LINEAR PURSUIT

Manœuvre your pieces around the board, capturing and blocking your opponents pieces.
Capture your opponents ‘King’ to win the game.

SET UP
There are two sets of positions, an inner ‘in play’ set on the circumference of the playing area, and directly behind these, an outer ‘out of play’ set.
There are many, many set up options.
Less pieces for a potentially shorter game (‘major pieces’ may not necessarily be the same for each player), provided each player begins with the same number of pieces and both must have a ‘King’.

Players may agree a symmetrical set up, or, they may elect to take alternate turns randomly placing their pieces (not necessarily on their own side of the board).
Players may elect to play with, or without ‘Pawns” in the ‘inner’ (in play) positions.

‘CLASSIC’
‘Major pieces’ (King, Bishops, Knights and Rooks) always begin play in the outer (out of play) positions. Each ‘major piece’, starts with a ‘Pawn’ in it’s inner (in play) position.
“Classic’ set up requires all pieces.
Centrally, on the players own side of the board, place the ‘King’, flanked by ‘Bishops’, ‘Knights’ and finally ‘Rooks’.
A ‘Pawn’ should be placed in each ‘major piece’s’ ‘inner’ (in play) position.

RULES OF MOVEMENT
A piece can only move around the board from the ‘inner’ (in play) positions.
A piece in an ‘outer’ (out of play) position, must first be placed in it’s inner (in play) position, if vacant, this constitutes a players turn. If a major piece in it’s ‘outer’ (out of play) position has an occupied ‘inner’ (in play) position, the major piece is effectively blocked and cannot move.
’In play’ pieces move as follows:

PAWN
May only move from it’s position, along a single line, to a new position.
No use of the circumference is permitted.
If the target position is occupied by another of the player’s own pieces, that move is unavailable.
If the target position is occupied by an opponents ‘Pawn’, that piece is deemed ‘captured’ and removed from the board.
If the target position is occupied by an opponent’s ‘major’ piece (‘Rook’, ‘Knight’, ‘Bishop’ or ‘King’), that move is unavailable (a ‘Pawn’ cannot capture a ‘major’ piece.

ROOK
As ‘Pawn’, however, may capture ‘major’ pieces.

KNIGHT
Once ‘in play’, can only move from it’s position along two
consecutive lines, connected by a vacant ‘inner’ (in play) position. If the target position is occupied by another of the player’s own pieces, that move is unavailable.
If the target position is occupied by an opponent’s piece, that piece is deemed ‘captured’ and removed from the board.
The two lines used, must be a combination of the circumference and an inner line, in no particular order.

BISHOP
Once ‘in play’, can only move from it’s position along two consecutive lines, connected by a vacant ‘inner’ (in play) position. No use of the circumference is permitted.
If the target position is occupied by another of the player’s own pieces, that move is unavailable.
If the target position is occupied by an opponent’s piece, that piece is deemed ‘captured’ and removed from the board.

KING
Once ‘in play’, may elect to move either along a single line (as Pawn/Rook), or, along two consecutive lines
(as Bishop).

VICTORY
Victory is achieved either by capturing your opponent’s ‘King’, or, if your opponent has no legal move available.

(If only the two ‘Kings’ remain, any player, on their turn, may declare a draw).

Games