Chess 960 / Fischer Random versus Placement Chess poll

@Doofenshmirtz Thanks, fixed

bump (please vote in #1)

bump+

If we're removing variants, Chess960 seems like it should be the last on the list. Not only is it the most played variant, but it's the only variant that sees (somewhat) significant tournament play from top chess players with large prize funds (see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIDE_World_Fischer_Random_Chess_Championship_2019). That said, Placement Chess is pretty fun too!

Maybe it is worth rethinking what variants Lichess offers. Considering the extensive work of sister site pychess.org in programming so many new variants, some of the ones originally developed for Lichess are starting to feel a little... arbitrary. I know there is no official affiliation between Lichess and Pychess, but is it feasible to direct some variant traffic there in some way? I'm thinking like a menu link listing open source Lichess partners, such as those listed here: lichess.org/blog/WrbfjyYAAMOualZ5/our-favourite-open-source-chess-websites plus the many new ones?

Clever use of reactions...

"for now theoretical" - even as the developer who added this variant to SF (influencing its addition elsewhere) I don't think Lichess would accept Placement as a variant unless it has gained massive popularity elsewhere. And it doesn't remove variants, no matter how much I repeat that one of them is solved!

For now you can play placement chess on http://pychess.org/ Its very fun, but I dont think it would replace 960 just be another type of option. I have very much wanted to see what some grandmasters ideal starting positions might be.

you could also look at Parachute chess, taking it another step further where you place all of your pieces and pawns down 1 by 1.
vchess.club/#/variants/Parachute

@Toadofsky which one is solved?

@lucieon antichess is solved catalin.francu.com/nilatac/book.php?query=

@MangoTownTravis interesting. Does black win any game if both players play optimum moves?

Nope