1. DEFINITIONS
Whenever a (non-royal) unit observes another (non-royal) unit of either colour, the observed unit
becomes permanently neutral.
So metaphorically, observation (i.e. guarding a friendly unit or attacking an enemy unit) in
Voodoo Chess is imagined to be a thaumaturgical act it casts a spell of neutrality, or inflicts a
neutrality charm, upon whichever units happen to be observed. Yet, if desired or necessary (for
constructional or thematic reasons), composers may also specify certain exceptions to such
thaumaturgy:
Nonadept units cannot neutralize others, but are themselves rendered neutral through observation;
Protected units neutralize others through observation, but are themselves insusceptible to being
rendered neutral;
Exempt units are normal: they neither neutralize others nor are neutralized themselves (i.e. they
are both nonadept and protected).
Important Note: Rather than explicitly designating a unit as protected, one might instead prefer
that a units protected status be deduced from the problems initial position as in my No.1, below.
However, for the sake of logical consistency here, any units nonadeptness must always be
declared explicitly.
EQUIVALENT TO...
ABBREVIATION
a) Guards neutralize
(X X)
b) Attackers neutralize
(X Y)
c) W neutralized
Black protected
( W)
d) B neutralized
White protected
( B)
e) W neutralizes
Black nonadept
(W )
f) B neutralizes
White nonadept
(B )
g) W neutralizes W
Black exempt
(W W)
h) W neutralizes B
(W B)
i) B neutralizes B
White exempt
(B B)
j) B neutralizes W
(B W)
~1~
DEFINITION
a) Rex Inclusive
RI
RI
RI
ABBREVIATION
Obviously, hybrid types are also conceivable, such as K protected, L nonadept; or RI might
apply only to one colour (as in my No.1): K nonadept; etc.
~2~
d) Oovood Chess: Neutral units which are observed convert permanently to that colour Black,
White, or even Neutral chosen by the observing units side;
e) Anti-Voodoo Chess: any unobserved (non-royal) unit becomes permanently neutral;
f) Voo Chess: as with Voodoo Chess, but observed units are instead transformed into half-neutrals
in their neutral phase {Half-neutrals were invented by Petko Petkov in 1989};
g) Doo Chess: as with Voo Chess, but observed units are instead transformed into half-neutrals in
the phase corresponding to their original colour. Notice that the inversion ideas behind c) and d)
could easily be applied to f) and g) to engender further variants;
h) Voodoo + Circe;
i) Voodoo + Madrasi;
j) Chromatophage Chess: whenever a (non-royal) unit observes another (non-royal) unit of either
colour, the observed unit becomes permanently transparent {Chromatophage = colour-eater}.
Notice that the inversion ideas behind c) and d) could easily be applied to j) to engender further
variants.
Like the genetic data of DNA, these variants might even be combined in sundry ways to proliferate
a panoply of new and exciting conditions!
~3~
Solution: Since they are being observed yet are not neutral, Dh2, Bb4 and Bb7 must therefore be
protected units. The play is:
1.Bb5 2.He5! 3.Hc5!! 4.Df3(Nh3) 5.Dg1 6.Hc1 7.Hf1 8.Hf8 9.Df3 10.Ha8(Pa7) 11.Ng5(Ph7,
Kg6)+ & Nh7=.
A paradoxical H-spiral: it takes 6 moves (not just 2), with careful timing and shielding, to get the
He2 to a8, because the H has to remain Black i.e. avoid being observed in order to effect a
Voodoo stalemate; at the same time, the H also needs to be cautious not to neutralize any White
units (which would then have to be captured or somehow immobilized). A further paradox: whilst it
does seem undesirable to check the nonadept Kg6 (as he would then immediately be rendered
neutral, so that White would need to stalemate him in addition to the Lh8) this nevertheless must
be done!
ANALYSIS OF THE FINAL STALEMATE POSITION
i. The Nh7 is pinned normally by the Ih1;
ii. Eb3, Ih1 and Kg6 guard the Lh8s field;
iii. the Df3 is pinned because any move by the Df3 causes the Ha8 to be neutralized, thereby
giving self-check to the Lh8;
iv. Bb4, Bb5, Bg7, Pa6 and Pa7 are all clearly blocked by units one square below them;
v. the Ha8 is immobilized because any move of it along the top rank causes it to be observed hence
rendered neutral, giving self-check to the Lh8;
vi. likewise, Ha7(Pg7) is self-check;
vii. the Kg6s field is adequately guarded only by neutral or White units if Black were to move a
K to a square that is observed only by Black, then that would merely be check to White! and Bg7
blocks g7 (anyway, Kg7 unplayable by Black, since Bg7 is Black is illegal self-check to the
Lh8, and check to White).
~4~
CONSTRUCTIONAL NOTES
i. The nonadeptness of the Kg6 is not strictly necessary, but it does add interest through paradox.
ii. The Dh2 must be a protected unit (i.e. not a N), otherwise there is a short cannibalistic cook:
1.Bb5 2.Nf3(Nh3) 3.Nfg1(Re2) 4.Ne2 5.Neg1 6.Nh3 7.Ng5(Ph7,Kg6)+ & Nh7=. If the
Dh2 is protected, then White cannot play 7...Ch7 in the above line since the Dg5 is still Black!
iii. Without Bb4 and Bb5, the problem would be cooked: 1.He1(Re1,Qh1) 2.Rh1 3.Dg1(Ng1)
4.Ne2 5.Nc3 6.Nd5 7.Rf1 8.Df1 9.De3 10.Dd5 & Ed5=. (1.Bb5 is needed to shield Ea5.)
iv. I relish the fact that the innocent Pa6 looks like a mere cookstopper (immobilizing the Ea5 and
Ba7), whereas its true purpose is to blockade the Pa7 in the stalemate position! Deceptive?
v. A try: 1.Bb5 2.He5 3.Dg1(Ng1) ... 6.Hf2 7.Hf8 8.Nh3 9.Df3 10.Ha8 11.Ng5(Ph7,Kg6)+ &
Nh7=. However, this is illegal: 5.Hc2(Rc2)!.
SOLVERS COMMENTS IN THE PROBLEMIST (NOVEMBER 2003, P.252)
Paradoxical bR-spiral, taking 6 moves rather than 2 to reach a8 with careful timing and shielding. The nonadeptness of the wK is not strictly necessary but adds paradox as now White has more neutral men to
stalemate {Composer}. It took me some time to sort out what was what, but well worth the effort. The bR
spirals its way to a8 without observing, or being observed {Frank Moralee}. Our only successful solver,
clearly a hard genre to analyse, but a very interesting manoeuvre here {Stephen Emmerson [editor]}.
Solution: Since they are being observed yet are not neutral, Ea5, Dh2, Ba2, Bb4 and Bd4 must
therefore be protected units. The play is:
1.Fc3(Bc3) 2.Ba1 3.Nc3 4.Bd3 5.Bd2 6.Bd1D 7.Db2 8.Na4 9.Nc5 10.Hc5 11.Df3(Nh3)
12.Dg1 13.Hc1 14.Hf1 15.Hf8 16.Df3 17.Ha8(Pa7) 18.Ng5(Ph7,Kg6)+ & Nh7=.
(NB: Ba2 prevents 8.Nb1! ... 13.Hb1 14.Hf1 etc.) Though more complex and with additional
shields, this version is in my opinion less desirable than No.1: the paradoxical motivation of the Hmoves is lost.
~5~
Black is stalemated! Voodoo Chess; nonadept Re7, exempt Ea7. (Deduce protected units.)
SYMBOLOGY
means illegal self-check;
means ... observes ...;
means ... is observed by ....
PROTECTED UNITS ETC.
Since they are being observed yet are not neutral, Bf2, Bf4 and Bg7 must therefore be protected
units: Bf2 Gb2 & Hf3; Bf4 Hf3 & Dg2; Bg7 Re7 & Bf8. NB: pinned Fe6 remains
Black, although Fe6 Re7, since the Re7 is nonadept; Ea7 stays White, despite Ea7 Jc5
(etc.), because the Ea7 is exempt. Exempt Ea7 Jc6, which is line-pinned but not neutralized.
ANALYSIS OF THE STALEMATE POSITION (OVERLOOKING BLOCKED BS)
i. Jc5 is line-pinned by the exempt Ea7, and Fe6 is pinned (normally) by the nonadept Re7;
ii. Nc6~? Ea8 Hf3(Rf3) ;
iii. Le4? Hf3 Bd3(Pd3) ; (NB: Nc6 guards d4);
iv. Bf1? Gb2 Dg2(Ng2) ;
v. Re7~? Bf8 Jc5(Qc5) ;
vi. Be7? Jc5 Be7(Qc5) ;
vii. Bd2? Bd2 Gb2(Pd2) ;
viii. De1? or Dh4? Hf3 De1, Dh4(Rf3) ;
ix. Hg3? Hg3 Bf4 & Ph4(Rg3) ;
x. Hh3? Hh3 Fe6(Rh3) ;
xi. Ja7? Ja7 Nc6(Qa7) ;
xii. Jb6? Jb6 Gb2(Qb6) ;
xiii. Jd4? Jd4 Nc6(Qd4) ;
xiv. Ph3? Dg2 Ph3(Ng2) .
NB: ii, iii, iv & v exhibit Voodoo pins; vixiv exhibit Voodoo paralysis.
~6~