+ Both players play a move "at the same time". + The goal is to eliminate all enemy pawns. +
++ This variant is inspired by the + + Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse + + mythology. Knights are horsemen, and pawns are footmen. + If all footmen of one color die, the other side wins. +
++ At each turn you can decide either to play safely an apparently valid + move, or speculate on your opponent's move and choose a move valid only + conditionally on his choice. In this last case the move may end up not + being playable: you would get a penalty point. Two penalty points loses + the game. For example in the initial position, 1.(c1)c2 is safe while + 1.axb3 will be valid only if black plays 1...Nb3. +
Resolving rules:
++ Pawns automatically promote in a knight, except if the player already + have two horsemen on the board. In this case the footman is relocated on + any free square which is not on last rank. + Even in this last case, pawn promotions may appear possible by + anticipation of a knight capture. This is risky but playable. +
++ As stated previously, losing all pawns lose the game, so promoting your + last pawn loses. It may be the only legal move. + If however both footmen armies vanish at the same time, it's a draw. + It can happen if the two last pawns decide to advance to the same square + for example. + Finally, if both sides get the second penalty point at the same time + it's also a draw. +
++ + Apocalypse chess + + on chessvariants.com. This variant is playable at + + apocalypsechess.online + + without the promotion restriction. +
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