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Mongolian Chess - Shatar

link:  Shatar   Shatar 2   http://www.chessvariants.com/play/erf/Shatar.html

Shatar was the variant of chess, played for many centuries in Mongolia, before it was replaced by FIDE chess by pressure of the former CCCP.   This game is a direct offspring of the medieval Arabic chess, evolving in a different direction as chess did in Western Europe and Russia.   The movement of the QU is particularly interesting, as it has the combined moves of a Ferz (general) and RO.  

In 1993, AISE organized a ‘Grand Prix’ tournament (played by postal mail) on Shatar.   In later years, more Shatar tournaments were held in this game. 

Rules 

The same MPs/mps and the same startup position as traditional western chess are used, but with the following modifications…

RO2	KT2	BS2	QM1	KI	BS1	KT1	RO1	8
PM8	PM7	PM6	PM5	PM4	PM3	PM2	PM1	7
								6
								5
								4
								3
PM1	PM2	PM3	PM4	PM5	PM6	PM7	PM8	2
RO1	KT1	BS1	QM1	KI	BS2	KT2	RO2	1
A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H

 

The KI (Noin) cannot castle. 

The QU (Berse = QM, Queen Mongolian) can move like a RO or one cell diagonally. 

The KT (Mori) cannot give checkmate. 

The PA (Chu = PM, Pawn Mongolian) does not have a double initial step (FMO), with the exception of the PM before the queen (PM4).  PMs only promote to Berse (QM). 

ROs (Terge) and BSs (Teme) have the same moves as in traditional chess. 

The first move of the game is obligatory:

01A PM4-D02/D04, followed by……. 

01B PM5-D07/D05 

There are different types of check:

Shak is given by QM, RO or KT

Tuk is given by a BS

and Zod is given by a PM.  

As written above, a checkmate with a KT is forbidden.   Moreover, one may not checkmate except by a shak (ie, checking by QM or RO, or by a checkmate that is followed after a series of checks that included at least one shak.   E.g. if you checkmate your opponent after checking with a KT, then in the next move with a PM, and then checkmate with a BS, then the game is won.   If you checkmate the KI without fulfilling the criterium, ie, with a BS or PM, or after a series of BS and PM checks, then the game is a draw - this is called Niol.   Also, if a player has only a KI and no other pieces left, then the game is a draw - this is called Robado. 

Types of check: Shak, Tuk and Zod.  

Draw: Niol, robado.

Pieces used in Mongolian chess: KI, QM, RO, BS, KT, PM.

 

Written by Hans Bodlaender, based upon a text by Fabio Forzoni. 

From ‘Chess Variants’ web page. 

Cossacks and Mongols face each other in this set of bronze, gold, and silver, with an onyx and marble board set in a bronze, gold, and silver table. 

 

Above: Close up of King and Queen.

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