Chess has been around for over a thousand years and is one of the most popular board games in the world. It is a game of strategy, where two players try to outsmart each other by moving their pieces across a board to checkmate their opponent’s king. While the classic game of chess has been enjoyed by millions of people for centuries, there are a number of interesting chess variants that add a new twist to the game.
Chess variants are variations of the classic game of chess that have been created over time. They range from minor changes to the rules of the game to entirely new game boards and pieces. These variants are played by chess enthusiasts all over the world and have become increasingly popular recently.
- Cylinder Chess: Connect the edges
Cylinder Chess is a variant of standard Chess played on a regular 8×8 chessboard. It follows the same rules and uses the same pieces as standard Chess, with the only exception being the A and H columns. - Recycle Chess: Win by capturing your own pieces
Recycle Chess is a chess variant of the loop category. It means that some pieces which have been removed from the board can be brought back to the game and reused. There is a similarity with Loop Chess, but the game strategy is entirely different. - Massacre Chess: Win by stalemate
Massacre Chess is a creation by Andy Lewicki, and since it features a random factor, along with standard chess rules of piece movement, it should be straightforward to play even for players who are not too strong in classic chess strategies. - Embassy Chess: Play a variation of Capablanca’s invention
Embassy Chess (by Kevin Hill) is a variation of Bird’s (or Capablanca’s) Chess. It is played on a 10×8 board and adds two new pieces, a cardinal and a marshall. - Janus Chess: The two-face piece with German origins
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. - 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. - Cheshire Cat Chess: Why do the squares disappear?
Cheshire Cat Chess is a fun and challenging variant of the classic game of chess. The disappearing squares add a new level of complexity to the game and require players to constantly adapt their strategy. - Crazy Screen Chess: Anything is possible in your area
The Screen Chess is a fascinating and engaging variant of the classic game of chess. With its ability to customize the board layout, it is certain to appeal to players of all levels and experience. Whether you are a seasoned chess player looking for a new challenge or a beginner looking to learn the game, Screen Chess is definitely worth checking out. - Screen Chess: Get ready to win before the game starts
The Screen Chess is one of the classic chess variants where both players must edit their start positions before the game begins. In live games over the board, it can be accomplished by placing a temporary barrier between the 4th and 5th rank, so each player can set up the pieces without seeing the opponent’s configuration. - Knightmate Chess: My kingdom for a horse!
This variant, created by Bruce Zimov in 1972, introduces an interesting goal – to checkmate a knight instead of a king. - Anti Chess: Lose all pieces to win the game
Anti Chess has gained popularity over the years and is played in various tournaments and online platforms. - Legan Chess: Can you play on a tilted square?
The Legan Chess, also known as Legan’s game, was created by L. Legan in 1913 and features several differences from standard chess, including variations in both the initial position of pieces and pawn movements. - Dark Chess: Fight with the fog of war
Playing the Dark Chess over-the-board is a great fun not only for the players themselves, but for the audience as well, mostly because the game employs a tripartite board system, with each player possessing their own board while the third board is reserved for the umpire and any onlookers. - Extinction Chess: Win by capturing all pieces of one kind
The Extinction Chess is an exciting variant of chess that adds a new level of complexity and strategy to the classic game. - Los Alamos Chess: From the history of early game engines
This variant is played on a smaller board than traditional chess, with fewer pieces and some unique rules that make for an exciting and challenging game. - Ice Age Chess: Break your way through ice blocks
If the Ice Age surrounds an isolated piece (it is not adjacent to any other piece in any direction), this piece is frozen, removed from the board and another ice cube is placed in its position. - Ambiguous Chess: How can you share moves with your opponent?
I have a special relationship with this chess variant, maybe because I got the opportunity to participate in its popularization. I remember Fabrice contacting me sometime in 2006 asking if I would be willing to implement Ambiguous Chess on my game server BrainKing.com. - Horde Chess: Zerg the white king or crush the pawn crowd
Horde Chess is a popular chess variant among enthusiasts and is often used as a training exercise for chess players to improve their ability to handle complex and challenging positions. - Knight Relay Chess: Turn your army into a knight-powered cavalry
Any piece, except for the king, that is defended by a friendly knight has the power, in addition to its normal abilities, to move like an orthodox knight. The piece loses the additional power as soon as it is no longer defended by a friendly knight. - The Atomic Chess Theory: Kamikaze pieces for the win
In atomic chess, a capture causes an “explosion” through which both pieces are removed from the board as well as all non-pawn pieces in the eight squares immediately surrounding the capture. - Dice Chess: The perfect information with a random factor
There is no check or checkmate, it is allowed to move the king to a square attacked by the opponent’s piece. The goal is to capture the opponent’s king, which means to capture it like any other piece. Even a king can capture the other king. - Three Checks Chess: The strategy of bold sacrifices
This is probably one of the easiest variants to learn, as the rules are elementary. The game is played exactly like the standard game, with one key difference – players must count how many times they managed to place the opponent’s king in check. The one who gives a check for the third time, wins the game. A standard checkmate is considered a win as well. - Three Checks, Knight Relay, Fischer Random … 25 variants in one YouTube playlist
There are literally thousands of chess variants to choose from, and many sites to try them online. And if you are not certain about specific rules or just want to observe some variants before playing them, I created a playlist on one of my YouTube channels to publish videos of 25 selected types of chess games.
Playing chess variants can be a great way to mix up your gameplay and challenge yourself in new ways. They can also be a great way to introduce new players to the game of chess, as they offer a fresh and exciting take on the traditional game. With so many different chess variants to choose from, there is sure to be something for everyone.