Blob Chess

[Mel-o-rama]

I invented a new game last night. I wanted to present it to y'all, and ask your opinions. Is this a real game in which you can plan real strategy? Is it a game that will always end in a draw? Or does one side have an unfair advantage? Is it interesting enough?

Also, the rules are so simple, I wouldn't be surprised if someone else thought of it first. So let me know if you've heard of this before somewhere.

Starting the game: You play on an 8x8 chessboard. You set up the pieces as you do in normal chess (ie 2 rows of pieces on each side). In this game, every piece is equal, so you can replace the chess pieces with checkers. In fact, this game may be better played with checkers, but that doesn't really matter. Every piece is called a bit (as in "a bit of the blob").

Goal: To capture or immobilize all of your opponent's bits.

Moving the bits: In general, you move bits like you would move a king in chess - one square in any direction - horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. But there are two restrictions on moving a bit:

#1) You can only move a bit that is adjacent (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) to another one of your bits.

#2) You can only move a bit to a square that is adjacent (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) to another one of your bits.

These rules mean that lonely bits (not adjacent to any other bits) can't move until a blob comes around to absorb it. Also, these rules allow you to break your blob into two or more pieces. Additionally, you can move such that you leave behind lonely bits (but you may not want to).

Also, if you have two blobs near each other with only one square in between them, a bit at one of the ends can actually jump from one blob to the other as long as you hold to the above 2 restrictions.

Capturing: You capture as you would in chess. That is, if you can move a bit (holding to the above 2 restrictions) to a square occupied by an opponent's bit, you may remove your opponent's bit and move your bit to that square. Of course, your opponent may or may not be able to capture your bit in retaliation.

Strategy: A group of bits attached to each other is called an n-blob where n is the number of bits in the blob. At the beginning of the game, you start with a 16-blob, which you can split up into 2 8-blobs, or a 5-blob and an 11-blob. A 1-blob is a lonely bit and cannot move.

Obviously, smaller blobs can move faster than bigger blobs, but a bigger blob can probably destroy any smaller blob that approaches to attack.

If one of your opponent's blob is stretched out, you may try to attack the middle and break his blob into 2 or more smaller blobs.

If your opponent is reduced to only 1-blobs, you win since he can't move anymore. (Note: if your opponent cannot move, but you can, it is a win for you, not a draw as it would be in regular chess.)

I think a 3-blob beats a 2-blob. Though the 2-blob can run a little faster, I think the 3-blob can follow and trap the 2-blob against the side or a corner. If this is true, then a winning strategy may include trying to gain a one bit advantage and exchanging all the rest of your bits.

I'm not sure if a 2-blob vs. 2-blob is a draw. It could be that the blob closer to the center may have a win-able advantage.

How do blobs approach each other in the beginning? Someone has to be the first to put their bit in harm's way. Actually, I take that back. It's possible to place a bit in position to capture in the next move such that your opponent can't capture you first.

So, what do you think? Does this game have merit?