Apocalypse (chess variant) Apocalypse (chess variant) Apocalypse is a chess variant invented by C. S. Elliott in 1976. The players each start with two "horsemen" and five "footmen" on a 5×5 board. The two sides make their moves simultaneously. The game was featured in Issue 53 of "Games & Puzzles" magazine. The starting setup is as shown. Horsemen and footmen move and capture the same as knights and pawns in chess, except footmen do not have a double-step option on their first move. For each turn, each player secretly writes down his move, then the players simultaneously declare them. The following rules apply:
Laura Ross (chess player) Laura Ross (chess player) Laura Smith formerly "Laura Ross" (born 1988) is an American chess player. She holds the title of Woman FIDE Master. , her FIDE rating is 2217. She is no longer an active player, but she does enjoy playing for fun. Laura also teaches private chess lessons. In 1998 she finished eighth in the World Championship Girls Under 10. Ross was the first US female to head a "Top 100 Players" list of both male and female players, as published by the United States Chess Federation. In April 2002 she became the highest rated 13-year-old, male or