Chess is a classic game that has found its place from ancient mythology to today. With time, many chess variants have been developed. So much so that we now have various chess variants available online. You can play chess online on your PC or your mobile. Some types are very similar to traditional chess, while others differ.
Some games are played as side events at online or offline traditional chess tournaments. Are you ready to play the different chess variants?
In today’s article, we unpack the top 10 chess variants that offer a short break from regular chess. These variants offer a unique and entertaining twist. Take a look at the top variants of chess!
Also Read: Who Invented Chess?
10 Types of Chess Variants
To be familiar with the gameās nuances, you no longer need to sit with a chessboard. All you need is a mobile phone or a PC. Yes! You can try these online chess variants and get to know them better!
1. Bughouse Chess
Bughouse Chess is among the most popular chess variants, especially among younger players. In this game, two teams of two players face each other on two chess boards. One player takes the white pieces on each team, while the other takes the black. The gameplay is like standard chess, except when a player captures the pieces or a piece and passes it to their partner. In this chess variant, the players make a standard chess move or place a captured piece on the board during their turn.
The first checkmate of either team decides the winner.
2. Crazyhouse
Crazyhouse is similar to Bughouse Chess. The difference in the chess variant is that instead of playing with four players, we need two players. You play like regular chess, but capturing one of the pieces allows a player to place the same piece of his color on the board later, like Bughouse.
Crazyhouse is an enjoyable and well-known social type of chess. It also encourages players to bring more varieties of the pieces. Crazyhouse stresses the importance of Kingās safety. It becomes difficult for the opponents to defeat if you surround your King with defenders.
3. King of the Hill
This is the chess variant where you have to get the King or one of the pieces to the central squares of the board. The term is also known as ātop of the hill.ā King of the Hill, or KOTH, is a popular game in which dominating the center of the board is essential.
The King of the Hill game ends with the same traditional ways and methods- checkmate, stalemate, and time-out.
The other way the King of the Hill game ends is when you get the King to one of the central squares, namely e4, d4, e5, and d5. These are commonly known as ātop of the hillā squares. You win the game immediately, either for White or Black. The goal is to get the central squares, regardless of the position in these variations of chess.
Also Read: How to Become a Chess Grandmaster
4. 3 Check Chess
Another popular chess variant is 3 Check, similar to regular chess, with an added rule. This is one of the variations of chess where you can win a chess game by checking your opponentās King three times, along with regular rules for winning a match.
5. Chess 960 (Fischer Random)
Fischer Random or Chess 960 is also one of the variants of chess where you can apply standard chess rules, except that in a game of Chess 960, there are 960 unique starting positions.
The two bishop pieces can move to the squares of opposite colors.
Even the castling rules of chess apply here; however, the starting positions of kings and rooks might differ. When castling moves to g1 (g8) and the rook to f1(f8), just like castling kingside in standard chess. The king moves to c1(c8) and the rook to d1(d8) when castling queenside, like queenside in standard chess.
This chess variant is designed to eliminate opening preparation without fundamentally changing the game. Once that is sorted, it plays out like a regular chess game.
Rules of playing Chess 960 Chess Variant:
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Like in a normal game, pawns are placed along with the second rank.
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The black position always copies the white position, and each side must have a bishop of each color.
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The Kings are always placed between the rooks.
With those rules in mind, there are 960 possible starting positions in chess. This can be determined by dice as well.
6. Atomic Chess
Another online chess variant you can play now is Atomic Chess. Here, the chess pieces can meet a deadlier outcome than the standard chess. The captured pieces are not just removed from the board; the captured pieces are also killed.
Besides the pawns, every piece within a one-square radius āexplodesā and is removed from the board. The winner is the first person who can explode the opponentās King.
7. Four Player Chess
This type of chess variant is played with four people simultaneously. This game is often played online and is considered the most popular type. Since this game is played with four players, it simply quadruples the fun. A healthy competitive spirit exists, too. The game also teaches patience, as you have to wait for three turns before you get to play. You can play this online chess game on multiple platforms.
Four players start the game on a four-way chess variant on a special board. The game continues in a clockwise direction. You cannot partner with any of the four players. Everyone has to play individually. The winner is declared when the player checkmates any of the other three kings.
Useful Read: Difference Between Tactical & Positional Chess
8. Kung-Fu Chess
Kung-Fu ChessĀ is a fast-paced chess variant where players move multiple pieces at the same time, rather than taking turns. Here, players can move any available piece at any moment, but only one piece at a time. Each move has a brief delay, making speed and timing crucial. Unlike standard chess, checks, and pins don’t exist, and the game ends only when a king is captured or a player resigns, not through checkmate or stalemate. This real-time format creates a unique experience.
9. Grasshopper Chess
Grasshopper Chess is a chess variant in which pawns can be promoted to a special piece called a grasshopper. The grasshopper moves like a queen but must hop over other pieces to capture or move. In some versions, grasshoppers may start on the board from the beginning, replacing queens or being placed on specific ranks. Unlike regular pawns, grasshoppers require jumping over a piece to move and capture. This is a type of fairy chess.
10. Berlin Chess
One of the most popular fairy chess variants is Berlin chess or Berolina chess. This is one of the chess variants where Berolina pawns replace pawns. Unlike regular pawns, Berolina pawns move diagonally forward and capture straight ahead. The rest of the rules remain the same as standard chess. This variant has been featured in various tournaments, including a notable correspondence event in 1957.
Why Play Different Types Of Chess Variants?
Playing chess variants gives players a chance to step outside their comfort zone and stimulate their brains. When they try different variants, the players develop new strategies and ways of challenging opponents.
Various chess variants include Bughouse, Four Way Chess, King of the Hill, and 3 Check Chess. Whatever type of chess game you want to play, make a note of the following:
1) You cannot capture the King
2) You have to dodge a check with your next move.
Added Read: How to Get Better at Chess
FAQs
What happens to the captured pieces in chess?
In chess, captured pieces are removed from the board and are no longer used in the game. They do not return to play or affect the game further. The game continues with only the remaining pieces on the board. Captured pieces are kept off the board as a way to track what has been taken and maintain the game’s state. Most chess variants follow the same rule.
What are the modern variants of the chess game?
Modern types of chess games include Chess960 (Fischer Random Chess), which randomizes the starting positions of pieces. Then, you have Rapid Chess, with faster time controls, and Blitz Chess, with rapid play times. In one type of chess called Bullet Chess, each player has 1 minute or less. Other chess variants include Threefold Chess. It is played on three boards, and Hexagonal Chess uses a hexagon-shaped board.
What are fairy pieces in a chess game?
Fairy pieces are non-standard chess pieces with unique movement abilities. They are used in chess variants. For instance, the Grasshopper is one variant of chess that uses fairy pieces. In this variant, the pawns jump over pieces, and the Berolina Pawn moves and captures diagonally. These pieces add complexity and variety to chess variants.
Can you have two kings in any variations of chess?
In most standard types of chess games, each player has only one king. However, some chess variants and custom rules allow multiple kings per player. For instance, in Double-move Chess, each player starts with two sets of pieces and may have two kings.
