Chess Variants

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How to Play Ice Skate Chess

Like regular chess, except sliding pieces (bishops, rooks, and queens) cannot stop early — they must travel as far as possible in their chosen direction, stopping only when they hit the edge of the board or a friendly piece, or capture an enemy piece. They may stop at an intermediate square to block check, as this is the furthest they can go in this situation.

This variant was made up by my sibling Luna.

How to Play Angry Chess

Like regular chess, except you can capture your own pieces! Every piece is a valid target, except your own king. Be careful: sacrificing your own material can open lines, but it can also backfire spectacularly.

How to Play Dark Chess

Standard chess, but the board is shrouded in darkness. You can always see your own pieces, but enemy pieces are completely hidden. Tap one of your pieces to shine a torch — its legal moves light up, revealing any enemies lurking in the path.

How to Play Superchess

The same as standard chess, until you get to promotion, at which point you can claim an Amazon, a powerful piece combining the abilities of both a queen and a knight, making it a formidable addition to your arsenal.

How to Play Chess960

Also known as Fischer Random Chess. The back rank pieces are shuffled into one of 960 possible starting positions, so opening theory goes out the window. Castling still works — the king and rook end up on their usual squares, regardless of where they started.