Planar Chess
by L. Lynn Smith


Equipment:

1  4x4x4 playing field
1  set of standard Chessmen
2  sets of Checkers(Draughts)*


Begin by placing a red Checker to one side of the lowest level of the playing field, 
and another to the opposite side.  Then place black Checkers to each of the two remaining
opposite sides.  These will be used to denote the X and Y axes of the playing field.

A little technical background:  Any cell of a cubic field exists in three distinct 
planes, the X/Y plane(normally considered the level), the X/Z plane and the Y/Z plane.

In this game, a pieces are restricted to movement only within their indicated planes.
A piece without a Checker will be considered restricted to the X/Y plane.  With a red 
Checker, it will be considered restricted to the plane denoted by the axial placement 
of red Checkers and the Z axis.  With a black Checker, it will be considered restricted 
to the plane denoted by the axial placement of black Checkers and the Z axis.

Play begins with an empty field.  Each player in turn places their King on an empty
cell in either of the three orientations; without a Checker, with a red Checker or with
a black Checker.  This done in such a way that neither King attacks the other.  Then
each player in turn does one of the following: introduces a new piece to the field,
moves a piece on the field or re-orients a piece on the field.

All piece are introduced to vacant cells in any desired orientation, without giving
immediate check to the opponent King.

Pieces are moved on the field only within their indicated planes.  The movements are as
follows:

	PAWN steps non-capturing orthogonal or capturing diagonal.
	KNIGHT leaps one orthogonal then one forward diagonal.
	BISHOP slides diagonal.
	ROOK slides orthogonal.
	QUEEN slides orthogonal or diagonal.
	KING steps orthogonal or diagonal.


All pieces may capture any opponent piece located in their particular plane, regardless
of the target piece's orientation.  And no two pieces may occupy the same cell.

Pieces are re-oriented by removing or replacing the desired Checker.

The game is won by check-mating the opponent King.

*[During the play-testing of this game, this quantity of Checkers was all that was required.
It would be an extreme remote possibility that the players might need more.  But if desired,
another set of Checkers might be obtained since they are often fairly cheap.  The plastic
sets cost only a couple dollars.]