This maintains the original game, which is good, and also solves the A/B problem, but it comes at the expense of extra rules and an awkward board.

The A/B problem is too many pieces on the A rows and not enough on the B rows. Pieces move exactly two cells.

The playing board is the 7 x 5. But there are two extra rows, one at each end, with three cells containing three pawns. Like a hockey bench, pieces can cross over into the playing area. No pieces go from the playing area to the bench.

Physically there would be a stronger line between the bench and the playing board. I guess the board would have four cells missing rather than darkened.

There are some little extra rules related to one player having the crown at the start. One team, Team A, is chosen by the players to have the crown in the centre at the beginning of the game. So one piece from Team A goes in the centre. This piece is taken from the middle of the bench. We are trying to avoid a gap in the middle of Team A's area, which is bad for Team B who is already starting off on the wrong foot.

Still testing.
 
 

Is there a way to have the old board with the new rules? I'll try the old board with three pieces just off the board at each end. A third option is to have 1 x 3 bits of board at the ends that are loose.