You can find the most recent versions of these rules here: http://www.chessvariants.org/index/msdisplay.php?itemid=MSsimplifiedches

The rules below are show to lay out how Simplified Chess differs from normal chess. In the zrf file are other variants, whose rules are not listed. Consult each game in the zrf to see how exactly they play.

INTRODUCTION Simplified Chess is based off the variant, Skirmish Chess, by Tony Paletta: http://www.chessvariants.org/index/msdisplay.php?itemid=MSskirmishchess

Skirmish Chess is a modest variant of regular chess, that follows nearly all the rules of regular chess, but is meant to engage the players faster, by moving the pieces closer. This variant uses the same set up, and while it also engages players faster into capturing, its intention is different.

In Simplified Chess, rules are removed from the game, and one set of pieces are pushed forward one row, and the back row is removed. Piece set up normally except one row is removed from the middle. Simplified Chess was invited by John Kippling Lewis.

RULES Same as in standard FIDE Chess, except for the set-up and these rules which have been removed or changed:
1. Pawns only move one space forward and capture one space diagonally. There is also no En Passant. This is because pawns start forward.
2. There is no castling.
3. Game is won by capturing the opponent's king, rather than checkmating it.
4. Pieces only promote to those pieces that have been captured, except a pawn. In other words, the player is limited to only one queen, two rooks, two knights, etc... A pawn is not permitted to move into the back row, unless it is able to be promoted to some other pieces, besides another pawn.

NOTES Included in this package are multiple variants. In some, the king is always on the right hand side. In another, the pawns are replaced by "Eurasian Pawns" that also capture one space forward. Also included in this set of variants is Skirmish56 Chess, which is the original Skirmish Chess (follows almost all chess rules), but on a Simplified Chess board. Other normal chess variants, such as Extinction, and losing chess are also included. Please check the ZRF file for the complete list.