Update Tuesday evening...

Update: I'm working on some diagrams for the three way chess rules, which is a butterfly that I haven't yet lost sight of. I won't have them ready for this entry, but I can start to discuss the rules and take on the special cases next time.

The game requires the use of one chess set, plus half of another. Pieces may be distinguished with tape, if necessary. The third color may vary, but in these rules I shall refer to it as Red.

The pieces are placed within the first two ranks of each player's side as in regular chess, with the exception that the King is placed to the left hand side of the chessboard for all sides. "Queen on color" doesn't apply here. White moves first, followed by Black and then Red.

The pieces move as in regular chess. The nature of the board is such that a straight file or diagonal may occasionally be bent. The correct direction in most cases can be easily determined; a bishop travels along a line that starts at one corner of a square and continues through the diagonally opposite corner.

The exception is the very center of the board. A bishop placed so that its line of attack passes through the center will attack two different diagonals - one on each opponent's side. The bishop, once moved, may travel along only one of these diagonals. This rule holds for the other diagonally moving pieces (Queen, Pawn).

Checkmate may be delivered by one opponent's pieces alone, or a combination of both of your opponent's pieces. When one side is checkmated, its pieces remain on the board as neutral objects without attacking powers. They cannot be captured or displaced, and no attack may pass through them, with the exception of the Knight.

Alternates: 1) The defeated player's pieces all disappear (this is the wimp's option). 2) The checkmating player assumes control of the defeated player's pieces. 3) The defeated player's pieces remain in place as neutrals, except for the King, which is removed. The remaining pieces retain their attack powers and may inadvertently aid in a checkmate. 4) Same as #3, but each remaining player may choose to move a neutral piece instead of his/her own piece.

Special moves: Castling and en passant captures require no special rules. A pawn may promote on either opponent's side.

That will do to start. I'll work on refining these rules, and provide a few diagrams in a future entry. Until!