Stratomic

Stratomic gameboard and starting position. In the diagram, the nuclea (missiles) are represented by inverted kings. The notation system shown is of the inventor.

Stratomic is a chess variant invented by Robert Montay-Marsais in 1972. The game is played on a 10x10 board with all the standard chess pieces present, and in addition, two nuclea pieces (representing nuclear missiles) and two extra pawns per side. The game brings the concept of modern warfare weaponry to chess.

Game rules

The starting setup is as shown. The standard conventions of chess apply, including normal castling and en passant. Pawns promote on the 9th (not the 10th) ranks, and may promote to missile. The missile moves and captures as a chess king: one step in any direction. It may be captured like any other piece.

Missile launches

A player can launch a missile at any time to any board square, occupied or not. The launched missile "destroys" (eliminates from play) all pieces (except kings, which are immune) of either colour on the target square, as well as on all immediately surrounding squares. The missile itself is also destroyed in the launch.

Launching a missile constitutes a turn. There are two prerequisites for launching a missile:

1. A non-pawn piece must have been captured at some point prior in the game.
2. The missile cannot be under attack by an enemy piece at time of launch.

Observation

A single step by the missile can be ambiguous if a player does not announce his intention when moving. (It could be a simple move by the missile, or a launch.)

Read more:

• Atomic Chess - another variant based on detonations
• Beirut Chess - another variant based on detonations