Chess Variants – Explore Exciting Alternative Versions of Chess
Chess variants modify the standard rules to create fresh, exciting challenges. From the randomized starting positions of Chess960 (Fischer Random) to the captured-piece drops of Crazyhouse, these games test your adaptability and calculation. Explore the most popular variants to improve your flexibility and have fun.
🎬 Chess 960 Variant – YouTube Playlist
Watch quick examples of Chess960 (Fischer Random) and why it’s a brilliant way to play without heavy opening theory.
What Are Chess Variants?
Chess variants are games inspired by traditional chess but often featuring different boards, rules, or pieces. They offer new challenges and strategic depth for players looking to explore beyond orthodox chess.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chess Variants
What is a chess variant?
A chess variant is a game related to or inspired by chess, differing in rules, board design, pieces, or number of players.
How many chess variants exist?
Thousands of chess variants exist, with over two thousand catalogued in encyclopedias dedicated to the topic.
What is fairy chess?
Fairy chess is a category of chess problems and variants using non-standard pieces and rules, often focused on composition rather than practical play.
Who invented notable chess variants?
Notable inventors include Bobby Fischer (Chess960), José Raúl Capablanca (Capablanca Chess), and others who contributed to modern variants.
Are there tournaments for chess variants?
Some variants have official or unofficial tournaments, such as Chess960 world championships and Gliński's Hexagonal Chess events.
100 Fun Facts & Trivia About Chess Variants
1. Chess Variants Span Thousands of Unique Games
There are thousands of chess variants created by enthusiasts over centuries, each adding unique twists on the classic game.
2. The Oldest Chess Variant is Chaturanga
Originating around the 6th century in India, Chaturanga is considered the ancestor of modern chess and many variants.
3. Chess960 Was Invented by Bobby Fischer
Also known as Fischer Random Chess, it randomizes the starting back-rank pieces to reduce memorized openings.
4. Fairy Chess Introduced Unusual Pieces
Fairy chess problems often use “fairy pieces” like grasshoppers, wazirs, and nightriders with special moves.
5. Gliński’s Hexagonal Chess Has Six Players
Actually, it is designed for two players but played on a hexagonal board with unique movement rules.
6. Kriegspiel Is a Fog-of-War Chess Variant
Players cannot see the opponent's pieces and rely on a referee’s announcements to deduce moves.
7. Alice Chess Uses Two Boards Simultaneously
Pieces switch between two chessboards after each move, creating complex positional challenges.
8. Multi-Player Chess Variants Add Diplomacy
Games like Quatrochess and Four-Player Chess involve alliances and negotiations between players.
9. Infinite Chess Has No Board Edges
Theoretically, the board is unbounded, allowing endless movement possibilities for pieces.
10. Three-Dimensional Chess Adds Height Levels
Popularized by Star Trek, 3D chess challenges players to think across multiple planes.
11. Some Variants Use Dice to Add Chance
Dice Chess limits which piece can move each turn, blending luck with strategy.
12. Losing Chess Reverses the Goal
The objective is to lose all your pieces first, which flips standard chess strategies on their head.
13. Bughouse Chess Is a Popular Team Variant
Two teams of two play on adjacent boards, and captured pieces can be passed to partners.
14. Capablanca Chess Adds Two Fairy Pieces
It introduces the Chancellor and Archbishop to increase complexity and variety.
15. Some Variants Use Different Shaped Boards
Examples include triangular and rhombic boards, changing movement dynamics drastically.
16. Shogi and Xiangqi Are Regional Chess Variants
Japanese Shogi and Chinese Xiangqi evolved independently but share roots with international chess.
17. Fairy Chess Has Its Own Notation System
Special letters are assigned to unique fairy pieces for clarity in recording games and problems.
18. Some Variants Feature Asymmetric Armies
Dunsany’s Chess pits a standard army against an overwhelming number of pawns.
19. Alice Chess Was Invented in 1953
Created by V. R. Parton, it’s one of the most famous chess variants using two boards.
20. There Are Chess Variants With More Than Two Players
Variants like Three-Man Chess and Four-Player Chess add new social and tactical layers.
21. The Knightmare Chess Variant Includes Cards
Players use special cards to change the rules and pieces’ abilities during the game.
22. 5D Chess Adds Time Travel and Parallel Universes
Players can move pieces across timelines and dimensions, creating mind-bending complexity.
23. Some Chess Variants Have Been Solved
Los Alamos Chess (6×6 board) and Gardner’s Minichess (5×5 board) are weakly solved.
24. Arimaa Was Designed to Challenge Computers
Created to be intuitive for humans but difficult for AI, though computers eventually mastered it.
25. Dice Chess Dates Back to the 17th Century
It was popular as a gambling game combining chance with chess skill.
26. Progressive Chess Allows Multiple Moves per Turn
Players make 1 move on turn one, 2 moves on turn two, and so forth, increasing complexity quickly.
27. Some Variants Introduce New Victory Conditions
For example, Three-Check Chess ends when a player checks the opponent three times.
28. The Checkless Chess Variant Forbids Giving Check
Players cannot put their opponent in check, changing how attacks are made.
29. Cylinder Chess Wraps the Board Horizontally
The a- and h-files are connected, simulating a cylinder for piece movement.
30. Some Variants Use Multiple Boards
Alice Chess and other multi-board variants require moving pieces between boards.
31. The Royal Game of Ur Is an Ancient Chess-Like Game
Dating back over 4,500 years, it’s a precursor to modern board games including chess.
32. The Knight Moves Differ in Some Variants
Variants may add knight-like pieces with extended or altered jumping capabilities.
33. The Sultan’s Game Is a Variant Played on a 10×10 Board
It includes new pieces and is played in the Middle East.
34. Courier Chess Was Popular in Medieval Europe
It used a larger board (12×8) and included additional pieces.
35. Some Variants Include Capture-by-Contact Rules
In games like Madrasi Chess, certain pieces become paralyzed if attacked by the same type.
36. Atomic Chess Explodes Pieces on Capture
Capturing a piece causes an 'explosion' removing adjacent pieces as well.
37. The Seirawan Chess Variant Adds Two New Pieces
It includes the Hawk and Elephant, expanding strategic possibilities.
38. Some Variants Use Color-Restricted Movement
Pieces might be limited to certain colored squares, changing mobility.
39. In Losing Chess, Forced Captures Are Required
Players must capture if able, which forces unexpected tactics.
40. The Mekanik Variant Introduces Different Piece Strengths
Pieces can have numeric values affecting capture and movement rules.
41. Some Variants Include Promotion of New Pieces
Promotion might allow new fairy pieces, not just queens.
42. Knight Relay Chess Allows Knights to 'Relay' Moves
They can enable other pieces to move in unique ways.
43. Some Variants Are Played on Circular Boards
Circular chess offers a ring-shaped playing surface changing piece dynamics.
44. In Kriegspiel, Players Use a Referee
The referee tells players when a move is legal or if a capture occurred, without revealing exact positions.
45. The Dragonfly Variant Allows Dropping Captured Pieces
Captured pieces can be 'dropped' back on the board as part of your army.
46. Some Variants Are Designed for Puzzle Composition
Fairy chess often focuses on creating challenging chess problems with unique pieces.
47. The game Jetan, from Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Mars novels, is a fictional chess variant
It inspired many fans to create playable versions of this fictional game.
48. Star Trek’s Tri-Dimensional Chess Was Made Playable by Fans
Though originally a TV prop, detailed rules have been developed for real play.
49. Some Variants Allow Multiple Moves per Turn
Marseillais Chess lets players move twice per turn, increasing tactical possibilities.
50. Chess Boxing Combines Chess and Physical Boxing
Players alternate between rounds of chess and boxing in this hybrid sport.
51. The 5D Chess Variant Includes Parallel Timelines
Players move pieces through different time dimensions to outwit opponents.
52. Some Variants Use a Smaller Board for Faster Games
Minichess variants are played on 5×5 or 6×6 boards for quicker matches.
53. The Omega Chess Variant Adds Two Extra Ranks and Files
This allows room for new pieces and unique openings.
54. Some Variants Feature Variable Starting Positions
Chess960 is the most famous, but others randomize positions differently to encourage creativity.
55. Many Variants Aim to Reduce Opening Theory Dominance
By randomizing or changing the setup, players rely more on skill than memorization.
56. The King of the Hill Variant Ends If the King Reaches the Center
This adds new strategic objectives beyond checkmate.
57. In Atomic Chess, The King Can Explode
If exploded, the player loses even if not checkmated traditionally.
58. The Ambassador Chess Variant Includes a Piece That Combines Knight and Bishop Moves
Adding layers of complexity to the game.
59. Some Variants Allow Pawns to Move Backwards
This changes promotion strategies and board control.
60. The Grasshopper is a Fairy Chess Piece That 'Hops' Over Others
It must jump over exactly one piece to move.
61. Baroque Chess Includes Capture by Immobilization
Pieces are captured if trapped or immobilized instead of being taken.
62. Some Variants Include Multiple Kings
Players may need to checkmate all kings to win, complicating the endgame.
63. The concept of ‘Castling’ Exists in Many Variants But With Different Rules
For example, some variants restrict it or modify how it’s performed.
64. Some Chess Variants Are Designed to Be Played Blindfolded
Enhanced visualization skills are needed to track complex positions.
65. The Spinoff Game 'Janggi' Is Korean Chess
It features different pieces and board layout but shares many concepts with chess.
66. The Los Alamos Chess Variant Was Used in Early Computer Chess
It is played on a smaller 6×6 board with no bishops.
67. Some Variants Have Rules for ‘Reincarnation’ of Pieces
Captured pieces can re-enter the game under certain conditions.
68. Many Chess Variants Are Played Casual and Unofficially
Most variants don’t have professional circuits but are enjoyed by enthusiasts worldwide.
69. The Game ‘Bughouse’ Is Extremely Popular in Blitz and Online Chess Communities
It requires fast thinking and teamwork.
70. Some Variants Involve Time Travel Elements
5D Chess includes moving pieces through different points in time.
71. The ‘King’s Indian Attack’ Is a Chess Opening but Also Inspired a Variant Name
Some variants borrow names and concepts from openings and strategies.
72. The ‘Tamerlane Chess’ Variant Was Played on a 10×11 Board
It featured many fairy pieces and complex rules.
73. The ‘Courrier Chess’ Variant Was Played in Medieval Europe
It included additional pieces like the Courier and had a 12×8 board.
74. Many Variants Are Invented as Puzzles or Compositions
Fairy chess often exists primarily for problem-solving challenges.
75. ‘Racing Kings’ Is a Chess Variant Where the Goal Is to Race the King to the Last Rank
It shifts the focus from checkmate to positional racing.
76. Chess Engines Have Been Adapted to Play Variants
Programs like Fairy-Max and specialized versions of Stockfish support variant play.
77. Chess960’s Starting Positions Must Keep Bishops on Opposite Colors
This preserves balance and strategy variety.
78. Some Variants Use ‘Hand and Brain’ Team Play
One player names the piece to move, the other chooses the move.
79. The ‘Amazon’ Fairy Piece Combines Queen and Knight Moves
This is one of the most powerful fairy pieces.
80. Some Variants Have Modified Pawn Movement and Promotion Rules
For example, pawns may promote anywhere or have different initial moves.
81. ‘Baroque Chess’ Is Known for Its Unique Capture Mechanics
Pieces capture by immobilizing their targets rather than taking them.
82. ‘Atomic Chess’ Captures Cause Explosions
Captured pieces and all adjacent ones are removed from the board.
83. Some Variants Prohibit the Use of the Queen
This drastically changes strategy by removing the most powerful piece.
84. ‘Bughouse’ is Known as ‘Exchange Chess’ in Some Regions
Both names refer to the same fast-paced team game variant.
85. ‘King of the Hill’ Can End in a Draw Even Without Checkmate
If neither player reaches the center with their king, the game can be drawn.
86. ‘Racing Kings’ Was Created by GM Yasser Seirawan
It emphasizes quick piece development and king safety in a race format.
87. ‘Crazyhouse’ Lets Players Drop Captured Pieces Back on the Board
This variant is very popular on online platforms for its tactical richness.
88. ‘Seirawan Chess’ Adds Two Fairy Pieces Called the ‘Hawk’ and ‘Elephant’
These pieces combine the moves of existing pieces to add variety.
89. ‘Congo Chess’ Is Played on a 7×7 Board With Unique Pieces
It was invented by Demian Freeling.
90. The ‘Grasshopper’ Fairy Piece Must Jump Exactly One Piece When Moving
This mechanic is unique and adds interesting tactical possibilities.
91. ‘Dunsany’s Chess’ Has One Side Playing Normal Pieces and the Other Playing Pawns Only
The pawns have an overwhelming numeric advantage.
92. ‘Marseillais Chess’ Lets Each Player Move Twice Per Turn
This variant can lead to very dynamic and fast-paced games.
93. ‘Baroque Chess’ Was Invented by Robert Abbott
He is also known for inventing several other unique variants.
94. Some Variants Feature ‘Invisible’ Pieces
Similar to Kriegspiel, players have incomplete information about piece locations.
95. ‘Reflex Chess’ Requires Players to Respond to Checks Immediately
This adds a real-time reflex element to the game.
96. ‘Omega Chess’ Adds Four Extra Squares and Two New Pieces
This increases complexity and strategic options.
97. ‘Cylinder Chess’ Wraps the Board Horizontally
Pieces moving off one side reappear on the other, changing tactics.
98. ‘Fischer Random Chess’ Became an Official FIDE Chess Variant
It was officially recognized in 2019 with world championship matches held.
99. ‘Dark Chess’ or ‘Fog of War’ Chess Variants Hide Opponent’s Pieces
Players only see squares attacked or occupied by their own pieces.
100. Chess Variants Continue to Inspire New Generations of Players
They encourage creativity, adaptability, and fresh strategic thinking beyond classic chess.
♟️ Recommended Chess Courses for Variant Enthusiasts
Build your skills and understanding of chess strategy, tactics, and history with these popular courses from ChessWorld.net: