Burroughs was explaining his chess rules for an Earth audience familiar with standard chess. In other words, a piece can capture only once per turn. Panthan: one single step forward, sideways or diagonally forward.īy analogy to standard chess, it is assumed that a piece that moves multiple squares can capture an opposing piece only by finishing its move on the opposing piece's square.In Chapter 2 of his text, Burroughs mentions that the Thoat can jump, but this is not mentioned in the more detailed Appendix. Thoat: one orthogonal and one diagonal step.Per Burroughs, in an older version of Jetan these pieces were called Odwars.Ī quote from Chapter 2 in The Chessmen of Mars that can be interpreted as a different type of move for the Warrior has been shown to be based on a typographical error. Flier: three steps diagonally it may jump over other pieces.It may make one ten space 'escape' at any time during gameplay, jumping to any unoccupied and unthreatened space on the board. Princess: three steps in any direction or combination of directions it may jump over other pieces but cannot capture.

This is equivalent to three moves of a chess king, except that it cannot double back and may only capture at the third step. Chief: three steps in any direction or combination of directions.The Princess and the Flier may jump over a piece that is in their path.Ī capture is made when a piece lands on a square occupied by an opposing piece with its final step or jump the Princess may not capture. No piece can cross the same square of the board twice during the course of a move. Two- and three-steppers may change their direction of movement at each step in the course of a move, so long as this is in a direction permitted for that piece. Jetan pieces move one, two or three steps for every move. This article is based primarily on the Appendix in The Chessmen of Mars, but takes the abovementioned research into consideration. There has in the past been considerable confusion regarding the rules of Jetan, but research has shown that most such problems can be cleared up through careful analysis of the text in The Chessmen of Mars. The complete arrangement of each side follows: The Thoats and Panthans are positioned along the next rank out from the player with the Thoats flanking the Panthans. The Chief, Princess, Fliers, Dwars, Padwars and Warriors are positioned along the rank closest to the player with the Chief at left center, the Princess at right center, and the Fliers, Dwars, Padwars and Warriors arranged to flank each, with the Fliers innermost and the Warriors outermost. The Chessmen of Mars is a wonderful piece of fantasy, one that had me cheering the characters along in an engaging story with some genuinely fun and thrilling moments.Each player has the following playing pieces: one Chief, one Princess, two Fliers two Dwars (Captains) two Padwars (Lieutenants) two Warriors two Thoats (Mounted Warriors) and eight Panthans (Mercenaries). Eventually they are forced to engage in a duel to the death in a massive game that is reminiscent of Chess. Gahan reaches the city of Manator where he taken prisoner by the inhabitants. in the meantime, Gahan rushes to rescue the woman he's fallen for, typical in these Barsoom fantasy novels. She wins over one of the Kaldanes, Ghek, and escapes. She's captured by the horrific Kaldanes, who intend to fatten her up for an upcoming feast. She takes off in her flier, only to get caught in a massive storm which sends her flying off into uncharted lands. Tara is engaged and is outraged when Gahan declares his love for her because she is not attracted to him at all. The main characters of are Carter’s daughter Tara and Gahan of Gathol, a prince of another kingdom.

Barsoom chess