[1] The game is laid out like standard chess with the addition of a champion in each corner of the 10×10 board and a wizard in each new added corner square.
The wizard was created specially to be a color-bound piece, an analog to the bishop.
Because of the symmetry and four additional corners, Omega Chess creates new tactical possibilities, including the possibility of forcing checkmate with two knights, or with a single bishop.
Omega Chess has garnered endorsements by grandmasters Michael Rohde[2] and Alex Sherzer.
As seen in the diagrams, the ranks are numbered 0–9, and the corner squares behind a0, j0, j9 and a9 are notated w1, w2, w3 and w4 respectively.
These squares are part of the board, and all pieces (except rooks and pawns) can enter them.
We6# The four corner squares in Omega Chess offer many endgame possibilities and peculiarities.
For example, unlike in standard chess, a lone queen (without the king's assistance) can force mate.
Two rooks find it easy to mate provided the enemy king is not in a wizard or champion starting square.
However, a king and rook cannot force mate, as the rook alone cannot force the king to the edge without driving it into a corner where it is unassailable.
Other material combinations leading to relatively straightforward forced wins include two bishops, two knights (also unlike standard chess; see two knights endgame), two champions, and champion and knight.
The endgame with bishop and wizard (provided that they are on opposite colors) can also be won, though the technique is somewhat more complex.
Other material combinations require that the king be kept out of the wrong-colored corner and thus a more precise technique; these include bishop and champion, wizard and champion, and bishop and knight.
[4] In 2008, the authors of Omega Chess developed an extension to the game called Omega Chess Advanced.