Chess puzzle is apparently busted?

[Baron]

So I like a good game of chess but is it supposed to be rigged? I beat the first puzzle and then had a go at the full chess board - my pawns cant capture anything but the opposing pawns capture not only the regular way but also diagonally BEHIND my pieces? What kind of handicap is that?

It's also super buggy and wont let me make other moves I should be able to make (rook not moving straight for example) and if it looks like you are going to win it bugs out and grinds to a halt for minutes while it thinks of a turn.

Probably high on the patch priority list Id say, considering the threads about it

[MrBananaGrabber]

https://www.chess.com/terms/en-passant

If you're unable to move a piece it's probably because doing so would put you in check, so it's an illegal move.

[Baron]

I know how to play chess. Let me try describe it.

Let's say our POV is the pedestal that raises when you do the puzzle, looking down at board.

Pawns can move forwards and to capture a piece they have to move one space diagonally. The AI - Lets call it SHODAN - could capture pieces by moving diagonally behind the piece, towards us on the pedestal, one space beyond the captured piece.

So I thought 'Okay maybe this is some weird house rule Ive never heard of or some crazy mash up with checkers' so I tried it myself. Nope. Pawns work the regular way.

The other question is does this thing update from a server? Because when I nearly beat it I literally have to go wander around for minutes before it makes a move, while it processes. A weird gimmick anyway, Id enjoy it if she - SHODAN - wasnt cheating.

Edit: Ive just realised this is probably to do with buggy save states - like it continues a game from last save even though the pieces got moved. Maybe, anyway. Ill have to try it from a fresh game and check. If thats the case might be a feature to leave - cant cheat the AI by savescum.

[mr munkee]

It sounds like you witnessed an "en passant", which you can look up. It's not a bug and the AI doesn't have different moves than you.

[Baron]

Ill have to check again. I doubt Ive explained it correctly. It certainly DOES seem like I am unable to perform an en passant and yet the AI can. I suppose it could have been a combination of putting myself in check, cos it doesnt warn you specifically.

As mentioned in OP, I am also unable to perform simple captures like a rook moving to capture a piece that has my King in check, leaving me either stuck or sometimes it will allow some other piece to capture.

Ill see if I can get some screenshots next time