Madrasi - Fairy chess mutual paralysis

Madrasi

Definition

Madrasi is a popular fairy chess condition in which pieces of the same type that attack one another become mutually paralyzed: they cannot move, capture, or give check while the mutual attack persists. The paralysis ends instantly if the attack is broken (for example, if one of the pieces moves away, is blocked, or is captured by a third piece). Unless explicitly stated otherwise, kings are not included in the paralysis in standard Madrasi.

In problem headers this is usually indicated as “Cond: Madrasi.” Variants include “Madrasi (kings included)” or “Madrasi+,” where kings are also subject to paralysis.

How it works

Core mechanics

Same-type mutual attack → mutual paralysis. Examples: Rook vs rook on the same file, knight vs knight at a knight’s distance, bishop vs bishop on the same diagonal, queen vs queen on a line, pawn vs pawn on a capture line.
Paralyzed pieces cannot move, capture, or give check. They still occupy and block lines as normal pieces.
Paralysis is dynamic. It disappears immediately if the attack is interrupted by a move, interposition, capture by another unit, or a discovered unpin/unblock.
Promotion matters. A newly promoted piece can instantly paralyze (or be paralyzed by) an enemy piece of the same type.
Kings are excluded by default. In “Madrasi (kings included),” kings can paralyze each other if they mutually attack (which requires adjacency), leading to striking stalemate and mate patterns.

Notation and conventions

Problem stipulations often read “h#,” “s#,” or “#” with “Cond: Madrasi.” See Helpmate and Selfmate.
“Madrasi+” or “kings included” means the condition applies to kings as well.
“Attacked” is used in the problemist sense, synonymous with “observed.”

Usage and strategic significance

Why composers love Madrasi

Madrasi is a fertile condition for thematic problem composition. It enables striking ideas that are impossible in orthodox chess, such as voluntary “self-paralysis” to neutralize a powerful attacker or carefully timed promotions that instantly freeze enemy defenders.

Paralysis as defense: Deliberately aligning a like piece to “switch off” an attacker.
Paralysis as offense: Forcing an enemy defender to become paralyzed, clearing the way for mating nets.
Promotional effects: Underpromotion choices can tailor which enemy piece will be paralyzed.
Cycle themes: Complex sequences where the identities of paralyzed pairs rotate (e.g., rook-then-bishop-then-queen paralysis cycles).

Although Madrasi is rarely used OTB, understanding it broadens a player’s appreciation of piece relationships, line control, and the dynamics of mutual constraint—useful intuitions even in standard chess.

Examples and diagrams

Example 1: Rooks freeze each other

Here, the rooks mutually attack along the a-file, so both are paralyzed under Madrasi. Neither can move or give check until the line is interrupted.

Diagram:

Example 2: Knights in mutual paralysis

White Nf3 and Black Nd4 attack each other; both knights are frozen. A single interposition or capture by a third unit would thaw them instantly.

Diagram:

Example 3: Promotion that instantly paralyzes the enemy queen

After 1. a8=Q, the new white queen on a8 and the black queen on a1 mutually attack and become paralyzed—a classic Madrasi motif.

Diagram and move:

Variants and related conditions

Common Madrasi variants

Madrasi (kings included): Kings can be paralyzed when adjacent (mutually attacking).
Asymmetric or “half” Madrasi: Only the attacked piece (not both) is paralyzed; less common.
Combinations: Madrasi is frequently combined with Circe or Anti-Circe rebirth rules to create rich, cyclical themes.

Related ideas

Fairy chess and Fairy pieces: The broader domain where Madrasi is used.
Helpmate, Selfmate, and Seriesmover: Stipulations that pair well with Madrasi to produce thematic mates.
Retrograde analysis and Problem/Composition: Madrasi often appears in retro and construction tasks because paralysis constrains legal histories.

History and origin

Background

Madrasi is named after the Indian city historically known as Madras (now Chennai). The condition emerged from the Indian problem-composition scene in the mid-20th century and quickly gained international popularity for its elegant “mutual paralysis” logic. It remains a staple of fairy problem tourneys and anthologies.

Interesting facts and tips

In orthodox chess, “like-type mutual attack” has no special status; in Madrasi it is the central mechanism that can shut down whole lines.
Promotions are extraordinarily powerful in Madrasi because the promoted piece’s new identity immediately interacts with enemy pieces of the same type.
Paralysis can create “invisible walls” that hold positions together—useful in helpmates and stalemate nets.
When kings are included, spectacular “frozen royal” stalemates and model mates appear that are impossible in standard rules.

Quick reference

Summary

What it is: A fairy condition; like-type mutual attack causes mutual paralysis.
What’s paralyzed: Movement, capture, and giving check (blocking power remains).
When it ends: As soon as the mutual attack is broken.
Kings: Excluded by default; included in the “Madrasi (kings included)” variant.