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Chess with different armies

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Chess variant with opposing armies of different composition

Chess with different armies (or Betza's Chess or Equal Armies) is a chess variant invented by Ralph Betza in 1979. Two sides use different sets of fairy pieces. There are several armies of equal strength to choose from, including the standard FIDE army. In all armies, kings and pawns are the same as in FIDE chess, but the four other pieces are different.

Rules and armies

Before the game players choose their armies in a certain way, predefined by tournament rules. This can be done either randomly or secretly by both players. Each player has a choice of 4 armies: the Fabulous FIDEs, which are the standard chess pieces, the Colorbound Clobberers, the Nutty Knights, and the Remarkable Rookies.

All armies are designed to be equal in strength but have significantly different properties. Kings and pawns move the same as in chess for all armies. Pawns can only promote to pieces of either army on the board at the start. Castling is done as in standard chess with the exception of the case when the rook replacement is colorbound, like in the Colorbound Clobberers army. In the latter case, the king, when castling long, moves to b1, and the rook replacement to c1. This is so that colorbound pieces do not change square color.

a5b5c5d5e5
a4b4 black circlec4d4 black circlee4
a3b3c3 white bishopd3e3
a2b2 black circlec2d2 black circlee2
a1b1c1d1e1
Ferz (notation F).
a5 black circleb5c5d5e5 black circle
a4b4c4d4e4
a3b3c3 white bishopd3e3
a2b2c2d2e2
a1 black circleb1c1d1e1 black circle
Alfil (notation A), can jump.
a5b5c5d5e5
a4b4c4 black circled4e4
a3b3 black circlec3 white upside-down rookd3 black circlee3
a2b2c2 black circled2e2
a1b1c1d1e1
Wazir (notation W).
a5b5c5 black circled5e5
a4b4c4d4e4
a3 black circleb3c3 white upside-down rookd3e3 black circle
a2b2c2d2e2
a1b1c1 black circled1e1
Dabbaba (notation D), can jump.

Many pieces in the following armies are combinations of standard chess pieces and 4 fairy pieces: ferz, alfil, wazir and dabbaba (see their movement diagrams above). The game can be played with standard chess pieces, and the following move diagrams use standard pieces as well (except queens).

Colorbound Clobberers

In this army, rooks, knights, bishops, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowb7 up-left arrowh7 up-right arrowc6 up-left arrowe6 black circleg6 up-right arrowd5 up-left arrowf5 up-right arrowc4 black circlee4 white rookg4 black circled3 down-left arrowf3 down-right arrowc2 down-left arrowe2 black circleg2 down-right arrowb1 down-left arrowh1 down-right arrow8
77
66
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abcdefgh
Bede (notation BD). Moves as bishop or dabbaba. Can jump for dabbaba moves.
abcdefgh
8c6 black circleg6 black circlee5 black circled4 black circlee4 white knightf4 black circlee3 black circlec2 black circleg2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Waffle (notation WA). Moves as wazir or alfil, hence the name. Can jump for all moves.
abcdefgh
8c6 black circlee6 black circleg6 black circled5 black circlef5 black circlec4 black circlee4 white bishopg4 black circled3 black circlef3 black circlec2 black circlee2 black circleg2 black circle8
77
66
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abcdefgh
FAD (notation FAD). Moves as ferz, alfil or dabbaba, hence the name. Can jump for all moves.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowb7 up-left arrowh7 up-right arrowc6 up-left arrowd6 black circlef6 black circleg6 up-right arrowc5 black circled5 up-left arrowf5 up-right arrowg5 black circlee4 white archbishopc3 black circled3 down-left arrowf3 down-right arrowg3 black circlec2 down-left arrowd2 black circlef2 black circleg2 down-right arrowb1 down-left arrowh1 down-right arrow8
77
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abcdefgh
Cardinal (notation NB). Moves as bishop or knight. Can jump for knight moves.

As mentioned, when using this army and castling queenside, the king moves three squares (from e1 to b1) and the bede moves from a1 to c1.

A weakness of the Colorbound Clobberers are the unprotected pawns at a2 and h2. To cure this weakness, the positions of the waffle and the FAD can be switched. This alternate setup was already proposed by Ralph Betza and is named Colorbound Clobberers II.

Nutty Knights

This army includes a lot of leapers, but most of them have asymmetrical move patterns, with backward moves being restricted.

abcdefgh
8e8 up arrowe7 up arrowe6 up arrowe5 up arrowa4 left arrowb4 left arrowc4 left arrowd4 left arrowe4 white rookf4 right arrowg4 right arrowh4 right arrowd3 black circlee3 black circlef3 black circle8
77
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55
44
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abcdefgh
Charging rook, originally furlrurlbakking (notation frlRrlbK), moves forward and sideways as a rook, or backward as a king.
abcdefgh
8d6 black circlef6 black circled5 black circlef5 black circlee4 white knightd3 black circlef3 black circled2 black circlef2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
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abcdefgh
Fibnif (notation fbNF). Moves as ferz, or as a knight for its two vertically longest forward and backward moves. Can jump for knight moves.
abcdefgh
8d6 black circlef6 black circlec5 black circleg5 black circled4 black circlee4 white bishopf4 black circled3 black circlee3 black circlef3 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
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abcdefgh
Charging knight, originally forfnibakking (notation fhNrlbK). Moves as king backward and sideways or as a knight forward. Can jump for all moves.
abcdefgh
8e8 up arrowe7 up arrowd6 black circlee6 up arrowf6 black circlec5 black circled5 black circlee5 up arrowf5 black circleg5 black circlea4 left arrowb4 left arrowc4 left arrowd4 left arrowe4 white queenf4 right arrowg4 right arrowh4 right arrowd3 black circlee3 black circlef3 black circle8
77
66
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abcdefgh
Colonel, originally forfnifurlrurking (notation fhNfrlRK). Moves as king, or as rook forward and sideways, or as knight forward. Can jump for knight moves.

Remarkable Rookies

The rooks, knights, bishops, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8d8 left arrowe8 left arrowf8 left arrowg8 left arrowh8 white rookh7 down arrowb6 up arrowh6 down arrowb5 up arrowh5 down arrowb4 up arrowh4 down arrowb3 up arrowa2 left arrowb2 white rookc2 right arrowd2 right arrowe2 right arrowf2 right arrowb1 down arrow8
77
66
55
44
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abcdefgh
Short rook (notation W4). Moves as rook, but not more than 4 spaces.
abcdefgh
8e6 black circlee5 black circlec4 black circled4 black circlee4 white knightf4 black circleg4 black circlee3 black circlee2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
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abcdefgh
Woody rook (notation WD). Moves as dabbaba or as wazir. Can jump for all moves.
abcdefgh
8e7 black circlee6 black circled5 black circlef5 black circleb4 black circlec4 black circlee4 white bishopg4 black circleh4 black circled3 black circlef3 black circlee2 black circlee1 black circle8
77
66
55
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abcdefgh
Half duck (notation HFD). Moves as threeleaper or kirin. Can jump for all moves.
abcdefgh
8e8 up arrowe7 up arrowd6 black circlee6 up arrowf6 black circlec5 black circlee5 up arrowg5 black circlea4 left arrowb4 left arrowc4 left arrowd4 left arrowe4 white chancellorf4 right arrowg4 right arrowh4 right arrowc3 black circlee3 down arrowg3 black circled2 black circlee2 down arrowf2 black circlee1 down arrow8
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abcdefgh
Chancellor (notation RN). Moves as rook or knight. Can jump for knight moves.

Strength of the armies

The armies were playtested in human play among chess masters and considered balanced at the time of their release. They were not playtested in computer games because at this time no engines playing chess variants were available. The release of Zillions of Games did not change the original assessment. In 2010, H.G. Muller tested the Colourbound Clobberers and the Nutty Knights in the stronger engine Fairy-Max and found that both armies were significantly stronger than the FIDE pieces. He found that the Nutty Knights had an advantage of slightly more than a pawn above the FIDEs, and the Clobberers slightly less than a pawn. He also notes that the advantage of the Clobberers as an army is smaller than expected from the piece values alone.

In 2015 Fairy-Max was extended to handle limited sliders such as the Short Rook from the Remarkable Rookies. H.G. Muller ran a test of all four official armies against each other with the following result: 

                   black
w            Rook Nutt Clob FIDE   total
h Rookies    ####  +3% +13% +15%    +62%
i Nutters     -3% ####  +3% +12%    +19%
t Clobberers -13%  +0% ####  +8%    -11%
e FIDE       -16% -10% -10% ####    -71%
(All results based on 400 games.)

It seems that the Rookies are the strongest of all, in agreement with ChessV and Zillions tests. By this finding, they are only marginally stronger than the Nutters, while the Clobberers seem to be about half-way in strength between them and FIDE. Statistical error in 400 games is 2%, so that means that the 3% of the Rookies-Nutters result can make us decide with >90% confidence that the Rookies indeed have the better chances here.

Proposed adjustments to the official armies

In the light of the newer strength evaluations, several weakenings of the official armies were proposed. In 2012 J. Knappen proposed an adjustment to the Nutty Knights named Drunken Nights. Here the Charging Knight is weakened by removing the step directly backwards, decreasing its endgame value. The resulting piece is called Drunken Night.

In 2015 J. Knappen discussed some weakenings of the Remarkable Rookies and the Colorbound Clobberers, including the weakening of the Bede to a piece named Busy Beaver. In this piece the Dabbaba jump is replaced by a zigzag sliding move to the same square. In 2016, Double sharp and H.G. Muller came up with playtested proposals for the Clobberers and the Rookies. In the Clobberers, the FAD is replaced by the Prime Minister that can step in any diagonal direction once or twice in one turn. It can step in another direction after its first step. It need not take both steps. It must stop when it captures. It can return to its starting square, allowing the player to skip a turn. In the Rookies, the Short Rook is even shorter and has now only two steps in each orthogonal direction. The final adjustment from a three-step short rook to two-step short rook was made in 2020.

abcdefgh
8d6 black circlef6 black circlec5 black circleg5 black circled4 black circlee4 white bishopf4 black circled3 black circlef3 black circle8
77
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44
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abcdefgh
Drunken night (notation fhNrlWbF). Moves as ferz backwards, one step orthogonally sideways, or as a knight forward. Can jump for all moves.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowb7 up-left arrowh7 up-right arrowc6 up-left arrowe6 black crossg6 up-right arrowd5 up-left arrowf5 up-right arrowc4 black crosse4 white rookg4 black crossd3 down-left arrowf3 down-right arrowc2 down-left arrowe2 black crossg2 down-right arrowb1 down-left arrowh1 down-right arrow8
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abcdefgh
Busy Beaver (notation BzB2). Moves as bishop or two steps as a Boyscout. The squares marked with "x" can be reached via two different zigzag paths.
abcdefgh
8c6 black circlee6 black circleg6 black circled5 black circlef5 black circlec4 black circlee4 white bishopg4 black circled3 black circlef3 black circlec2 black circlee2 black circleg2 black circle8
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abcdefgh
Prime minister (notation FmaF). Moves as ferz and can continue moving as a ferz again. It need not take both steps. It must stop when it captures. It can return to its starting square, allowing the player to skip a turn.
abcdefgh
8f8 left arrowg8 left arrowh8 white rookh7 down arrowh6 down arrowb4 up arrowb3 up arrowa2 left arrowb2 white rookc2 right arrowd2 right arrowb1 down arrow8
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abcdefgh
Short rook (notation W2). Moves as rook, but not more than two spaces.

Unofficial armies

The four armies described above were playtested by Ralph Betza and selected as the most balanced ones. There are other armies, invented by Betza and other people, some of which are presented here.

In the initial version of the game, there were 8 armies and, in these armies, the king moved differently from the king in the standard chess. Instead of normal pawns, fairy pawns could be selected – for example, Berolina pawns. However, later Betza abandoned the idea of using fairy pieces for king and pawns and reduced the number of armies to four.

Forward FIDEs (Ralph Betza)

The rooks, knights, bishops, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8e8 up arrowe7 up arrowe6 up arrowe5 up arrowa4 left arrowb4 left arrowc4 left arrowd4 left arrowe4 white rookf4 right arrowg4 right arrowh4 right arrowd3 black circlee3 black circlef3 black circle8
77
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abcdefgh
Charging rook (notation fsWWbFW). Moves forward and sideways as a rook, or backward as a king. This piece is also in the Nutty Knights army.
abcdefgh
8d6 black circlef6 black circlec5 black circleg5 black circlee4 white knightd3 down-left arrowf3 down-right arrowc2 down-left arrowg2 down-right arrowb1 down-left arrowh1 down-right arrow8
77
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abcdefgh
Knishop (notation fhNbFF). Moves forwards as knight or backwards as bishop. Can jump for knight moves.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowb7 up-left arrowh7 up-right arrowc6 up-left arrowg6 up-right arrowd5 up-left arrowf5 up-right arrowe4 white bishopc3 black circleg3 black circled2 black circlef2 black circle8
77
66
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abcdefgh
Bishight (notation fFFbhN). Moves forwards as bishop or backwards as knight. Can jump for knight moves.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowe8 up arrowb7 up-left arrowe7 up arrowh7 up-right arrowc6 up-left arrowe6 up arrowg6 up-right arrowd5 up-left arrowe5 up arrowf5 up-right arrowa4 left arrowb4 left arrowc4 left arrowd4 left arrowe4 white queenf4 right arrowg4 right arrowh4 right arrowc3 black circled3 black circlee3 black circlef3 black circleg3 black circled2 black circlef2 black circle8
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abcdefgh
Forequeen (notation fsWWfFFbhNWF). Moves forwards or sideways as queen, or backwards as a king or knight. Can jump for knight moves.

Meticulous Mashers (Ralph Betza)

The rooks, knights, bishops, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8d8 left arrowe8 left arrowf8 left arrowg8 left arrowh8 white rookg7 black circleh7 down arrowb6 up arrowh6 down arrowb5 up arrowh5 down arrowb4 up arrowh4 down arrowa3 black circleb3 up arrowc3 black circlea2 left arrowb2 white rookc2 right arrowd2 right arrowe2 right arrowf2 right arrowa1 black circleb1 down arrowc1 black circle8
77
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abcdefgh
Forfer (notation FR4). Moves as ferz, or up to 4 spaces as rook.
abcdefgh
8d6 black circlef6 black circled5 black circlef5 black circlee4 white knightd3 black circlef3 black circled2 black circlef2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
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abcdefgh
Fibnif (notation fbNF). Moves as ferz, or as a knight for its two longest forward and backward moves. This piece is also in the Nutty Knights army.
abcdefgh
8b7 up-left arrowc6 up-left arrowd5 up-left arrowf5 up arrowh5 up-right arrowe4 up-left arrowg4 up-right arrowd3 left arrowf3 white bishoph3 right arrowe2 down-left arrowg2 down-right arrowd1 down-left arrowf1 down arrowh1 down-right arrow8
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abcdefgh
B4nD (notation B4nD). Moves up to 4 spaces as bishop, or exactly 2 spaces as rook. It cannot jump over other pieces.
abcdefgh
8d7 black circlef7 up arrowh7 black circlef6 up arrowb5 black circlee5 black circlef5 up arrowg5 black circled4 black circlef4 up arrowh4 black circleb3 left arrowc3 left arrowd3 left arrowe3 left arrowf3 white queeng3 right arrowh3 right arrowd2 black circlef2 down arrowh2 black circleb1 black circlee1 black circlef1 down arrowg1 black circle8
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abcdefgh
N2R4 (notation N2R4.). Moves up to 4 spaces as rook, or makes up to 2 consecutive knight moves in the same direction. Can jump for knight moves, but the first must end on an empty space to be able to make a second one.

All-Around Allstars (Ralph Betza)

This army is made of one piece from each of the main armies. Out of the 12 eligible combinations, as the FAD from the Colorbound Clobberers is considered too strong for a Bishop equivalent and the Cardinal from the same army too weak for a Queen equivalent, Ralph Betza considers the following to be the "official" all-star team. The rooks, knights, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8e8 up arrowe7 up arrowe6 up arrowe5 up arrowa4 left arrowb4 left arrowc4 left arrowd4 left arrowe4 white rookf4 right arrowg4 right arrowh4 right arrowd3 black circlee3 black circlef3 black circle8
77
66
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44
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abcdefgh
Charging rook (notation frlRrlbK), from the Nutty Knights army.
abcdefgh
8c6 black circleg6 black circlee5 black circled4 black circlee4 white knightf4 black circlee3 black circlec2 black circleg2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
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abcdefgh
Waffle (notation WA), from the Colorbound Clobberers army.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowb7 up-left arrowh7 up-right arrowc6 up-left arrowg6 up-right arrowd5 up-left arrowf5 up-right arrowe4 white bishopd3 down-left arrowf3 down-right arrowc2 down-left arrowg2 down-right arrowb1 down-left arrowh1 down-right arrow8
77
66
55
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abcdefgh
Bishop (notation B), from the Fabulous FIDEs army.
abcdefgh
8e8 up arrowe7 up arrowd6 black circlee6 up arrowf6 black circlec5 black circlee5 up arrowg5 black circlea4 left arrowb4 left arrowc4 left arrowd4 left arrowe4 white chancellorf4 right arrowg4 right arrowh4 right arrowc3 black circlee3 down arrowg3 black circled2 black circlee2 down arrowf2 black circlee1 down arrow8
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abcdefgh
Chancellor (notation RN), from the Remarkable Rookies army.

There is another All-Around Allstars army by Ralph Betza. In this setup the restriction that an eligible piece must play in one of the four official armies is lifted and the Forward FIDEs and the Meticulous Mashers are also included. It has the following setup:

abcdefgh
8e8 up arrowe7 up arrowe6 up arrowe5 up arrowa4 left arrowb4 left arrowc4 left arrowd4 left arrowe4 white rookf4 right arrowg4 right arrowh4 right arrowd3 black circlee3 black circlef3 black circle8
77
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abcdefgh
Charging rook (notation frlRrlbK), from the Forward FIDEs and the Nutty Knights army.
abcdefgh
8d6 black circlef6 black circled5 black circlef5 black circlee4 white knightd3 black circlef3 black circled2 black circlef2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
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abcdefgh
Fibnif (notation fbNF), from the Meticulous Mashers and the Nutty Knights army.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowb7 up-left arrowh7 up-right arrowc6 up-left arrowg6 up-right arrowd5 up-left arrowf5 up-right arrowe4 white bishopc3 black circleg3 black circled2 black circlef2 black circle8
77
66
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abcdefgh
Bishight (notation fBbN), from the Forward FIDEs army.
abcdefgh
8e8 up arrowe7 up arrowd6 black circlee6 up arrowf6 black circlec5 black circlee5 up arrowg5 black circlea4 left arrowb4 left arrowc4 left arrowd4 left arrowe4 white chancellorf4 right arrowg4 right arrowh4 right arrowc3 black circlee3 down arrowg3 black circled2 black circlee2 down arrowf2 black circlee1 down arrow8
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abcdefgh
Chancellor (notation RN), from the Remarkable Rookies army.

Amazon Army (Ralph Betza)

In this army, rooks and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8d8 left arrowe8 left arrowf8 left arrowg8 left arrowh8 white rookh7 down arrowb6 up arrowh6 down arrowb5 up arrowh5 down arrowb4 up arrowh4 down arrowb3 up arrowa2 left arrowb2 white rookc2 right arrowd2 right arrowe2 right arrowf2 right arrowb1 down arrow8
77
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abcdefgh
Short rook (notation W4). Moves as rook, but not more than 4 spaces. This piece is also in the Remarkable Rookies army.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowe8 up arrowb7 up-left arrowe7 up arrowh7 up-right arrowc6 up-left arrowd6 black circlee6 up arrowf6 black circleg6 up-right arrowc5 black circled5 up-left arrowe5 up arrowf5 up-right arrowg5 black circlea4 left arrowb4 left arrowc4 left arrowd4 left arrowe4 A lf4 right arrowg4 right arrowh4 right arrowc3 black circled3 down-left arrowe3 down arrowf3 down-right arrowg3 black circlec2 down-left arrowd2 black circlee2 down arrowf2 black circleg2 down-right arrowb1 down-left arrowe1 down arrowh1 down-right arrow8
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abcdefgh
Amazon (notation WWFFN). Moves as queen or knight.

Cylindrical Cinders (Ralph Betza)

The rooks, knights, bishops, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8b6 black circlef6 black circleh5 black circlea4 black circleg4 black circleh4 white rookh3 black circleb2 black circlef2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
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abcdefgh
Cylindrical Waffle (notation oWoA). Moves as wazir or alfil on a cylinder. Can jump for all moves.
abcdefgh
8a6 black circleg6 black circleb5 black circlef5 black circleh4 white knightb3 black circlef3 black circlea2 black circleg2 black circle8
77
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abcdefgh
Cylindrical Knight (notation oN). Moves as knight on a cylinder.
abcdefgh
8c8 black crossb7 up-right arrowd7 up-left arrowa6 up-right arrowe6 up-left arrowf5 up-left arrowh5 up-right arrowg4 white bishopf3 down-left arrowh3 down-right arrowa2 down-right arrowe2 down-left arrowb1 down-right arrowd1 down-left arrow8
77
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abcdefgh
Cylindrical Bishop (notation oFF). Moves as bishop on a cylinder. The position with an x can be reached in 2 different ways.
abcdefgh
8h8 up arrowh7 up arrowa6 black circleg6 black circleh6 up arrowb5 black circlef5 black circleh5 up arrowa4 left-right arrowb4 left-right arrowc4 left-right arrowd4 left-right arrowe4 left-right arrowf4 left-right arrowg4 left-right arrowh4 white chancellorb3 black circlef3 black circleh3 down arrowa2 black circleg2 black circleh2 down arrowh1 down arrow8
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abcdefgh
Cylindrical Chancellor (notation oWWoN). Moves as rook or knight on a cylinder. Can jump for knight moves. The horizontal line can be reached from both directions.

Fighting Fizzies (Peter Aronson)

In this army, the left rook, the right rook, knights, bishops, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8d6 up-left arrowf6 up arrowc5 left arrowd5 black circlee5 black circlef5 black circleg5 up-right arrowd4 black circlee4 white rookf4 black circlec3 down-left arrowd3 black circlee3 black circlef3 black circleg3 right arrowd2 down arrowf2 down-right arrow8
77
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abcdefgh
Left Single-Step Rhino (notation WF(mW-flF)(mF-flW)), on the left. Steps one square in any direction, then, if the first square is empty, may turn 45 degrees to the left, and move one more square.
abcdefgh
8d6 up arrowf6 up-right arrowc5 up-left arrowd5 black circlee5 black circlef5 black circleg5 right arrowd4 black circlee4 white rookf4 black circlec3 left arrowd3 black circlee3 black circlef3 black circleg3 down-right arrowd2 down-left arrowf2 down arrow8
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abcdefgh
Right Single-Step Rhino (notation WF(mW-frF)(mF-frW)), on the right. Turns 45 degrees to the right instead.
abcdefgh
8e7 up arrowd6 black circlef6 black circlee5 black circleb4 left arrowe4 white knighth4 right arrowe3 black circled2 black circlef2 black circlee1 down arrow8
77
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abcdefgh
Gnohmon (notation vNvWnH). Moves as knight for its longest moves, as wazir vertically or slides 3 squares in orthogonal directions. Can jump for knight moves. The name Gnohmon is a reverence to Ralph Betza who used gnohmon as a pseudonym on chessvariants.com.
abcdefgh
8c6 up-left arrowd5 up-left arrowe5 black circleg5 black circlee4 up-left arrowg4 up-right arrowf3 white bishopd2 black circlee2 down-left arrowg2 down-right arrowh2 black circle8
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abcdefgh
Crabinal (notation fNbsNhhB). Moves as knight for the longest forward and shortest backward moves, or as bishop for half the distance to the edge of the board. Can jump for knight moves.
abcdefgh
8e8 black crossd7 up-left arrowf7 up-right arrowe6 black crossb5 up-left arrowd5 up-left arrowe5 black circlef5 up-right arrowh5 up-right arrowa4 black crossc4 black crossd4 black circlee4 white queenf4 black circleg4 black crossb3 down-left arrowd3 down-left arrowe3 black circlef3 down-right arrowh3 down-right arrowe2 black crossd1 down-left arrowf1 down-right arrow8
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abcdefgh
Eagle-Scout (notation WzFF). Moves as wazir or as crooked bishop. Positions with an x can each be reached in 2 different ways.

Avian Airforce (Ralph Betza)

In this army, the rooks, knights, bishops, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8e8 up arrowe6 up arrowe5 black circlea4 left arrowc4 left arrowd4 black circlee4 white rookf4 black circleg4 right arrowe3 black circlee2 down arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Wader (notation WDD). Moves as wazir, or makes consecutive dabbaba moves (Dabbaba rider moves). Can jump between dabbaba moves.
abcdefgh
8d7 black circlef7 black circlee6 black circled5 black circlee5 white knightf5 black circlee4 black circlec3 down-left arrowg3 down-right arrowa1 down-left arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Darter (notation fNWbAA). Moves as wazir, as knight for its 2 most forward moves and can make consecutive alfil moves backwards. Can jump between alfil moves.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowc6 up-left arrowg6 up-right arrowd5 black circlef5 black circlee4 white bishopd3 black circlef3 black circlec2 down-left arrowg2 down-right arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Faalcon (notation FAA). Moves as ferz, or makes consecutive alfil moves. Can jump between alfil moves.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowe8 up arrowc6 up-left arrowe6 up arrowg6 up-right arrowd5 black circlee5 black circlef5 black circlea4 left arrowc4 left arrowd4 black circlee4 white queenf4 black circleg4 right arrowd3 black circlee3 black circlef3 black circlec2 down-left arrowe2 down arrowg2 down-right arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Flying Kingfisher (notation WFAADD). Combines the moves of the Wader and the Faalcon.

Spacious Cannoneers (Ralph Betza)

In this army, the rooks, knights, bishops, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8e8 black rooke6 black pawne4 black circlea3 left arrowb3 left arrowc3 left arrowd3 black circlee3 white rookf3 black circleg3 right arrowh3 right arrowe2 black circlee1 down arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Mortar, on the left. Moves and captures as wazir or a rook that must stop one space before any piece. Can leap over the first piece in an orthogonal line and capture the next piece on that line (here the black rook can be captured).
abcdefgh
8e8 up arrowe7 up arrowe6 black pawne4 black circlea3 left arrowb3 left arrowc3 left arrowd3 black circlee3 white rookf3 black circleg3 right arrowh3 right arrowe2 black circlee1 down arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Howitzer, on the right. Moves and captures as wazir or a rook that must stop one space before any piece. Can leap over the first piece in an orthogonal line and land on any free space after it but before a second piece.
abcdefgh
8d6 black circlef6 black circlee5 black circled4 black circlee4 white knightf4 black circlee3 black circled2 black circlef2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Napoleon (notation vNW). Moves as wazir or as knight for its longest moves. Can jump for all moves.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowb7 up-left arrowh7 up-right arrowc6 black pawng6 up-right arrowf5 up-right arrowe4 white bishopd3 down-left arrowf3 down-right arrowc2 down-left arrowg2 down-right arrowb1 down-left arrowh1 down-right arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Carronade. Moves as bishop but must stop one space before any piece. Can leap over the first piece in a diagonal line and then continue as a normal bishop.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowe8 up arrowb7 up-left arrowe7 black pawnh7 up-right arrowc6 black pawng6 up-right arrowe5 black circlef5 up-right arrowa4 left arrowb4 left arrowc4 left arrowd4 black circlee4 white queenf4 black circleg4 right arrowh4 right arrowd3 down-left arrowe3 black circlef3 down-right arrowc2 down-left arrowe2 down arrowg2 down-right arrowb1 down-left arrowe1 down arrowh1 down-right arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Big Bertha. Combines the moves of the Howitzer and the Carronade.

Pizza Kings (John Lawson)

The rooks, knights, bishops, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8c6 black circleg6 black circled5 black circlee5 black circlef5 black circlec4 black circlee4 white rookg4 black circled3 black circlee3 black circlef3 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Pepperoni (notation sDfAvWF). Moves as ferz, horizontally as dabbaba, vertically as wazir or forward as alfil. Can jump for all moves.
abcdefgh
8d6 black circlef6 black circleb5 black circleh5 black circlee4 white knightd3 black circlef3 black circled2 black circlef2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Mushroom (notation vNfsCbF). Moves forwards as knight for its longest moves, backwards as ferz or as camel for its shortest forward moves. Can jump for all moves.
abcdefgh
8e7 black circled6 black circlef6 black circled5 black circlef5 black circled4 black circlee4 white bishopf4 black circled3 black circlef3 black circled2 black circlef2 black circlee1 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Sausage (notation sWFvNvH). Moves as ferz, horizontally as wazir, as knight for its longest moves or jumps 3 squares vertically. Can jump for all moves.
abcdefgh
8c6 black circled6 black circlee6 black circlef6 black circleg6 black circled5 black circlee5 black circlef5 black circlec4 black circled4 black circlee4 white queenf4 black circleg4 black circled3 black circlee3 black circlef3 black circlec2 black circlee2 black circleg2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Meatball (notation FWADfN.). Moves as king, alfil, dabbaba or as knight for its 2 longest forward moves. Can jump for all moves.

Seeping Switchers (Jörg Knappen)

The rooks, knights, bishops, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8e7 up arrowe5 up arrowb4 left arrowd4 left arrowe4 white rookf4 right arrowh4 right arrowe3 down arrowe1 down arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Panda or Slip Rook (notation (W-DD)). Moves as rook, but only to squares of color opposite to that on which it stands. Can jump over squares it cannot move to.
abcdefgh
8d6 black circlef6 black circlec5 black circlee5 black circleg5 black circled4 black circlee4 white knightf4 black circlec3 black circlee3 black circleg3 black circled2 black circlef2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Marquis (notation NW). Moves as knight or wazir. Can jump for knight moves.
abcdefgh
8b8 up-left arrowh8 up-right arrowa7 up-left arrowc7 up-left arrowg7 up-right arrowb6 up-left arrowd6 black circlef6 black circlec5 black circleg5 black circlee4 white bishopf4 black pawnc3 black circleg3 black circleb2 down-left arrowd2 black circlef2 black circlea1 down-left arrowc1 down-left arrowg1 down-right arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Unicorn (notation N(mW-FF)). Moves as knight, then may continue as bishop. Can jump for the knight moves, but longer moves require the corresponding wazir square to be empty. In this case, the unicorn may jump to g3 and g5, but is blocked from moving to h2 or h6 by the black pawn, which it cannot capture.
abcdefgh
8b7 up-left arrowe7 up arrowh7 up-right arrowd5 up-left arrowe5 up arrowf5 up-right arrowb4 left arrowd4 left arrowe4 white queenf4 right arrowh4 right arrowd3 down-left arrowe3 down arrowf3 down-right arrowb1 down-left arrowe1 down arrowh1 down-right arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Erl Queen or Erlkönigin or Slip Queen (notation (W-DD)(F-AA)). Moves as queen, but jumps over every other space along its way.

Daring Dragons (H. G. Muller)

The rooks, knights, bishops, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowb7 up-left arrowh7 up-right arrowc6 up-left arrowg6 up-right arrowd5 up-left arrowe5 black circlef5 up-right arrowd4 black circlee4 white rookf4 black circled3 down-left arrowe3 black circlef3 down-right arrowc2 down-left arrowg2 down-right arrowb1 down-left arrowh1 down-right arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Dragon Horse (notation WB). Moves as bishop or wazir.
abcdefgh
8e8 up arrowe7 up arrowe6 up arrowc5 black circlee5 up arrowg5 black circlee4 white knightc3 black circlee3 down arrowg3 black circlee2 down arrowe1 down arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Dragonfly (notation sNvR). Moves vertically as rook or sideways as knight. Can jump for knight moves.
abcdefgh
8d6 white crossf6 white crossd5 black circlee5 black circlef5 black circled4 black circlee4 white bishopf4 black circled3 black circlee3 black circlef3 black circled2 white crossf2 white cross8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Dragoon (notation KivmN). Moves as king or, on its initial move, vertically and without capturing as a knight. Can jump for knight moves.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowb7 up-left arrowh7 up-right arrowc6 up-left arrowd6 black circlef6 black circleg6 up-right arrowd5 up-left arrowf5 up-right arrowa4 left arrowb4 left arrowc4 black circlee4 white queeng4 black circleh4 right arrowd3 down-left arrowf3 down-right arrowc2 down-left arrowd2 black circlef2 black circleg2 down-right arrowb1 down-left arrowh1 down-right arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Wyvern (notation vNsjRB). Moves as bishop, vertically as knight, or at least 2 steps horizontally as a rook. Can jump for knight moves and jumps over the first square for rook moves.

Bent Bozos (H. G. Muller)

The left and right rooks, left and right knights, left and right bishops, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8f8 up arrowf7 up arrowf6 up arrowa5 left arrowb5 left arrowc5 left arrowd5 black circlef5 black circlee4 white rookd3 black circlef3 black circleg3 right arrowh3 right arrowd2 down arrowd1 down arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Left Griffon (notation FaflR). Moves as ferz and then, optionally, rotates 45 degrees left and then moves as a rook.
abcdefgh
8d8 up arrowd7 up arrowd6 up arrowd5 black circlef5 black circleg5 right arrowh5 right arrowe4 white rooka3 left arrowb3 left arrowc3 left arrowd3 black circlef3 black circlef2 down arrowf1 down arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Right Griffon (notation FafrR). Rotates 45 degrees right instead.
abcdefgh
8b8 up-left arrowc7 up-left arrowd6 up-left arrowh6 up-right arrowe5 black circleg5 up-right arrowd4 black circlee4 white knightf4 black circlec3 down-left arrowe3 black circleb2 down-left arrowf2 down-right arrowa1 down-left arrowg1 down-right arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Left Aanca (notation WaflB). Moves as wazir and then, optionally, rotates 45 degrees left and moves as bishop.
abcdefgh
8h8 up-right arrowa7 up-left arrowg7 up-right arrowb6 up-left arrowf6 up-right arrowc5 up-left arrowe5 black circled4 black circlee4 white knightf4 black circlee3 black circleg3 down-right arrowd2 down-left arrowh2 down-right arrowc1 down-left arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Right Aanca (notation WafrB). Rotates 45 degrees right instead.
abcdefgh
8d6 black circlee6 black circleg5 black circlec4 black circlee4 white bishopg4 black circlec3 black circlee2 black circlef2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Left Sastik (notation DfflNdllNddrNfrrN)). Moves as dabbaba or a knight one to the left of the dababba move
abcdefgh
8e6 black circlef6 black circlec5 black circlec4 black circlee4 white bishopg4 black circleg3 black circled2 black circlee2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Right Sastik (notation DffrNdrrNddlNfllN)). Moves as dabbaba or a knight one to the right of the dababba move
abcdefgh
8d8 up arrowf8 up arrowd7 up arrowf7 up arrowd6 up arrowf6 up arrowa5 left arrowb5 left arrowc5 left arrowd5 black circlef5 black circleg5 right arrowh5 right arrowe4 white queena3 left arrowb3 left arrowc3 left arrowd3 black circlef3 black circleg3 right arrowh3 right arrowd2 down arrowf2 down arrowd1 down arrowf1 down arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Griffon (notation FafR). Moves as ferz and then optionally continues outwards as a rook.

Fearful Fairies (Jörg Knappen)

The rooks, knights, bishops, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8c6 black circleg6 black circlee5 black circled4 black circlee4 white rookf4 black circlee3 black circlec2 black circleg2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Phoenix (notation WA). Moves as wazir or alfil. Can jump for all moves. Named waffle in the Colorbound Clobberers.
abcdefgh
8d6 black circlef6 black circlec5 black circled5 black circlef5 black circleg5 black circlee4 white knightc3 black circled3 black circlef3 black circleg3 black circled2 black circlef2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Dullahan (notation FN). Moves one square diagonally or jumps like the standard chess knight.
abcdefgh
8c6 black circleg6 black circled5 black circlef5 black circlee4 white bishopd3 black circlef3 black circlec2 black circleg2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Fearful (notation FA). Moves as one square diagonally or jump two squares diagonally. The name is a word play on Ferz-Alfil aka Ferfil.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowc8 black circleg8 black circleb7 up-left arrowh7 up-right arrowa6 black circlec6 up-left arrowd6 black circlef6 black circleg6 up-right arrowc5 black circled5 up-left arrowf5 up-right arrowg5 black circlee4 white archbishopc3 black circled3 down-left arrowf3 down-right arrowg3 black circlea2 black circlec2 down-left arrowd2 black circlef2 black circleg2 down-right arrowb1 down-left arrowh1 down-right arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Banshee (notation BNN). Moves as Bishop or Nightrider, making consecutive knight moves in the same direction. It may jump over pieces using the knight moves, but all intermediate knight squares must be free.

Silly Sliders (H. G. Muller)

The rooks, knights, bishops, and queen are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8e8 up arrowe7 up arrowe6 up arrowd5 black circlef5 black circlea4 left arrowb4 left arrowc4 left arrowe4 white rookg4 right arrowh4 right arrowd3 black circlef3 black circlee2 down arrowe1 down arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Lame Duck (notation FyafW). Moves as rook or ferz, but may not move exactly 1 space as rook.
abcdefgh
8e6 black circled5 black circlef5 black circlec4 black circlee4 white knightg4 black circled3 black circlef3 black circlee2 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Diamond (notation FD). Moves as ferz or dabbaba. Can jump for dabbaba moves.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowb7 up-left arrowh7 up-right arrowc6 up-left arrowg6 up-right arrowe5 black circled4 black circlee4 white bishopf4 black circlee3 black circlec2 down-left arrowg2 down-right arrowb1 down-left arrowh1 down-right arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Onyx (notation WyafF). Moves as bishop or wazir, but may not move exactly 1 space as bishop.
abcdefgh
8a8 up-left arrowe8 up arrowb7 up-left arrowe7 up arrowh7 up-right arrowc6 up-left arrowd6 black circlee6 up arrowf6 black circleg6 up-right arrowc5 black circleg5 black circlea4 left arrowb4 left arrowc4 left arrowe4 white queeng4 right arrowh4 right arrowc3 black circleg3 black circlec2 down-left arrowd2 black circlee2 down arrowf2 black circleg2 down-right arrowb1 down-left arrowe1 down arrowh1 down-right arrow8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Squire (notation NyafK). Moves as queen or knight, but may not move exactly 1 space as queen. Can jump for knight moves.


Hoppel-Poppel

Hoppel-Poppel is originally a popular chess variant from Germany played with equal armies. Its army fits perfectly into Chess with Different Armies and is therefore listed here. In this army the knights and bishops are replaced by the following pieces:

abcdefgh
8a8 black circleb7 black circleh7 black circlec6 black circled6 black crossf6 black crossg6 black circlec5 black crossd5 black circlef5 black circleg5 black crosse4 white knightc3 black crossd3 black circlef3 black circleg3 black crossc2 black circled2 black crossf2 black crossg2 black circleb1 black circleh1 black circle8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Knibis (notation mNcB). Moves without capture as a knight, captures as a bishop.
abcdefgh
8a8 black crossb7 black crossh7 black crossc6 black crossd6 black circlef6 black circleg6 black crossc5 black circled5 black crossf5 black crossg5 black circlee4 white bishopc3 black circled3 black crossf3 black crossg3 black circlec2 black crossd2 black circlef2 black circleg2 black crossb1 black crossh1 black cross8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Biskni (notation mBcN). Moves without capture as bishop, captures as a knight.

References

  1. ^ Pritchard, D. (1994). The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants. Games & Puzzles Publications. ISBN 0-9524142-0-1.
  2. Pritchard, D. B. (2007). "Equal Armies". In Beasley, John (ed.). The Classified Encyclopedia of Chess Variants. John Beasley. pp. 186–87. ISBN 978-0-9555168-0-1.
  3. Chess with different armies by Ralph Betza.
  4. Single Comment Chess with Different Armies
  5. Single Comment Chess with Different Armies
  6. Jörg Knappen, 2012. Drunken Nights. On www.chessvariants.com, retrieved 2024-12-07
  7. Single Comment Chess with Different Armies
  8. Different Kings and Pawns? by Ralph Betza
  9. The Forward FIDEs by Ralph Betza.
  10. The Meticulous Mashers by Ralph Betza.
  11. The All-Around Allstars by Ralph Betza.
  12. The All-Around Allstars by Ralph Betza.
  13. The Amazon Army by Ralph Betza.
  14. The Cylindrical Cinders by Ralph Betza.
  15. The Fighting Fizzies by Peter Aronson
  16. Ideal Values and Practical Values (part 3): The Rider Problem by Ralph Betza
  17. Ideal Values and Practical Values (part 5): Modified Jumpers by Ralph Betza
  18. The Pizza Kings by John Lawson.
  19. The Seeping Switchers by Jörg Knappen.
  20. "chessvariants.com -- Comment Listing". www.chessvariants.com. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  21. "chessvariants.com -- Comment Listing". www.chessvariants.com. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  22. "Fearful fairies". www.chessvariants.com. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
  23. "chessvariants.com -- Comment Listing". www.chessvariants.com. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  24. "Hoppel-Poppel". www.chessvariants.com.
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