Bishops gain moving 1 square orthogonally and then slide diagonally, thus controlling up to 12 diagonals. Rooks gain moving 1 square diagonally and then slide orthogonally. Queen promotes to queen+knight (amazon or superqueen). The openings should be more or less the same, but late game possibilities, there´s the beef.
@eldoreschess24284 жыл бұрын
You are on tho something! Spread your idea!!!
@julioandresgomez32014 жыл бұрын
@@eldoreschess2428 Thanks! You can have random chess like 960 that totally changes the openings but leaves the endgame untouched, or you can root for something like all promotion, that doesn´t affect the openings but deeply changes endgames. It´s a matter of taste; I guess.
@horrortackleharry4 жыл бұрын
Maybe a more interesting variant if you can't self-capture out of check.
@RAFAELSILVA-by6dy4 жыл бұрын
Definitely. Either the KIng can't self-capture at all or can't self-capture out of check.
@sameermansour16594 жыл бұрын
yes , this is some kind of the beauty of self - capture chess. but , what about the end of many many amazing combinations such as blockade , back rank , positional sac , discovered or doubled check and alot ,wich will disappear under the self - capture choice !!
@chris_22084 жыл бұрын
Moving pawns backwards and sideways in my opinion will lead to very positional and defensive chess games. I just checked the Chess 960 variation with the least draws and found out NBRKQRBN is 11th variation with least draws. I like it because it is symmetrical. With that, in my opinion the most aggressive Chess variant is a Torpedo Chess, without an option to castle, and with this format: NBRKQRBN. I believe if we could have a tournament in this format it will produce exciting matches.
@aneetsinghchadha50844 жыл бұрын
Tal would be proud of this variant.
@chrisgroves40974 жыл бұрын
Also, in self-capture chess back rank issues become minimal. And bye bye smothered mate
@richarddavis84864 жыл бұрын
I've won some online tournament games with Smothered mate. Always a pleasant feeling.
@skakdosmer4 жыл бұрын
I love applying changes to the rules for the blitz tournament on the last club evening before Christmas, preferably when everyone has had a nice lunch and a few Schnapses. But I think these twists should be reserved for just such special occasions, and I feel a lot of the fun would be lost if they were analysed too deeply. And I’m certainly don’t against changing the normal rules of chess. If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it! The boys in my club invented a very drastic rule called “atomic chess”: If you capture a piece or a pawn, all other enemy pieces in the same file are captured as well! So watch out for the pawn in front of your king! One ten year old defeated an International Master in two moves in another variation: Queens can make knight’s moves too, and queen can not capture queen! 1.Qc3! d5?? 2.Qxc7 checkmate.
@denverado55944 жыл бұрын
Self-capture is like chess on credit. Get out of a fix now, but it may BITE ya back hard later down the road. I love the concept. Why did it take nearly a thousand years to consider such a simple yet elegant concept? I can’t wait to give it a try.
@justinwr0924 жыл бұрын
I've been skeptical about chess variants for a long time, but I think I'm starting to come around. That was really interesting
@ElColombre273604 жыл бұрын
Fascinating, but you can't deliver the classical smothered mate in this kind of chess, and this feels just sad.
@rhalleballe4 жыл бұрын
There is no more back rank problem, no need for a "Luftloch".
@edmis904 жыл бұрын
From a game design point of view, _Self-Capture_ buffs the already slightly stronger side - the attacker, White, side. Questionable balance. Beautiful design. Even more defensive gameplay for black than normal?
@The_Angry_BeEconomist4 жыл бұрын
there are alot of draws in soccer, in cricket, rugby etc Whatever variant they come up with, the classical champion will always be regarded as THE champion
@jonsirulesx99294 жыл бұрын
I think the point is that for many sports the draw happens after the players exhibit skills on the field or, usually in the case of cricket, the weather intervenes. With chess a player can memorise computer moves and complete a game, often a draw, without having to think on their own and thus avoid losing due to a lack of skill. As Siegbert Tarrasch once commented on a game “Up to this point White has been following well-known analysis. But now he makes a fatal error: he begins to use his own head”. In many post-game interviews I have heard some of the world's best players explain a long thought not by "I was looking at one or more ideas" but by "I forgot what my home analysis said to play now". At the top level computer preparation is in serious danger of making chess a game of memory instead of imagination. Also, draws are quite rare in rugby given the scoring system.
@carlosladen4 жыл бұрын
I'm almost sure that studying this variation or similar is counter productive for normal chess players. Once your brain gets used in self capture one will always consider it. The exception is Fischer Random.
@arkadiuszjandylewski1524 жыл бұрын
Chess needs desperately a new piece that can break down closed positions! A bowman who can take pieces at the distance without moving. Bowmen were important in the middle ages and introducing it is important from a historical perspective and a gameplay perspective. A bowman should move like a king and take like a king, with one exception if it kills something it will not move.
@maciejbukowski42564 жыл бұрын
Maybe capturing that preserves hierarchy would be better? I.e. bishop can take its own pawn but not the other way around. Limiting selfcapture privilege to the king might be another option
@cousinbenson3454 жыл бұрын
This was alot of fun to watch, thanks for sharing the paper!
@kenspencer98954 жыл бұрын
The self-capture variation is a little too radical for me, as all back rank mate motifs would disappear.
@MordimersChessChannel4 жыл бұрын
Wow! What do you think about that possible changes? Are you a purist or all of the changes are enjoyable to you? Do you think for example that you had a chance (as the last generation) to enjoy your own preparations instead of crazy long draw engine lines? And, the last question, because I've got that idea now.... how about play random positions (like engines are forced to do - let's say from move 10)? They could be chosen in some kind of lottery (like Fischer Random) from thousands of openings which would have to be played as white and black by both sides? The most flexible and universal players would have pure advantage over the specialized ones. Any thoughts?
@christianeichmueller86374 жыл бұрын
it feels to me that I wouldn't enjoy the game chess that much anymore with those changes. I love the opening because I can gambit the hell out of every opening (even if its bad). I couldnt do this with this change :/
@MordimersChessChannel4 жыл бұрын
Maybe you would get gambits in the lottery, haha :D More flexible players would win :)
@christianeichmueller86374 жыл бұрын
@@MordimersChessChannel true hopefully one day :D
@FredPlanatia4 жыл бұрын
This has been done, drawing pieces out of a hat, placing randomly and then selecting positions that are almost equal (but not exactly equal since these are often theoretical draws). A very informal survey revealed little enthusiasm for the variant: check out "Chess, but good".
@mattwilliams74544 жыл бұрын
This is super cool. I would likely be even worse at it than regular chess. Which is impressive
@astroNexx4 жыл бұрын
New way to sack our own pieces? Mikhail Tal approves this variant!
@ex59neo534 жыл бұрын
My question would be : Where can you find a chess software in which you can change the rules of the game ?
@suyashsharma79494 жыл бұрын
At 10:03 g5 would be a mistake because of g3 but here g3 would be a mistake because of Queen takes h6.
@changotucumano4 жыл бұрын
Very promising chess variant indeed. I hope we come to see more of this from now on. That's for showing us this, Herr König!
@blackbird44464 жыл бұрын
What an excellent application of Alpha Zero's self-learn capabilities! It appears from the paper that the draw rate was high for most rule changes considered -- especially when time controls were high. This suggests that as long as the rules are relatively balanced, draws will be a part of the game when both players get good enough at it. I am surprised to see that they didn't test rewarding 3 points to the winner and only 1 for a draw as it is the case in soccer, for example. Alpha Zero should respond to that by taking more risk.
@JordanMetroidManiac4 жыл бұрын
It would be cool to see AlphaZero playing crazyhouse chess. I also know of another variant where you can make two moves per turn. (If four moves per turn, white wins every time. Unsure about three, but probably forced win also.) Also, four-player chess (as in that on chess.com) would be incredible to see with AlphaZero.
@vampireducks16223 жыл бұрын
Self-capture is lovely but it does make the pawns weaker. Philidor would not approve. So, to compensate for that, perhaps self-capture should be combined with torpedo (pawns can move one or two squares on any move, unless blocked of course, en passant and promotion applying). This would be a fun combination to try!
@bashamstra98944 жыл бұрын
Very interesting Daniel, wonder where this will go. After Fisher Random Ches we will have Kramnik Selfcapture Chess? Please bring more Shirov games too, I like them a lot! Trying to guess his crazy moves is extremely addictive, and it's not impossible to get it right knowing that if you pause the game, it must be a special moment :-)
@yorick0214 жыл бұрын
Self capture chess would add an interesting dimension to the game. It would definitely add a dimension to the phenomenon of mouse slips, haha. Imagine king v king and pawn and accidently capturing your last pawn. However, it would also kill some of its beauty by removing almost all middlegame checkmates. Only a frontal mate with the queen would work right? The king would just end up eating some or all its own pieces... It would still lose because of the material deficit but I would definitely miss all the sacrificial mating brilliancies. It would also add some practical issues like: what do you do when you accidently knock down your own piece on the board when moving another? Your opponent can argue that that would be a legal capture ;) I still prefer the classical rules. For every chess player < 2700 level I think the game is still very enjoyable, especially with all the online blitz options.
@nicocola14 жыл бұрын
Torpedo chess looks the most exciting and promising, while not seemingly not being much different than regular chess. Although, game should be consisted of 2 half games (1 w/ white, 1 w/ black ) to be fair because white wins too often. It would be nice if you could cover a torpedo variant game. And thanks for the content, amazing!
@Ardistan6674 жыл бұрын
It is quite terrifying to think about how a self-capture rule would potentially largely revise a lot known thus far about opening theory and chess principles.
@rickelmonoggin4 жыл бұрын
Fun as variants are, I think the rules of Chess are fine as they are. I think games where a draw is agreed whilst still in theory are not actually that common.
@guest_informant4 жыл бұрын
These are fascinating variants (and those opposite coloured Bishops are one of the few times I've got a puzzle set on this channel :-)) but if the aim is to reduce the number of draws, isn't all this just an arms race: ultimately the best players will be evenly-matched won't they. (It'd be nice to live in a world where a well played draw could be appreciated for what it is and maybe even the GM draws seen as part of a bigger picture. )
@uhligsu4 жыл бұрын
So much fun! Thank you!
@MrSilvershane4 жыл бұрын
I think this would be fascinating as a partner to 960 chess events. However, nothing is more beautiful than the chess we now know and play.
@niinuetey98784 жыл бұрын
They can have it as a variant just like many versions on lichess. But we want our standard chess laws. Self capture will introduce a rather ridiculous complications. Already chess is very hard and difficult even at GM level
@aungkyaw47044 жыл бұрын
I wanna do some version when pwan reach other opposite side ....that pawn cannot be queen or rock etc......but one power such as bishop left on board will be double powers😅😅that means when that bishop can move in two alternate ways ...one is diagonal of his characteristics but another move will be depending on player desire such as queen style or knight style ......🤣🤣🤣🤣 that 's insane ....😇😇😇😇😇😇
@robinesperoza4 жыл бұрын
Loved the video. Stalemate used to be a win (in early 1800s) and should be a win. Comm'on, the opponent cannot make a move that doesn't lose. That doesn't deserve a draw. I am in favour of changing that rule at the very least. Self-capture I'm not so sure about. Would be fun to play a couple of tournaments like it.
@FredPlanatia4 жыл бұрын
Maybe 2 points for Stalemate and 3 points for Checkmate?
@hw85564 жыл бұрын
For beginners, then it would be much easier to win with material advantage. Very easy with KQ - K to win, and KP - K you do not need to think about opposition.
@user-it4iz7pv1g4 жыл бұрын
I know this variant as bughouse version. You can take your own pieces and put it in like in crazyhouse
@taljechin4 жыл бұрын
All the mates would probably look like unelegant beginner mates with the king crowded by enemies. And no more hiding the king behind an enemy pawn... Btw, wouldn't more typical pawn endings be drawn too? Like W:Ke6, c5 B: Kc7, c6 1.Ke7 Kxc6 = :(
@taljechin4 жыл бұрын
But it's a testament to the greatness of the game chess, that even many centuries after its invention it's very hard to improve upon!
@northshores73194 жыл бұрын
All that needs to be done to make draws fewer is when the players want to draw put the position into three Chess computers for 10 minutes. If two of them show a slight plus for either side, then keep on playing. Repeat that once and then after a further 10 moves they can agree to a draw.
@Pipiopy4 жыл бұрын
the one rule I'd like to change is the check rule, so that it becomes possible to capture the king
@rickdynes4 жыл бұрын
can we call this FRIENDLY FIRE?
@RangeWilson4 жыл бұрын
Interesting variant, but might not change chess all that much. Easier to attack by self-capturing, easier to defend by self-capturing. Other than the occasional technical positions, that's probably about it.
@avinaashashastry39104 жыл бұрын
Im in for the win for forcing a stalemate. Not in for self captures. And it should be leagal for a pinned piece to move to deliver checkmate.
@m.s.g18903 жыл бұрын
self capture variant would mean that you'd have so many possible moves/consequences to consider that your brain would get totally fried before the end. It would also be very slow and boring to watch while players consider the myriad of possibilities and future consequences before moving?
@torestgard16814 жыл бұрын
basically an accepted clearance sacrifice. As is, I don't like it, because it takes away mating attacks. The king can always just gobble a pawn and run. An improvement to this would be that the king is not allowed to self-capture.
@DG-ss2zd4 жыл бұрын
Great video and concept
@finfelagund4 жыл бұрын
I would rather introduce some "partial wins" like giving 1 : 0 for a complete win, 0.9 : 0.1 for a stalemate, 0.8 : 0.2 for a threefold repetition (the player who forces the rep only gets 0.2), 0.7 : 0.3 for having more material in a drawn endgame (like after 60th move or so), 0.6 : 0.4 for an early draw (the player who formally offers the draw only gets 0.4) and 0.5 : 0.5 for other (rare) cases like two kings on the board.
@seasideman4 жыл бұрын
This is an intriguing variant and might reduce the number of draws, but I'm not sure it would reduce the depth of opening theory.
@Wolf_Larsen4 жыл бұрын
The could call the self-capturing playstyle the "Crécy variation".
@munhozjp4 жыл бұрын
It's funny to watch but I think it would make chess a poorer game. One of its most interesting rules is that you can't capture your own pieces. As others have argued, many checkmating possibilities would disappear. I think the best way to fight the draw problem may be to change the points system, like in other sports (at least in football/soccer): 3 for victory, 1 for draw, 0 for loss. Then players would struggle more to win. What do you think?
@weakrecession4 жыл бұрын
Mathematically speaking, what is the effect on the complexity, how many more possible positions arise due to this additional rule?
@TymexComputing4 жыл бұрын
I would like to see how Alpha Zero takes care about MakRuk :) - the closest nowadays relative to Chaturanga - would it show some better/deeper way of playing that game :) - its more drawish than the long range international chess is
@snippletrap4 жыл бұрын
I'd like to see a variant where there's fog of war (can't see the whole board).
@fickificki23914 жыл бұрын
So casino chess
@snippletrap4 жыл бұрын
@@fickificki2391 Partial information like Starcraft. Or texas hold'em, sure.
@spindoctor63854 жыл бұрын
I don't think there needs to be rule changes to prevent so many draws in high level chess, It may be enough to change the scoring system, there is not much point risking a loss to try to push for a win with points of 0, 1/2, and 1 for loss, draw, win. Give 0 for a loss, 1 for a draw and 4 or 5 for a win, In tournament play or when playing the same opponent multiple times you would see a lot less settling for a draw.
@PowerPlayChess4 жыл бұрын
If you ❤️ my videos do *subscribe* bit.ly/powerplaysubscription and do checkout the *supporting* *options* through Patreon: bit.ly/patreondanielking or through *PayPal* (links in the description)
@andrewroberts81394 жыл бұрын
If it is playing itself, surely it knows what it is thinking
@cr16854 жыл бұрын
I think self capture might be too powerful. Maybe there can be a variant where you can only capture your own piece ONCE per game. You can use your one self capture to attack or to develop rapidly or to escape a bank ranker. Thoughts?
@edmis904 жыл бұрын
I'm not a fan of conditional rules in any games. I rather keep it simple. The beauty in this change is that it's a simple change which makes the game far more complex. Whilst your suggestion is a more complex change that makes the game very little more complex. It's ugly.
@paulboro52784 жыл бұрын
I only agree with no castling chess. It will promote creativity until the new opening theory develops.
@TymexComputing4 жыл бұрын
Thank You for the news - nice that the paper mentions the great variant player Mr. Pritchard :) - for all of those eager to see what a nice game a variant chess can be i recommend browsing into "chesswhiz" channel by themselves - the best Chess-Variant channel on earth with over 500 variants tested in battle :) !!! I really recommend it for you!
@nick26294 жыл бұрын
No more smothered mates is a deal breaker for me.
@dfv6714 жыл бұрын
Self capturing idea will never fly.
@fixpontt4 жыл бұрын
i dont see the value in testing random chess rules, the only rule i would consider to change is the 3-fold repetition rule where the player who makes the 3rd rep move would lose the game, in this way players would be forced to play on, this rule does not really fit in chess anyway and this would give the attacking player more chances in the endgame
@StephenWagstaffe14 жыл бұрын
Mess with the code on your our time Developers. Time to move on to AlphaChess notating any game. Also publish the game with user control over Alpha's time to think and search depth.
@noyb-yb4 жыл бұрын
what does AlphaZero think of Chess960/Chess9LX ? It seems much better than any other alternatives and gets rid of the opening chess theory issues at least 90% ?
@mojtabaes27444 жыл бұрын
on 5:57 the King cannot capture the pawn because of the pawn on c4. The white king should start from the pawn on b3 or the pawn on h3. With the current flow, you have changed two rules and not just adding one rule to the game.
@hw85564 жыл бұрын
As the c4-pawn is also white, with the given rules here it is legal to capture the own pawn with Ke4xd5. Own pieces give not check in classical chess, as it is in the self-capture variant. So this is not a second variation.
@Austin1011234 жыл бұрын
11:20 white would have Kxf2 since you can own capture :)
@cheryllins11054 жыл бұрын
The games shown were quite interesting and brought a smile to my face several times. However, it seems the "problem of chess" is really a problem of the 2600+ club. For the vast majority of us patzers chess is complicated enough. Perhaps there'll end up being a version of chess for the elite, and classical/standard chess for the rest of us, but it seems like that's a poor choice for the game.
@firstlast39464 жыл бұрын
Powered play chessish May be the New your channel Thx your effort anyway
@larryjackson1324 жыл бұрын
Great video, I'd love to hear you talk more on these variations!
@karolmetal42564 жыл бұрын
wow
@davidblue8194 жыл бұрын
I hope the professionals don't decide that they like one of these variations and simply impose it on the chess world they way they abolished descriptive notation.
@iconicon56424 жыл бұрын
What's wrong with chess at the moment? It seems to me that grace under pressure is still the quality that counts as it always will in a meaningful conflict.
@AlonsoRules4 жыл бұрын
draws could be reduced by having 2 points for a win and forced stalemate = win
@FredPlanatia4 жыл бұрын
How about 3 points for a win, 2 for a stalemate, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss?
@anthroposophe4 жыл бұрын
I was wondering if they would turn AlphaZero loose on 5D Chess with Time Travel.
@dfv6714 жыл бұрын
Keep the rooks and kings in classical position so we can castle classically, randomize just the bishops, queens and knights.
@denverado55944 жыл бұрын
In some ways, self-capture injects chess with an autoimmune disease.
@bdthebest1004 жыл бұрын
I was waiting for this🙏
@shyamdas62314 жыл бұрын
No back rank mate now.
@xx-cj6ew4 жыл бұрын
1. Kxd1
@hw85564 жыл бұрын
Yeah, the Botez Gambit in the first move
@rojokongen4 жыл бұрын
This is REALLY interesting!
@rickelmonoggin4 жыл бұрын
Is the King immune from capture?
@rickdynes4 жыл бұрын
...chess on a GO board with the necessary alternating black/white squares.....ok I don't even like my own idea
@petermarschall2637 Жыл бұрын
Why doesn't g3 after g5 (attacking the knight, 10:05) trap the queen?
@sachs83794 жыл бұрын
Wow nice
@jaydiknight68903 жыл бұрын
Can you self-capture your own King?
@sachs83794 жыл бұрын
Wow nice 👍
@diegovski4 жыл бұрын
Interesting to see a chess engine build a fortress.
@jorik09074 жыл бұрын
After...g5 attacking the Knight, what happens if white responds with g3, trapping the queen?
@philipstevenson51664 жыл бұрын
qh6
@strong87054 жыл бұрын
Sounds impossible to trap the Q in this chess (as she will always eat her way out).
@jorik09074 жыл бұрын
@@strong8705 ah of course, seems my brain is still hardwired to ignore that