Schmess is a way of playing chess that assures that, no matter how unequal the players, both players are always playing interesting positions. Although winning chess games helps you win at Schmess, the goal of Schmess is not to win games but to win points over a series of many games. Here is how you accumulate (or lose) points:
Rules of Schmess.
(1) The most direct way to win points at the game of Schmess is to be in charge of the winning pieces when the chess game ends. A win earns you 16 points.
(2) The most direct way to LOSE points in Schmess, is to take back a move. You may take back any number of moves you wish at any time, but each move you take back costs you a point. (Only the moves you, yourself, take back count against you. Opponents’ intervening moves do not count against you.)
(3) A player who feels he is holding the weaker board may offer to buy his opponents board for a number of points. If the offer is accepted, the board is immediately turned around and the owner of the stronger board receives the number of points offered. Even if he subsequently looses the game, he retains the points given in the exchange.
(4) A player who feels that he can win with his opponent’s weaker board, may offer to sell his stronger board to his opponent for a number of points. If the offer is accepted, he receives the number of points agreed to. Even if he subsequently looses the game, he retains the points given in the exchange.
(5) Such exchanges may be repeated as often as a willing buyer and a willing seller can be found.
(6) Thus, a player may win more than 16 points or less than zero points during the course of a game.
(7) Here are two additional rules that might be agreed to by particularly bloodthirsty players: Any player who feels he has the better position, may ask to double the value of the game, from 16pts to 32pts to 64pts, etcetera. Once a player has offered a double and the double has been accepted, then the game can only be redoubled on the initiative of the previously accepting partner.
(8) Upon the offer of a double, the recipient of the offer must choose between three options: [a] accepting the doubling, [b] resignation, conceding the current value of the game to his opponent (usually 16 points, but higher if previously doubled) or less due to any deficit he may have incurred by taking back moves, or [c] making an offer for the purchase of his opponent’s board. If the offer is rejected, the game is resigned.