Chess Variants/Maharajah and the Sepoys

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Maharajah and the Sepoys starting position.

Maharajah and the Sepoys is an asymmetric variant from India that pits a powerful white king (the titular Maharajah) against the standard chess army (the Sepoys).

It is believed that a early version of this variant was played in India in the 12th century CE, but fell dormant shortly after. It was revived in 1871 by Kridakaushalya, an Indian games encyclopedia. The variant was first described in the Western world in 1892 by English author and architect Edward Falkener, who also gave the variant its name.

For reference, "maharajah" was a Sanskrit term for an Indian prince, and "sepoys" were the Indian soldiers recruited by the British to maintain their control over the subcontinent.

This variant has been solved - with perfect play from both sides the variant will end in a guaranteed win for the Sepoys.

The Sepoys are given the standard chess army, with one exception - the pawns are all replaced with "weak pawns", which cannot promote. If a black weak pawn reaches the first rank, it simply stands there as an obstacle until captured.

The White player is only given one piece, the titular Maharajah, which possesses the combined powers of the queen and the knight. The maharajah is also royal, so it must move out of check if attacked. It may pass through attacked squares to land on a safe square.

The goal for both players is to checkmate the other's royal piece.

This chess variant does not have any notable sub-variants.