Martian chess The Martian Chess Set won the Origins Award for "Best Abstract Board Game of 2000". The rules to the game were reissued in "3HOUSE" booklet in 2007, again by 2013 in Pyramid Primer #1 and in 2016 as a part of "Pyramid Arcade" boxed set. Each player starts with nine pieces: three small ("pawns"), three medium ("drones"), and three large ("queens"). The color of the pieces is irrelevant to the gameplay. A mix of colors is recommended. Players initially place their pieces in the corners of the board as shown. In a two-player game, only a half-board is used. The
Hridayeshwar Singh Bhati can play. Bhati's multiplayer design employs all the standard chess pieces and their moves. Individual armies are distinguished by colour. Each player starts the game with the same number and types of pieces as in standard chess. Non-pawn pieces start in their normal positions on the (the 8×1 extensions at the board perimeter), with queens always placed to the left of kings. Pawns are placed on the rank in front of the pieces as in standard chess. Red squares cannot be occupied or passed through when moving or capturing. The multicoloured central area can be passed through but not occupied.