Gess

In Gess, players take turns moving a 3x3 pattern of stones (a 'piece') across a Go board lined with a grid. The specific pattern of black and white stones within that 3x3 grid determines how that cluster is allowed to move, mimicking traditional chess pieces. As pieces move, they push or capture enemy stones within their path.

Gess is played using a standard 19x19 Go board equipped with black and white stones. Rather than individual pieces having fixed roles, the 'pieces' in Gess are actually the physical Go stones arranged in a 3x3 square on the intersections. This means the board and its components are constantly shifting as stones are removed or rearranged.

The game was invented by a designer named Archin M. Withnall in the year 1994. It was created as a completely unique fusion of Go components with Chess-like movement mechanics. The name 'Gess' is playfully derived from a combination of the words 'Go' and 'Chess'.

Capturing in Gess occurs when a moving 3x3 footprint overlaps with enemy stones on the board. Any opponent's stones that fall within the footprint of your moving piece are simply removed from the board. Additionally, if your own stones fall into the moving footprint, they are relocated along with the piece, creating dynamic shifts in the layout.