Two problems by Erich Bartel:

• No.864  – Valladao with interesting play of Kangaroo;
• No.865  – Excelsior in a difficult serial play. (JV)

Definitions:

Circe Equipollents: After a piece is captured, it is immediately replaced on the square which is the same distance and direction from the square of its capture, as was that square from the square upon which its captor commenced its move. (If Qf7 captures a Pawn on e7, it is reborn on d7, because d7 is a same distance and direction from e7 as e7 is from f7. Similarly, if Qg7 captures a piece on ‘e7’ its rebirth square is ‘c7’). If the rebirth square is occupied the captured piece disappears. Castling with replaced Rook is permitted. Pawns may be reborn on the 1st and 8th ranks. Pawns reborn on the 8th rank are promoted as part of rebirth and the promotion is chosen by the player who makes the capture, i.e., if White captures a black Pawn, and the black Pawn is reborn on the 8th rank, White (not Black) decides what Black’s Pawn will be promoted to. Pawns reborn on the 1st or 8th rank can make only one-square move (for example black Pc8 can play only on c7 or it can capture an enemy units on ‘b7’ or ‘d7’). During the en passant capture, the Pawn is replaced on the rank opposite of the captor. For example, if Black moves c7-c5, White Pawn on ‘b5’ captures en passant, moves to ‘c6’, while the black Pawn is reborn on ‘d6’.

Camel(CA): (1,3) Leaper.

Kangaroo(KA): Moves along Queen-lines like a Grasshopper, but over 2 hurdles (which may or may not stand on adjacent squares) to the square immediately beyond the second hurdle. A capture may be made on arrival, but the hurdles are not affected.

PWC: When a capture is made, the captured unit (except a King) is replaced on the square the capturing unit just leaves. A Pawn is immovable on its 1st rank.

Alphabetical Chess: The squares are considered in the order a1, a2…a8, b1…b8, c1 and so on to h8. At each turn, only the unit standing on the square which comes earliest in this order may move. However check and mate are normal.

Madrasi: Units, other than Kings, are paralysed when they attack each other. Paralysed units cannot move, capture or give check, their only power being that of causing paralysis. Madrasi RI (rex inclusive): the rule applies to Kings as well, so the two Kings may stand next to each other.