Rollerball

Rollerball is a chess variant invented by Jean-Louis Cazaux in 1998. The game was inspired by the 1975 science-fiction movie Rollerball, specifically the futuristic and violent sport (similar to Roller Derby) portrayed in the film. The board comprises 7×7 squares with the central 3×3 section missing. Pieces generally move clockwise around the board. Each player starts with one king, one bishop, two rooks, and two pawns. Both bishops are light-squared on the initial setup. Dark-squared bishops can only be obtained by pawn promotion. Game rules The initial setup is as shown. White moves first. Pieces move and capture the same as their chess counterparts, except where explained differently below. Objective There are two ways to win in Rollerball: Checkmating the enemy king. Bringing one's own king to the starting square of the enemy king on the opposite side of the board (but only when having travelled to that side of the board in a clockwise direction).