*#REDIRECT [[Capablanca chess |Capablanca Chess]] ▼<!-- Please do not remove or change this AfD message until the issue is settled -->
{{AfDM|page=Optimized Chess|date=2007 August 12|substed=yes}}
<!-- End of AfD message, feel free to edit beyond this point -->
{{Chess diagram 8x10|=
| tright
|
|=
8 |nd|rd|cd|bd|qd|kd|bd|ad|rd|nd|=
7 |pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|=
6 | | | | | | | | | | |=
5 | | | | | | | | | | |=
4 | | | | | | | | | | |=
3 | | | | | | | | | | |=
2 |pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|=
1 |nl|rl|cl|bl|ql|kl|bl|al|rl|nl|=
a b c d e f g h i j
| '''Opti Chess (mirror I)''', starting position
}}
'''Optimized Chess''' is a free, non-commercial [[Capablanca random chess|Capablanca Random Chess]] variant discovered in 2006. It is played on a 8H x 10W board with two additional pawns per side and two new pieces: the ''chancellor'' and the ''archbishop''. The formal name of the game is '''Optimized Chess 8H X 10W'''; however, it is also referred to as '''Opti Chess'''.
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.
==Characteristics==
Out of the 12,118 [[Capablanca random chess|Capablanca Random Chess]] positions recognized by [[Reinhard Scharnagl]], Optimized Chess is one of only two (the other is [[Embassy Chess]]) that possess all of the following properties:
* 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].
==Availability==
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 two 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]]
*[[Gothic 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]]
| 