Only the kings begin on e1 and e8. All other pieces begin in reserve.

On each turn, move one deployed piece or deploy one reserve piece within your half of the board.

Pawns move exactly one square forward, including their first move, and capture one square diagonally forward. There is no two-square move. A pawn promotes to a queen at the farthest rank.

Your bishops may be deployed on the same row or different rows, on squares of the same colour or different colours. Deploy each on a separate turn, on an empty square in your half. Each then moves diagonally on its square colour.

The bright centre line limits deployment only. After deployment, pawns and all other pieces may cross it by moving normally.

Checkmate wins. Castling and en passant are not used.