Official Rulings - September 17, 2003
Section 3: Specific Cards - E

Q. When REBIRTH is played after the board has been rotated by EARTHQUAKE does it refer to original squares given the board's new orientation or to the actual squares which are now in a different location?

A. The actual squares that are now in a different position (i.e. the new two ranks in front of you).

Q. Does EARTHQUAKE count as moving a King and Rooks for the purpose of castling?

A. No. As always, the King moves two squares towards the Rook, and the Rook 'jumps' the King to land adjacent to the King. The fact that this occurs on a file instead of a rank is incidental.

Q. Does the 'Frontier' change along with the EARTHQUAKE for the purposes of TOLL or BETRAYAL?

A. Yes.

Q. White plays FALSE ORDERS on Black's Queen placing it in threat. FALSE ORDERS is not a continuing effect card so it was discarded at the end of White's turn. Black's Queen is not allowed to move during Black's turn. Black plays ESCAPE! and places the Black Queen back on starting position. Was this a legal move? FALSE ORDERS was not a continuing effect and was not "in play" at the time even though is presence was still felt for at least one turn. Black did not move his Queen as a regular turn, but instead moved a Rook. Technically, Black did not move the Queen, however, White expected the intent of FALSE ORDERS to keep Black's Queen at that same spot for White's turn.

A. Yes, ESCAPE! was legally played. The two non-continuing-effect cards have conflicting effects (ESCAPE! did move the Queen, which is forbidden by FALSE ORDERS -- even though it wasn't the player's regular move, it was still a move). So, by the Conflict Rule, the second one played (ESCAPE!) wins. White's intents and expectations don't enter into it.

Q. Can EVIL EYE be used by PACIFISTS? By pieces held in place by FATAL ATTRACTION?

A. No. Capture is not threatened, so EVIL EYE may not be played.

Q. White's King is adjacent to Black's Knight, which was protected by Black's Rook. Can White play EVIL EYE, taking the Knight?

A. Yes. The King still threatens the Knight, since it is legal to place your King in check as long as he is not checked at the end of the turn.

Q. I have played FALSE ORDERS on my opponents Rook, moving it in front of my Pawn. On my opponents turn, he cannot move that Rook, but plays EVIL EYE, thus capturing my Pawn in front of his Rook. Is this legal?

A. No. If a piece that may not threaten capture, whether a Continuing Effect like PACIFIST or a temporary effect such as with FALSE ORDERS, that piece may now capture via EVIL EYE.

Q. My opponent has no pieces left but a King and a Queen. Is it still legal for him to play EYE FOR AN EYE to remove one of my pieces, since the card will not let me remove either his King or his Queen?

A. Yes.