Cardchess

Reviewer Reviewed On Publisher Designer Published In Rating
October 3, 2005 CardChess International Jeff Widderich 2001 6
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When I was a young child, I decided to become a great chess player. I started reading books on the subject and quickly learned that I might be good, but would never be great – and that either way, I would have to invest a huge amount of time into the game. Now that I'm a huge board game fan, I don't have the time or even the desire to invest all my energy into one game. So Chess has never held a great desire for me. I think it's a fine, fine game – but I rarely want to play it. If I play a great player, I'll get destroyed (and have zero fun in the process). If I play a lesser player, I'll destroy them, and then they have no fun. And it's rare to find someone at the same level as myself. I guess I like just a little bit of luck in my games. So I'll play Chess against someone anytime, but I usually would like to add Bruno Faidutti's Knightmare Chess. However, chess is also only a two-player game, and I'm usually looking for a four or more player game anyway. So when I heard about Cardchess – produced by Cardchess International - I was very interested. Here was a game of Chess for four players, with a small dose of luck involved.

So is Cardchess worth getting, or is it another boring variant of chess? The short answer is that it is an excellent game, fun for four players, but very different from "pure" chess. Now for my usual
longer answer….

First a short description of game play…

There are four games described in the rules for Cardchess. One of them is just plain, ordinary chess (using the pieces provided with the game). The rest use basic chess rules, with a few minor changes. I'm going to assume that the reader of this review knows chess rules, but if not, check out this site for a good introduction - http://www.princeton.edu/~jedwards/cif/intro.html. All three variant games take place on a board with 96 squares. Sixty-four squares form the center of the board, and are an exact replica of a chess board. Eight squares are centered on each side of the board, connecting to the middle 64. Each player takes a set of square cards of a certain color and suit. The colors are white, black, gold, and silver – with weapons for the suits. Each set of cards is made up of sixteen cards, one for each chess piece.

The name of the basic game is, surprisingly, Cardchess. Each player takes their cards and shuffles them. Two cards are then placed in each of the 8 outer squares on their side of the board, face down. The game then begins. Each player does two things on their turn. First, they MUST (if able to) turn over one of their cards. Then, they must move one of their cards that is face up (can be the card just turned over). Each card moves across the board exactly like the chess piece pictured on the board. If a card is turned over that can immediately capture a king, it cannot for that turn, rather waiting one turn so that the king's owner has a chance to get out of check. Pieces may be moved on (or not be moved off) face-down cards. This prevents those cards from being turned over until the piece on top of them is moved or captured. Whenever a king is checkmated, all that player's pieces are removed from the board. Once all the opponents' kings have been checkmated, the surviving player wins the game!

The next variant is Positional Cardchess. This game is similar to regular Cardchess, with the exception of the original setup. In this game, each player does NOT randomize the cards, rather placing the eight pawns on top of the other pieces on the eight outer squares. All other rules are the same as Cardchess.

The third variant is Memory Cardchess. In this game, all players' cards are shuffled and placed face down on every space on the board. (The sixty-four middle squares for four players, less for three or two players.) Each player has two moves during their turn. First, they can turn over any card on the board. If it's their color, they can leave it face up. If not, they must turn it back face down. Then, the player can move a piece of their color that is exposed on the board (if there is any.) When a player reveals his king, he does not have to keep it face up. Three times a game, they may return it face down to the board. This keeps kings from being too vulnerable early in the game. The first player to eliminate (by checkmating) his opponents' kings is the winner! In all three games, castling, "En Passant", and pawn promotion rules are the same as in normal chess.

Some comments on the game:

1). Components: There isn't a lot that comes with this game – but what does is of superb quality! The cards are printed on very sturdy, thick stock and should take a good bit of damage. It's very easy to tell suits apart. Each card has the picture of the chess piece, in that color, a small suit symbol, and a border in the same color as the chess piece. The back of the cards boasts a very similar design to that of a traditional deck of playing cards. The board is very big and is very nicely designed. It has a very traditional look, but is clearly different from a normal chess board. I wish it folded outwards, but it's a small quibble. The box is big and looks really good on a shelf. It has a small holder inside for the cards, with a cardboard insert stating the rules to basic chess for those who don't know them. Over all, the components for this game are quite good!

2). Rules: Besides the insert in the box, which explains basic chess piece moves, the rules to the game are printed out on four large pages. The rules aren't very complex, so they aren't detailed (don't really need to be.) We haven't had a problem with them yet, and I find them easy to explain. However, someone who doesn't know chess may be boggled – but that will be mostly because of the chess piece movements.

3). Which variation?: Of the three games, which was the most appealing. Each has its benefits and disadvantages. - Memory Cardchess is fun and fast. However, it can be an extreme luck fest. Since kings can end up next to each other, queens can be surrounded by pawns, etc., the game can be rather chaotic. Those who like memory games (or have a good memory) will probably like this variant best. It's basically a cross between Memory Match and Chess. It's very strange, and I'm sure that chess purists will hate it. But, for a fast and furious game, it's probably the best of the lot. Don't expect the best player to win, however. - Positional Cardchess is probably what chess purists will like best. But even here, there are so many differences. A player has got to watch all sides of the board. When a pawn is moving at a 90 degree angle to your pieces, it's very easy to miss when a pawn can capture one of your best pieces. It's harder to get to the king in positional Cardchess, as players can leave one of their pieces sitting on top of the king. This requires that this piece be captured, then the capturing piece moved off so that the king can be revealed. This doesn't mean that the players can abuse the rule, but rather that the players must play quite differently than they would when playing ordinary chess. The entire game is much more cutthroat, as pieces die right and left. I'm sure that analysis paralysis could become a problem, but a chess clock could help that, I'm sure. We just shouted at the person who took the longest. - Cardchess is much more random than positional Cardchess. Those who turn over their kings near the beginning of the game are at a much greater disadvantage than those who turn over their queen for their first character. It's also very dangerous to move your pieces anywhere, because you don't know that a dangerous piece will be flipped that can capture your piece. Those who uncover their king last are at a huge disadvantage. Cardchess is a fun game, but positional Cardchess is vastly superior. If you want the randomness, play memory Cardchess. However, if you want a bit of luck, and not too much, I suppose that normal Cardchess is exactly what you want.

4). Few pieces: In all variants, only a few pieces are available at the beginning of the game. This gives players fewer options, keeps the board uncluttered, and changes the game quite a bit from normal chess. Some may hate using fewer pieces – some may like the simplicity of it. With four players, I think I prefer fewer pieces

5). Fun Factor: The game is fun. It's not rip-roaring fun, as it's only an abstract game, and not jam-packed with theme. However, the fact that there are four players, and a little bit of luck (in Memory and normal Cardchess) make the game vastly more "fun" than chess, and not the serious brain burner that Chess can become.

So, what's my final word? I think the game is great, and like it a lot, but who else would like it? I think chess fanatics will like it, unless they are "purists". I think an average person would like it, unless they hate chess. I think the game shines best for those who hover in the middle. If you like chess, but it's not your obsession – get this game. Cardchess is fun, and of extremely high quality. Now, please excuse me while I try to rope in players for a game of Knightmare Cardchess. Let's hope sanity is not lost during that game!

Tom Vasel
"Real men play board games"