Chigorin Chess Chigorin Chess Chigorin Chess is a chess variant invented by Ralph Betza in 2002. It was named after Mikhail Ivanovich Chigorin. Betza commented that The game follows all the rules and conventions of standard chess, with two differences: Chigorin Chess was meant to emphasize the contrast between the relative values of knights and bishops in standard chess. Betza commented that it was a good introductory variant for chessplayers, like his earlier Almost Chess. Betza considered that White has a large advantage due to his fast development, being able to castle as early as the third move, whereas Black cannot castle
Almost Chess queen and chancellor having equal strengths. For example, bishops are stronger and knights are weaker. Betza commented that Almost Chess is a good introductory chess variant for players, due to its great similarity to standard chess and the naturalness of the change from queen to chancellor. Around 1994, Betza invented Sort of Almost Chess, a variation whereby one player owns a chancellor, and the opponent owns a queen. Betza considers the chances for both sides equal, even for advanced players, since the queen and chancellor have equal strengths. Sort of Almost Chess emerged from Betza's research on the values of