*#REDIRECT [[Capablanca chess |Capablanca Chess]] ▼{{Chess diagram 8x10|=
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| '''Opti Chess (mirror I)''', starting position
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The full, formal name of the game is '''Optimized Chess 8H X 10W'''. The brief, slang name of the game is '''Opti Chess'''. The common name of the game is '''Optimized Chess'''. It was invented anonymously in early 2006 by "OmegaMan".
''Optimized Chess'' is a free, non-commercial [[Capablanca random chess|Capablanca Random Chess]] variant that is played on a 8H x 10W board with two additional pawns per side and two new pieces: the ''chancellor'' and the ''archbishop''.
All other rules, like ''[[en passant]]'' capture or [[castling]], are the same or similar to [[Chess]] although "symmetric castling" instead of "normal castling" is used. Sub-variants exist wherein the pawns do not have the ability to step two spaces forward with their first move.
Out of the 12,118 [[Capablanca random chess|Capablanca Random Chess]] positions recognized by [[Reinhard Scharnagl]], ''Optimized Chess'' is one of only two positions that exist- the other is [[Embassy Chess]]- that possesses all of the following criteria:
* All 10 pawns are defended at least once.
* All 3 pawns vertical to the composite pieces (i.e., the queen, chancellor, archbishop) are defended at least twice.
* Both pawns diagonal to the king are defended at least twice.
* The pawn vertical to the king is defended at least thrice.
* The queen and archbishop must be on opposite-colored spaces.
* The chancellor and archbishop must be on opposite-colored spaces.
* The pieces that come in pairs (i.e., rooks, bishops, knights) are symmetrically arranged.
* A meaningful distance of castling to both sides is assured. This is defined as at least 3 files from the king to the each rook.
A detailed explanation of the importance of all of these criteria to stability can be found within the [http://www.symmetryperfect.com/shots/crc select CRC analysis tool].
''Optimized Chess'' is offered in two opening setups that are east-west transpositions of the same game or mirror-image symmetrical equivalents of one another termed "mirror I" and "mirror II". In practice, "mirror I" is typically preferred by players of [[Chess]] due its familiar relative placement of the king and queen (i.e., with the king east of the queen).
''Optimized Chess'' is supported by the two most powerful, multi-variant programs available in the chess variant world. It was selected as one out of only eight 8H x 10W board games featured in [[SMIRF]] (developed by [[Reinhard Scharnagl]]). It was selected as one out of only eleven 8H x 10W board games featured in [[ChessV]] (developed by Gregory Strong). In both programs, its "mirror I" opening setup can conveniently, automatically be loaded for play against a computer opponent.
==See also==
*[[Capablanca random chess|Capablanca Random Chess]]
▲*[[Capablanca chess|Capablanca Chess]]
*[[SMIRF]]
*[[Reinhard Scharnagl]]
*[[ChessV]]
*[[Embassy Chess]]
== External links ==
*[http://www.symmetryperfect.com/shots/opti Optimized Chess 8H X 10W]
*[http://www.symmetryperfect.com/shots/opti/values-capa.pdf CRC | material values of pieces]
*[http://www.symmetryperfect.com/shots/crc select CRC analysis tool]
*[http://play.chessvariants.org/pbm/play.php?game%3DOptimized+Chess+8H+x+10W+-+Mirror+I%26settings%3DOptimized+Chess Game Courier | Opti Chess (mirror I)]
*[http://play.chessvariants.org/pbm/play.php?game%3DOptimized+Chess+8H+x+10W+-+Mirror+II%26settings%3DOptimized+Chess Game Courier | Opti Chess (mirror II)]
*[http://www.chessv.com ChessV]
[[Category:Chess variants]]
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