FOUR-HANDED CHESS

board game, a variant of Chess played by four people in partnerships of two. The pieces generally move as in conventional Chess. Partners do not capture each other's pieces but do take those of their opponents and attempt to checkmate both opposing Kings. In one form of the game, a conventional board is used, with each player controlling a King, Bishop, Knight, Rook, and four Pawns. The pieces begin in the corners of the board, with partners diagonally opposite one another. When one partner loses his King, the other takes command of his remaining forces. Play is roughly similar to that of Shaturanga, an ancient Indian predecessor of Chess. In another form of the game, a special 160- square board is used (a conventional board with three-row extensions of all four sides). Each player has a complete set of chessmen, and players on opposite sides of the board are partners. Pawns move one square only at all times, reverse direction upon reaching the allied last rank, and become Queens upon reaching an opponent's last rank (by capturing). A player must aid his partner's King, if it is threatened. If he cannot, the King may be removed and its companion pieces joined in defense of the partnership's remaining King. In another version, when a player is checkmated, his partner continues alone without the aid of the other's pieces, although they may not be captured or moved. If the checkmate is relieved, the player and his pieces may return to the game.