Playing Gothic Chess (Also Known as Trice’s Chess)

Gothic chess (an invention of Ed Trice’s) is played like regular chess, except there are two new pieces, and a wider board (and extra pawns) to accomodate them. In the image shown above (which I found with a Google-search), the piece between the king and queen is called the chancellor, and can move like a rook or a knight. The piece between the king and the king’s bishop is called the archbishop, and it can move like a knight or a bishop. The only other difference between gothic chess and regular chess is that the king moves three spaces when castling, instead of two.

I’ve known about this game for years, but have had trouble finding people to play against me on my physical set. However, I just learned that there’s now a free download of an A.I. that plays the game, at https://gothicchess.info/programs_01.shtml, and that program cleaned my clock swiftly in my first game against it. While the download is free, donations to Trice are accepted and appreciated. I’ve donated $10, but you can choose whatever amount you prefer.

An Involuntary Conversation with Siri

I use an iPad, but I don’t like Siri. When she’s turned on, it’s by mistake, and without the need for her, um, “help.”

siri

The other day, I accidentally activated Siri. After she said her standard opening bit, I barked at her, “&%$# it, Siri! Go away!”

She replied, in the tone of one with hurt feelings, “I’m just trying to help.” I hadn’t even thought about the fact that she was listening.

Someone actually went to the trouble to give proto-A.I., which is what Siri is, the ability to sulk.