The Battersea Variants is back with our seventh edition in 2022! On Tuesday we’re going to be playing Seirawan Chess – the brilliant game named after everyone’s favourite silver-tongued smoothie, Yasser Seirawan.
This variant was originally the brainchild of no other than renowned former World Champion Jose Raul Capablanca. However, GM Seirawan and his friend Bruce Harper made it what it is as today.
Clarification of rules below as usual, but there’s no better person to introduce you to this variant than the man himself:
If you want to take part in the event the normal rules apply: let Aldo know and/or get to the club early to be in the first 20 participants. Remember, some cool medals are at stake and we start early – from 6pm, if you can get there on time!
Format
- 20 Players or less.
- 5 Rounds
- Swiss Pairing
- 3+2
Rules
Normal chess rules apply. However, two special pieces are involved in this variant. The ‘Elephant’ has the power of a Rook and Knight combined and was originally called the ‘Hawk’ but as we’re on Falcon Road we’re going to be calling it the ‘Falcon’, which has the power of a Bishop and Knight combined.
The special pieces start off the board and can only be placed on each player’s first rank as soon as they move one of their pieces off the first rank. So for example a move would look like this. 1. Nf3 at the same time an Elephant or Falcon can be placed on the empty g1 square. Then the clock is pressed.
Upon castling for example… white castles kingside, both the e1 and h1 square become empty. However, only one special piece is allowed on the board for that move.
If a player has already moved all of their regular pieces off the first rank and failed to place either or both special pieces when they did so, the player forfeits the right to bring them into the game altogether. That is it. Enjoy.
