Courier Eurasian Chess

(Eurasian Chess plus pieces from Courier-Spiel)

Introduction

Courier Eurasian Chess is an extension of Eurasian Chess
(a synthesis of European and Asian forms of Chess by Fergus Duniho) so as to include the unique pieces found in
the historic variant, Courier-Spiel . It includes all the standard Chess pieces, as well as the Cannon from Chinese Chess and its diagonal counterpart, the Vao.

The usage of some names differ from that usually found in FIDE chess.
The Bishop is called a Courier, the Knight is called a Horse, and the Vao is called an Arrow. As well as the Courier piece itself this variant also includes the Fool, Councillor, and Bishop from Courier-Spiel. The Fool retains its name while the Councillor is renamed the Sage and the Bishop becomes the Elephant.

Finally a new piece, the Leo, is added which combines the Arrow and the Cannon reflecting the way that the Queen combines the Courier and the Chariot.

Differences in setup and piece-types aside, Courier Eurasian Chess is
played like FIDE Chess. It is worth noting, though, the following
points concerning the King's movement and Pawn promotions:

There is no castling.
Kings may not cross the river, which lies between ranks five and six.
Kings may not face each other across any empty vertical or diagonal line.
When moving to any of the last three ranks, a Pawn may promote to any of that player's captured pieces, but not to King, Fool, or Elephant.
A Pawn does not have to promote until it reaches the last rank.
A Pawn may not advance to the last rank unless there is a captured piece to which it may promote.
Even when a Pawn may not advance to the last rank, it may still check spaces on the last rank.

Starting Array

This is shown in the next image below, taken from my ZoG implementation.
The board consists of 140 squares (14x10) and each player has 32 pieces placed over three rows.

For Black
Pawn a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 i8 j8 k8 l8 m8 n8;
Horse b9 m9; Elephant e10 j10; Chariot a10 n10;
Arrow d9 k9; Courier c9 l9; Cannon c10 l10;
Fool g10; Sage f9 i9; Leo h10; Queen g9; King h9;

For White
Pawn a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 i3 j3 k3 l3 m3 n3;
Horse b2 m2; Elephant e1 j1; Chariot a1 n1;
Arrow d2 k2; Courier c2 l2; Cannon c1 l1;
Fool g1; Sage f2 i2; Leo h1; Queen g2; King h2;

Pieces

The piece types are those found in Eurasian Chess plus three types from Courier-Spiel.
At the start of the game each player has 32 pieces (14 Pawns + 18 others)

In the images that follow non-capturing moves are shown by grey dots,
while captures are shown by red dots.

Number	Name	Movement Notes	Movement Illustration
1	King	As the Eurasian or FIDE King May not cross the river May not move into check	See movement image for the Fool
1	Queen	As the Eurasian or FIDE Queen Combines Chariot and Courier	See movement images for the Chariot and the Courier
1	Leo	Combines Cannon and Arrow	See movement images for the Cannon and Arrow
2	Chariot	As the Eurasian Chariot or FIDE Rook
2	Cannon	As the Eurasian Cannon
2	Courier	As the Eurasian Sage or FIDE Bishop
2	Arrow	As the Eurasian Arrow
2	Horse	As the Eurasian Horse or FIDE Knight
2	Sage	May move either like a King or like a Horse
2	Fool	Moves like a King but with no check constraints May not cross the river
2	Elephant	As the Bishop from Courier-Spiel May step one square diagonally or leap two squares diagonally May not cross the river
14	Pawn	As the Eurasian Pawns Pawns may take a double-step on their first move Capture en-passant is allowed