The janus piece possesses the combined movement abilities of both a bishop and a knight. The name of this unique chess piece draws inspiration from the Roman deity Janus, renowned for being depicted with two faces gazing in opposing directions.
Category: Variants
Breakthrough: Run to the final rank
Why did I include this game in a chess blog? Not only is Breakthrough a great and fun game, but the strategy is also close to a technique called the Pawn Break. So, if you become an advanced Breakthrough player, you would strengthen your tactical skills in Chess as well.
Capablanca Random Chess: Eight files are not enough
Capablanca Random Chess is a variation of the former Capablanca’s Chess, created by Reinhard Scharnagl. The most significant feature of this variant is the random starting position for each game. This rule is very similar to Fischer Random Chess.
Cheversi: Play chess with Othello
Cheversi, as the name suggests, is an interesting territory game, created by Andy Lewicki. The rules are easy to understand, and the games always have exactly 8 moves, it is fast to play and finish. Why Cheversi? Well, the game is a mix of Chess and Reversi, which is another name for Othello.
Racing Kings: Try something different with your chess set
The Racing Kings, a chess variant created by Vernon R. Parton in 1961, has gained widespread popularity. In this game, the objective is to maneuver your king to the final row faster than your opponent. It’s an excellent option for players who are well-versed in traditional chess rules but want to engage in a faster-paced and more competitive game.
Loop Chess: Capture, place, repeat, win!
Although this variant of chess adheres to the same rules and initial setup as the standard game, it stands out as one of the most fascinating and enjoyable versions due to a significant difference. What you capture becomes your extra weapon to drop on the board as a sudden strike. Creepy, huh?
Fischer Random Chess: Shuffle up and play
Fischer wanted to make chess more about being creative and talented, rather than just memorizing specific opening moves. He created a new form of chess where the starting position was random, which meant that players couldn’t rely on memorized moves to win. Instead, they had to come up with their own unique strategies from the very beginning.
Grand Chess: It’s bigger and with two new pieces
After a span of twenty-one years, I finally discovered this remarkable variant and integrated it into BrainKing.com. I cannot recall if I reached out to Christian for authorization or if he contacted me first, but that is inconsequential now. Let us delve into what makes Grand Chess unique.
Fortress Chess: More difficult way to break through defenses
As you can see, both kings are really well-hidden behind the additional ramparts, so it’s more difficult to get through the defenses, and a successful attack strategy usually includes one or more sacrifices of minor pieces. It is also important to know that the extra pawns can be used as an efficient force to advance to the promotion rank, so a good player must find a suitable attack/defense balance.
Corner Chess: The kings cannot be more separated
The Corner Chess, also known as the King’s Corner Chess, differs from the classic Chess by its starting position of pieces. The strategy is usually driven by the particular starting position, as the random shuffle of the pieces can create specific weak points both players try to exploit.