Masonic chess


Masonic chess is a chess variant invented by George R. Dekle Sr. in 1983. The game is played on a modified chessboard whereby even-numbered are indented to the right—resembling masonry brickwork. The moves of the pieces are adapted to the new geometry; in other respects the game is the same as chess.
Masonic chess was included in World Game Review No. 10 edited by Michael Keller.

Board characteristics

The Masonic board cells are slightly rectangular, and indentation of alternating ranks results in cants 30° from the vertical and diagonals 30° from the horizontal, the same as hexagon-based chessboards when cell vertices face the players. As with hex-based boards, three colors are used, so no two adjacent cells are the same color, and gameboard diagonals are highlighted.

Game rules

The diagram shows the starting setup. All normal chess rules apply, including conventions for castling either or, a pawn's initial two-step option, en passant captures, promotion, and so on, but the pieces have specially defined moves.

Piece moves

  • A rook moves along the rank and cants.
  • A bishop moves on diagonals to the sides, or one step as a rook.
  • The queen moves as a rook and bishop.
  • The king moves one step as a queen.
  • A knight moves in the pattern: one step as a rook, then one step diagonally in the same direction. A knight leaps any intervening men.
  • A pawn moves one step forward as a rook; on its first move it may optionally move steps forward in the same direction. A pawn captures one step diagonally forward; en passant captures are permitted.

    Piece moves illustrated