The Rules of Cypher Chess

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IV. Major Pieces, the “Re-take” Rule.

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a. The Queen, Rooks and Bishops move as they do in classical chess. Within the Field, knights move as 

in classical chess. However, once in Court, knights exit and attack from Court by moving one extra 

square forward. On the Border, the knight has the option of moving either way. (See illustrations for 

movements of knight).

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b. When a major piece from the Court or Border captures a major piece in the Field, the capturing piece can be immediately re-taken by another major piece in the Field, inclusive of the King. When this occurs, yet another major

Field piece cannot respond to the re-take with another retake. The re-take must done immediately, not on some future turn. (Note that a major piece can execute a re-take from across the Border, as long as no other piece blocks its path. Also note that the King is the only piece that can capture a fellow  major piece from the Border or Court without risk of being retaken.)

 

c. All pieces, except the Spy, are subject to capture by pawns in the Field and Border areas. 

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d. If a major piece captures a pawn on the Border, it may only be captured in kind by another pawn. 

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e. Similarly, in the Field, if a  

pawn is captured by a major

piece, that piece is not subject to “re-taking” by another major Field-piece. Recall that major pieces in the Field have sanctuary from at-

tack by other major Field-pieces. 

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f. The “re-taking” rule only applies to captures of major pieces ex-ecuted by other major pieces launched from Border or Court squares. For example, if a bishop launches from a Court square and takes a pawn, it cannot be re-taken by another major Field piece, only a pawn (though it remains susceptible to attacks 

made by major pieces on Border and Court squares). If, on the other hand, the bishop leaves the Court and takes another bishop (or knight, rook, or Queen), it can be re-taken by another major Field piece (a knight, bishop, rook, Queen, or the King, in addition to the major pieces on Court and Border squares).

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g. A major piece, according to its natural movements, can cross the board from one side of Court to another, as long as no piece stands it its way.