Incognito Chess, a delightful chess variant conceived by Ralph Betza in 1978, presents a straightforward yet enjoyable gameplay experience.
In the captivating Incognito Chess, players make a concealed selection of an extra ‘royal’ piece, alongside their regular king, and a royal pawn that cannot promote. These royals possess identical attributes to the standard king, meaning that if any royal piece comes under threat (in check), the player must promptly maneuver out of danger without exposing the fact that their royal has been targeted. The game reaches its conclusion if any royal piece is checkmated, leading to an immediate end of the game.
The selection of royal pieces is probably more important than the standard chess strategy. Take a look at the following example: