From: Thomas Majewski <dewabmaj <at> IBMMAIL <dot> COM>
Date: 26 oct 1995
Subject: No Subject

An: I4083069--IBMMAIL

Betreff: Re: Lion questions

Douglas wrote:

< 1. If the lion captures without moving (igui), is there no movement
< for that player that turn? In other words, can the lion capture via
< igui and then can you move the lion again or another piece?

You can consider the lion making two king moves in a row (it could even go to a
n empty square and back, so essentially passing). If the lion takes by igui or
goes back to its original square this is of course considered as one move and y
ou may not move any other piece this turn.

< 2.Schmittberger talks about special rules for the lion. One of them
< states "A lion may capture an opposing lion on a B square only if the
< opposing lion is unprotected. A lion is considered "protected" for
< the purpose of this rule by a pinned piece, as well as by a piece that
< is blocked from the defense of the lion only by the attacking lion"
<    What does "pinned piece" mean in this context?


+---------------------------------
|    |    |    |    |    |    |
+---------------------------------
|    |    |    |    |    |    |
+---------------------------------
| bR |    |    |wLn |    |bLn |
+---------------------------------
|    |    |    |    |    |    |
+---------------------------------
|    |    |    |    |    |    |
+---------------------------------

This is a position with the pinned piece. The white Lion must not take the blac
k one, because it what open up the line for the defending rook. Even though the
re is no direct protection of the black lion,the rule that forbids the exchang
e of lions is used here too.

<  Is this rule just trying to say that a lion may not capture a lion
<  on a B square if the attacking lion will be captured on the following
<  turn?

Yes the rule is saying this exactly (at least to my knowledge). And it is quite
 important. As I have said before, the lion is a piece, that gives the game a s
pecial flare and without lions the game becomes rather uninteresting. Lions are
 a source of fast attacks on the opponents king (the lion can mate a lone king
without help), which makes the game more than just a slow strategical one. I ex
perienced this in a game against a friend, where I won his lion and later sacri
ficed my own. After that it is quite difficult to mate your opponents king beca
use of the many pieces. You just try to exchange pieces or promote your kylin t
o another lion, which could be blocked in this case.

Thomas Majewski
WABCO
Hannover, Germany
DEWABMAJ(a)IBMMAIL.COM