diogenes:This reminds me of my old requests:  Dark Knigh Relay Chess and Dark Cylinder Chess.  Dark Loop Chess should indeed be fun too.  For Fencer I think it's just a mixture of codes!

diogenes: I know at one time, Fencer did not like the idea of making variants of variants, but I would agree that a few dark variants of variants would be a great addition. For a chess player like me (Not very good), I always feel I have a better chance at dark chess and would love to see dark cylinder chess, dark knight relay, and dark crazy screen chess.

Dark loop chess would be interesting, along with dark Majarajah Chess - which might give white a little more of a chance to get a "surprise" win.

About the only Chess variants that it would not work too well with is Ambiguous Chess. Los Alamos Chess probable would not work too well since the board is already pretty small.

Fencer could almost double the amount of chess games if he wanted to. But of course right now, Dark Chess is the 47th most popular game so the question would be is it worth making more variants which probable would not top the original?

diogenes: Dark loop chess is played on other sites. Actually on Schemingmind there is a variant of random, dark loop chess (each side sets up pieces randomly and asymmetrically behind the pawns).

The main difference is that if you have a piece that can be put down you need to see all the possible squares it could be put, making it a little easier to find the opponents pieces (but not necessarily which is which).

grenv: Maybe there should be the rule that in dark loop chess, you can only place a pieces in a space that you can see is free (not all available free spaces) - since I would think that would give up too much information.

BIG BAD WOLF: Actually it works great with the random piece placement. Here are the rules from SchemingMind.com:

SunTzu Chess

Inspired by the great war philosopher SunTzu, this variant combines three previous variants into one game that simulates the fog of war.

The first thing you will notice is that your pieces are (likely) not in the normal chess configuration. The pieces are set up according to Fischer Random rules, however unlike Fischer Random Chess, black and white have different starting positions.

The second thing you will notice is that you can only see your half of the board when you start. That is because you can only see your opponents pieces when they are in your 'searchlight' (you can see which pieces you have taken). Your opponents moves are displayed as question marks, however these will still be appended with '+' and '#' for check and mate.

The third thing you will notice, and this will come as a real surprise if you haven't read these rules, is that pieces you capture become yours to use as you wish on a future turn (and vice versa for your opponent). You can "drop" them anywhere on the board including checking the King. Pawns cannot be dropped on the 1st or 8th rank, and if a promoted pawn is captured, it reverts back to a pawn, so be sure you know which Queen you are hunting!

One special note, after you capture your first piece, you'll be able to see all the free squares available to place a piece. This is a large tactical advantage because it gives you the terrain. However you still have very little idea which of the dark squares represent which enemy pieces!

grenv: Well with rules like that, it would help a little - but in my eyes it is no longer dark loop chess, but dark loop random chess. I think if it's going to be like that, it might as well skip it and just make dark crazy screen chess where each player can organize their own pieces - that way a person does not get stuck with a "bad" setup vs. good setup with the random setup.

Pason69: There is a list of ongoing games here: http://brainking.com/en/Statistics?p=2 - of course it is not ordered like you want, just ordered in most games being played to least. (for others who are interested in looking)

BIG BAD WOLF: I think my point is the following:

This game has been played a lot. I've played it a lot, and it's one of my favourites.

Games that are already play tested are usually better than brand new made up rules with no testing.

Try playing it if you're not sure. :)

grenv: Oh, I think it will work well - I'm just saying that if the chess pieces are not in a standard position, then it's not really dark loop chess - but dark loop random chess.

I think dark loop random chess will work since if you put the captured pieces anywhere, you can see where your opponents pieces are but you don't know which is which.

If it is not "random" and just the standard position is uses, then i would say that pieces can only be placed where you have a line of sight and know there is nothing there.

BIG BAD WOLF:

grenv: Maybe there should be the rule that in dark loop chess, you can only place a pieces in a space that you can see is free (not all available free spaces) - since I would think that would give up too much information.

well, this could be a very good choice. the space you can see is covered by at least one of your own pieces, so the placed piece is saved at least a little bit.

BIG BAD WOLF: BBW said: Maybe there should be the rule that in dark loop chess, you can only place a pieces in a space that you can see is free (not all available free spaces) - since I would think that would give up too much information.
I third that idea.

I also like the idea of dark crazy screen chess...