Here are the rules of a game called Chessball, which is a team chess-style game.

Rules of the game called Chessball describe collective chess playing. The basic rules of Chessball are similar to the rules of standard chess. The main trick of the Chessball is the following: there are two teams, playing on the same chessboard, each team has several players, who play simultaneously. The difference between these two games lies in several players playing simultaneously for each of the two teams. Moves are made alternately by each team.

Herewith, any player of a team can claim his intention to play, blocking other players from it, and make his move. The main idea of the game is to give players a feeling of being a part of a collective mind, and experience powerful impressions of dynamics of the game, supported by aspiration of each participant for self-realization. Chessball can be held with the presence of all players in a special game place, or it can be run remotely with communications or computer networks.

Chessball rules. Nature and aims of the game. 1.1. Chessball match is held between two teams-competitors on a regular chessboard, which has 64 squares (8x8). Amount, names and moving rules match with classic chess. 16 white figures belong to one team, and 16 black to another team. 1.2. Starting position matches with classic chess. 1.3. 8 vertical rows of squares of the chessboard are called “verticals”. 8 horizontal rows are called “horizontals”. 1.4. Teams make moves alternately. The game starts with the move of white figures. 1.5. The game aims to checkmate the opponent team’s king. That means victory in the match. 1.6. In case when no team can checkmate, a game ends with a draw.

2. Allocation of figures. 2.1 At the beginning of the game there are the following figures on the board: - white team: king, queen, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights, 8 pawns. - black team: king, queen, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights, 8 pawns. 2.2. There can be from 2 up to 8 players in each team playing simultaneously. 2.3. At the beginning of the match, one or several verticals are assigned to each of the players. Each player owns one or several verticals. A player is allowed to move only figures of his team, which are placed at the beginning of the verticals assigned to this player.

3. Order of moving figures. 3.1. All players of the team, which turn it is, have equal rights to make a move. 3.2. A player that decided to make a move blocks other players from moving figures using one of the accepted ways. For example, short shout, raising a hand, pushing the signal button, or blocking other players from claiming a move. A single way of blocking other players or a combination of several ones can be used, as well as other effective methods. 3.3. Having received the opportunity to move, a player moves one of his team’s figures which is located on the current player’s verticals. A figure moves like a regular chess figure.

4.Other rules. All moves must meet common chess rules, including - move is made by one hand (this should be reconciled at the beginning of the game); - touching figures on the board is only allowed when making moves; - communication of any type between players during the game is strictly prohibited.

5. Complete game. 5.1. The game ends in the victory of any team, or a draw. 5.2. Victory can be achieved by checkmate. In case of a game with limited time, a team that spends all its time loses. 5.3. The game ends in a draw in the following cases: - Stalemate situation. - The situation, when the king can’t be checkmated by any possible moves. - If the last 50 moves were done by players without moving pawns and without taking a piece.

6. Additional conditions. 6.1. Before the beginning, teams can reconcile additional conditions, regulating a game. For example: - involve the judge to control the game process; - specialize duration of the game; - set penalties for violating rules. 6.2. Chessball judge. Chessball judge is the man, who has credentials to watch after the game and to make it run according to the rules. 6.2.1. Responsibility of Chessball judge. Chesball judge must: - control obedience to the rules of the game. - Reconcile additional conditions before the beginning of the game. - Control the game, monitor the timing of the game. 6.2.2. Credentials of a chessball judge. A judge has the right to: - temporarily interrupt, or stop the game if any rule is violated; - apply penalties (warning or removal) to players that violated any rule: 6.2.3. Chessball judge’s decisions. The judge’s decisions are final and are not subject to discussion. 6.3. Recording of the duration of the game. Each team has some time at the beginning of the game to think over and make its move. The duration of the game is measured by a chess clock (the clock with two clock faces, connected in the way so only one can work at the moment).

6.4. Penalties for violations. 6.4.1. there are two kinds of penalties for violation of the rules: warning of removal. 6.4.2. Players receive warnings for committing one of the following violations: - A Player dislocates (intentionally or accidentally) one or more figures on the board when it’s not this player’s turn; - A Player made an impossible move, herewith initial position must be restored; - Display of disrespect (by word or gesture) to a competitor or the judge; - Talking or prompting during the game. Herewith, for each warning opposite team receives two additional minutes for deliberation. 6.4.3. A player is removed from the game in the following cases: - he receives third warning; - offensive behavior, language or gestures; - aggressive behavior. 6.4.4. When a player is removed from the game, figures located on the vertical(s) assigned to this player and belonging to this player’s team are also removed. King can’t be removed. If there is only a king located on the vertical(s) assigned to a player being removed from the game, or if there are no figures at all on this vertical(s), figures located on the next vertical in alphabetical order are removed. After removal of player control over his vertical(s) goes to a player that controls vertical(s) next in alphabetical order.

Copyright 29.06.2009 Chessball – is a team chess-style game. The game is developed in the way to work out principles of synchronization of simultaneous creative work of several people. The rules contain the author's description of Chessball. For enthusiastic chess players. We play chessball. We are interested in the technology of intellectual activity for the unlimited and comprehensive revelation of man’s personality, during the concurrent work of several creators in one project. We want to know: what qualitative advantages are possible with that? We want to learn the emotional conflict of personal freedom of creativity and collective mind’s will; to see how pieces of chess art breathtaking with their beauty are created in a struggle, bearing the print of dramatic effect, insights, and delusions. S.A. Silvestrov.