InfoChessOnthemodernbattlefield,theinformationalcomponentofwarisjustasimportantasthephysicaldimension.ThegameofInfoChessaddsinhiddeninformationandInformationWarfare(IW)conceptstotheclassicgameofchess.Setup:Thegameusesstandardchesspiecesandmostchessrules.Oneimportantexceptionisthatplayerscanpurchasepiecestoplaceontheboard,butwillnotgetthefull,standardsetofpieces.Importantly,playersmustdecidetoinvestinbuyingheavy,butvisiblepieces(queens,rooks,bishops)orlesspowerful,butinvisiblepieces(kings,pawns,andbishops).Invisiblepiecesbecomepermanentlyvisibleoncetheycaptureanopposingpieceormoveintotheiropponent’sbackthreerows.

Gameplay:Eachmoveconsistsoftwophases:aphysicalmoveandaninformationalmove.Playersmustmakeaphysicalmove,likeinregularchess.Notethedifferencesinviewbetweenblackandwhiteplayingthesamegame:

White Team View Black Team View

TheythenhaveanoptionofmakingoneoftwoInformationWarfaremoves:PsyopsorElectronicWarfare.Psyopsessentiallyforceanopponent’spiecetosurrender.PsyopscapturethepawnfurthestfromtheKing.Iftheopponentdoesnothaveanypawns,thefurthestremainingpieceisremoved.KingscanbecapturedusingPsyopsiftheyarethelastpiece.ElectronicWarfareessentiallydisruptstheopponent’sabilitytocommunicatetoitsunits.ElectronicWarfarepreventstheopponentfrommakingitsnextphysicalmove.Eachofthesemovesrequirestheplayerstospendlimitedavailablepoints.TheseIWmovescanalsobedefendedbytheiropponent.

StrategiesandVictory:Playerswillbenefitfromhavingsomebasicknowledgeofchess,butthebestplayerswillbetheonestocombinethephysicalandinformationalaspectsofthegame.Thegameendswhenthekingiscaptured,butsincethekingstartsofinvisible,itmustfirstbediscovered.Playerswhoignoretheinformationalsideofthegamedosoattheirownperil.