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Antichess960: spicing up antichess openings #1356

Closed prevostc closed 8 years ago

prevostc commented 8 years ago

I like antichess, but this variant is a bit repetitive, especially on the opening phase. Chess960 on the other end tend to spice up openings.

Why not mix both in an Antichess960 variant ?

I would love to contribute if this variant is a viable option for you guys.

Unihedro commented 8 years ago

Then do it.

ornicar commented 8 years ago

Uuuh I'm not sure. KOTH & 3-check could also use a 960 touch, and I'm not sure adding 3 more variants would be a good idea. It multiplies the ratings and splits userbase: the 2 points that make me think twice before adding any new variant (like racing kings atm).

prevostc commented 8 years ago

I understand this point.

I would argue that the key feature that made me switch from chess.com to lichess is the "large" library of variants (+ the "find the best move" challenges). So I really see new variants as a good thing to add to lichess. But I fully understand your point as too many variants may hurt user experience. As an alternative, we could add the 960 as a starting position option, virtually reducing the variant list. But this would also multiply ratings and split userbase.

Unihedro commented 8 years ago

My concern, while at it, is different -

  1. While "antichess960" variant would greatly increase the playability of Antichess, Antichess itself is not a "significant" variant; It has very low media coverage, and most "great chess players" (see: streamers and chess masters) don't even consider them, ranking them lower than variants like three-check.
  2. As they are too different from chess, promoting them won't do good to the lichess atmosphere as a whole.
  3. It doesn't reach out to Lichess's primary target audience - chess enthusiasts. More specifically, FIDE Chess. There is resistance against implementing variants that are too different from chess, unless they are actually fun, had coverage (like crazyhouse), or is a sophisticated category (like atomic). What antichess960 can add over regular antichess for chess enthusiasts is questionable.

Those are, however, only reasons that makes it low in the priority.

ornicar commented 8 years ago

variants are not popular enough to multiply them.