How to play
Seirawan Chess

After an initial move from the back rank, a Hawk or Elephant piece can be placed into the vacated square.

Introduction

Seirawan Chess, also known as S-chess or Sharper chess, plays on a regular board but introduces two new pieces, the Hawk and the Elephant, which are are optionally placed once a home rank piece makes an initial movement.

How to play Seirawan Chess Chess
This variant is played from the standard starting position of Standard Chess

Moves of the Pieces

The Hawk and Elephant do not start on the board intially, but are introduced once a piece moves from the home rank. The Hawk or Elephant can then be optionally added to the board in the vacant square.

Only one Hawk and one Elephant can be added through this manner. The Hawk and Elephant cannot be placed to block check.

If the Hawk or Elephant are not introduced before all the home rank pieces have moved, then the opportunity to do so has passed.

Hawk
Hawk

The Hawk moves like a Bishop and Knight combined

Study The Hawk moves like a Bishop and Knight combinedThe Hawk moves like a Bishop and Knight combined
Board is interactive - move a piece
Elephant
Elephant

The Elephant moves like a Rook and Knight combined.

Study The Elephant moves like a Rook and Knight combined.The Elephant moves like a Rook and Knight combined.
Board is interactive - move a piece

Pawn Promotion

On reaching the 8th rank, a pawn can promote to a Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight, Hawk or Elephant.

Study The Elephant moves like a Rook and Knight combined.The Elephant moves like a Rook and Knight combined.
Board is interactive - move a piece
Castling is the same as Standard Chess
Study The Hawk and Elephant can be introduced after castling too.The Hawk and Elephant can be introduced after castling too.
Board is interactive - move a piece
En passant rules remains the same as Standard ChessCheck and Checkmate rules remain the same as Standard ChessStalemate conditions remain the same as Standard ChessDraw conditions remain the same as Standard ChessWinning conditions remain the same as Standard Chess

Attribution

  • Yasser Seirawan

  • Bruce Harper

Also Known As

to play this chess variant.