Objective of the Game
Shatar is a variant of chess where the objective is to checkmate the opponent's Khan (King), meaning the King is under attack and cannot escape through any means of movement or blocking with other pieces.
Game Materials
- Board: Shatar is played on an 8x8 board.
- Pieces: Each player has 16 pieces, similar to western chess, but with some different movement patterns and names.
Pieces and Their Movements
- Khan (King): Moves one square in any direction, as in western chess.
- Bers: Equivalent to the Rook and moves horizontally or vertically across any number of squares.
- Teme: Equivalent to the Bishop and moves diagonally across any number of squares.
- Noyan (Knight): Moves similarly to the Knight in chess, in an 'L' shape: two squares in one direction and then one square perpendicular.
- Qayin (Pawn): Moves forward one square but captures also forward, different from the classic chess.
- Vizier (Queen): Combines the movements of the Bers and Teme, moving across both diagonals and straight lines over any number of squares.
Special Rules
- There are no castling or en passant rules in Shatar.
- The pawn is not promoted like in classical chess when reaching the last rank or another piece.
Gameplay Steps
- Setup: The armies are set up similarly to standard chess, with the Khans placed on the central line.
- Moves: White starts the game, and players alternate turns.
- End of the Game: The game ends when the opposing Khan is checkmated. A stalemate results in a draw.
Strategic Tips
- Try to gain control of the center of the board.
- Use the unique movement freedom of the Vizier to apply pressure on the opponent.
- Always protect your Khan with a solid defense.
The unique movement of pieces and absence of certain chess rules give Shatar a special nature, making it a distinct tactical experience despite its similarities to classical chess.
