Hacker News Reader

I was hoping that it would help find the changes in rules that would at the same time 1) result in more even game between white and black and 2) result in fewer draws. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell all the alterations of rules that they explored turned out worse than classical chess on at least one of those criteria.

View on HN

I'm particularly surprised that the stalemate = win rule doesn't result in more decisive games. Intuitively, it would seem that an entire class of endgames that are classically draws would become winning for the stronger side.

Perhaps computers are so strong they can "see through" the rule change?

From the posted stats, the Stalemate=win rule does result in more decisive games (fewer draws). But it has an even bigger effect in giving white a further advantage over black.

What about white draws with stalemate and black wins?

Are those goals not somewhat contradictory? How would a more even game not lead to more draws instead of fewer? Unless the new rules punish slight mistakes much more severely, perhaps? But that would lead to other issues in the balance and feel of the game.

You can for example declare than on draw black wins and give white some small material advantage.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com