| The objective in Mammoth Chess is checkmate. The name not only reflects on the Mammoth piece, but also on the size of the board, which is 10x10. Pieces move as in orthodox chess, with the exception of the additional piece, the Mammoth. It jumps two steps diagonally or orthogonally, or steps one square in all directions. It has the same value as a Rook. The Mammoth jump complements the jump move of the Knight. A Mammoth, together with a King, can give mate to a lonely King. The pawns move as in orthodox chess, but have no initial double move. As the pawns are all located on the fourth rank, they can reach the fifth rank immediately anyway. Castling doesn't exist. Promotion rules are the same as in orthodox chess (with the addition of the Mammoth).
In the first phase the players take turns to drop pieces on the board, either behind the pawn chain, or on a friendly pawn. In the latter case the removed friendly pawn must immediately be relocated to another empty position, that is, somewhere on the second or third rank. The Rooks must only be dropped on the first rank. The two Bishops must be dropped on different colours. After all the pieces have been dropped the play begins.
Mammoth Chess is related to Mastodon Chess, which uses the same pieces. |
