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List of chess variants
This page is a list of chess variants. Many thousands of variants exist. The 2007 catalogue The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants estimates that there are well over 2,000, and many more were considered too trivial for inclusion in the catalogue.
The chess variants listed below are derived from chess by changing one or more of the many rules of the game. The rules can be grouped into categories, from the most innocuous (starting position) to the most dramatic (adding chance/randomness to the gameplay after the initial piece placement). If a variant changes rules from multiple categories, it belongs to the sub-section below corresponding to the later-listed category.
Names that represent a set of variants are annotated with "[multivariant]" after their name. All variants use an 8x8 board unless otherwise specified.
Many variants employ standard chess rules and mechanics, but vary the number of pieces, or their starting positions. In most such variants, the pawns are placed on their usual squares, but the position of other pieces is either randomly determined or selected by the players. The motivation for these variants is usually to nullify established opening knowledge. The downside of these variants is that the initial position usually has less harmony and balance than the standard chess position.
In these variants, White and Black do not necessarily begin with the same quantities of each piece type (for example, White may begin with more pawns than Black).
Most of the pieces in these variants are borrowed from chess. The game goal and rules are also very similar to those in chess; however, these variants include one or more fairy pieces which move differently from chess pieces.
There are a number of variants which use the empress (rook + knight), also called marshall or chancellor.. A number also use the princess (bishop + knight), also called cardinal, archbishop, janus, paladin, or minister. A third knighted piece is the amazon (queen + knight). To adapt to the new pieces, the board is usually extended to 10×8 or 10×10, with additional pawns added.
These variants introduce changes in the mechanics of the game, such as movement of pieces, rules for capturing, or winning conditions.
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List of chess variants
This page is a list of chess variants. Many thousands of variants exist. The 2007 catalogue The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants estimates that there are well over 2,000, and many more were considered too trivial for inclusion in the catalogue.
The chess variants listed below are derived from chess by changing one or more of the many rules of the game. The rules can be grouped into categories, from the most innocuous (starting position) to the most dramatic (adding chance/randomness to the gameplay after the initial piece placement). If a variant changes rules from multiple categories, it belongs to the sub-section below corresponding to the later-listed category.
Names that represent a set of variants are annotated with "[multivariant]" after their name. All variants use an 8x8 board unless otherwise specified.
Many variants employ standard chess rules and mechanics, but vary the number of pieces, or their starting positions. In most such variants, the pawns are placed on their usual squares, but the position of other pieces is either randomly determined or selected by the players. The motivation for these variants is usually to nullify established opening knowledge. The downside of these variants is that the initial position usually has less harmony and balance than the standard chess position.
In these variants, White and Black do not necessarily begin with the same quantities of each piece type (for example, White may begin with more pawns than Black).
Most of the pieces in these variants are borrowed from chess. The game goal and rules are also very similar to those in chess; however, these variants include one or more fairy pieces which move differently from chess pieces.
There are a number of variants which use the empress (rook + knight), also called marshall or chancellor.. A number also use the princess (bishop + knight), also called cardinal, archbishop, janus, paladin, or minister. A third knighted piece is the amazon (queen + knight). To adapt to the new pieces, the board is usually extended to 10×8 or 10×10, with additional pawns added.
These variants introduce changes in the mechanics of the game, such as movement of pieces, rules for capturing, or winning conditions.