for statement, is the equivalent of "i = 0" required?

Projects Programming
1 
void SENSE(byte _rPin_1st, byte _rPins)  {
  for (int _rPin = _rPin_1st; _rPin < _rPins; _rPin++)  {
    CapSense_now[_rPin] = cs_rPin[_rPin].capSense(capSamples);
  }
}

Can the above be simplified as follows?

void SENSE(byte _rPin, byte _rPins)  {
  for (_rPin; _rPin < _rPins; _rPin++)  {
    CapSense_now[_rPin] = cs_rPin[_rPin].capSense(capSamples);
  }
}
2

If there is nothing to do in the initialization section, it can be left blank:

for (; _rPin < _rPins; _rPin++)

The same holds true for any other section. The ;s are still required.

3

Each of the three parts in a for statement separated by semicolons are optional - the semicolons are required though. For instance you can say

for (;;)
{
}

for an infinite loop! Though it might be more readable to say

for (;true;)
{
}