In the mid 90s-early 00s, there was a small but dedicated community that played and analyzed the second variant (called "Wild 5" on FICS and ICC).
I don't think they definitively proved a white win, but they seemed fairly sure that white was winning in the starting position, and eventually white's win rate in games between the better players was very high IIRC.
Hopefully one of the old school wild 5 players will see this and correct me if I'm wrong about any of that :)
I don't think they definitively proved a white win, but they seemed fairly sure that white was winning in the starting position, and eventually white's win rate in games between the better players was very high IIRC.
Hopefully one of the old school wild 5 players will see this and correct me if I'm wrong about any of that :)