Are you a fan of chess? If so, you may be interested in exploring the different variants of the game available. Chess variants come in all shapes and sizes, and each one offers a unique experience. Whether you’re looking for a fast-paced variation to play with friends, or a more strategic game to challenge yourself, there’s a chess variant out there to suit your needs.
What Are Chess Variants?
Chess variants are several iterations of the traditional chess game. The layout and how the pieces move might vary significantly, but they employ the same rules, components, and board as the classic game. While some chess variations are made to be played more quickly, others change the board or introduce additional pieces to make the game more strategic. While some variations can only be played with two people, others support up to eight.
Over time, numerous chess variants have been created, some of which have even gained enough popularity to be played in competitions. Fischer Random Chess, Atomic Chess, Crazyhouse, Anti-Chess, Three Check are a few of the most well-liked variations. Let’s go through the most popular variants…
Fischer Random Chess or Chess960
Former world champion Bobby Fischer created the chess variant known as Fischer Random Chess, also known as Chess960. The majority of how this variant differs from standard chess is the random placement of the pieces on either side of the board in one of 960 different starting positions! Yes, you read that correctly—there may be an unrealistically large number of positions available. Due to this, it can be more challenging to plan ahead because the pieces might be put in unexpected spots. Also, unlike traditional Chess, most players are unprepared because they are unsure of which position they will be put in- it’s pretty random, as the name suggests!
Chess players who wish to train their tactical and strategic abilities without having to bother about opening theory frequently use this variant. It’s a fantastic technique to practice playing without having to memorize opening moves like in traditional chess.
You might be shocked to know that like there is a Chess World Championship, there is also a Fischer Random Chess World Championship!
Let’s see if you can guess- Who is the current (2022) Fischer Random Chess World Champion?
A) Magnus Carlsen
B) Ian Nepomniachtchi
C) Hikaru Nakamura
D) Wesley So
Even though it may sound awkward, but castling is still possible in Chess960! Find out more about the rules though the following link: Chess960 • Starting position of the home rank pieces is randomized.
During Fischer Random World Championship 2022, Reykjavik. Photo: David Llada
Crazyhouse
Crazyhouse is a chess variant that is similar to traditional chess, but with one major difference: pieces that are captured are not removed from the board, but instead become part of the player’s arsenal. This means that a player can drop pieces on the board to their advantage, making for a very dynamic game.
Crazyhouse is a great variant for those who want to practice their tactical skills and creativity. It’s also a great way to practice playing with different pieces, as you can use your opponent’s pieces against them.
Find out more about the rules of CrazyHouse through the following link: Crazyhouse • Captured pieces can be dropped back on the board instead of moving a piece.
King of the Hill
In the thrilling variant known as King of the Hill, or “KOTH,” the objective is to move your king to the middle of the board, or the “peak of the hill.”
- The classic game-ending strategies of checkmate, stalemate, and time-out are still available.
- When a player places their king on one of the four central squares, the game may also be over.
- No matter the type of situation, the squares e4, d4, e5, and d5 are “top of the hill” squares, winning the game immediately for either White or Black.
The importance of this variant is that it demands focus in the center, which is a very important part of the game. So, if a player is usually less concerned about his/her center, he/she may want to try this variant to improve that part of the game.
Atomic Chess
Atomic Chess is a chess variant that adds a new element of danger to the game. When one piece captures another, the square that the piece was on is destroyed, making it unavailable for future moves. This makes it easier to attack your opponent’s pieces, but it also makes it more difficult to defend your own pieces.
Atomic Chess is a great variant for those who want to practice their strategic skills. It’s also a great way to practice playing with fewer pieces, as it’s easier to lose pieces in Atomic Chess than in traditional chess.
Find out more about Atomic Chess rules: Atomic • Nuke your opponent’s king to win. • lichess.org
Anti-Chess
Another interesting variant is Anti-Chess where you’re supposed to give up all of your pieces to win the game, even the King! HA!!
As absurd as it may sound, it’s still quite fun. One upside of playing this is to develop the ability to find Self-Stalemates! Sometimes, in a hopeless situation, self-stalemates can be a game saver.
Check out the rules of Anti-Chess through the following link: Antichess • Lose all your pieces (or get stalemated) to win the game. • lichess.org
Three Check
A fairly simple variant, yet still asks for creativity! All one has to do is deliver three checks first and score a win. This variant does have a lot of benefits that be drawn out:
- King Safety is very important– Even though in a real chess game, three checks may not be enough to win a game but it’s still very important to keep the King safe. Thus, not allowing checks while playing Three-Check games is a great way to improve King safety skills.
- Forcing moves– While solving a position, the best way to think about the “Candidate moves” (possible considerable moves) is to start thinking about Checks. Three-Check may develop a certain feeling about always looking for the most forcing move.
- Prioritizing Attack over material– Checkmate ends the game! Do I really need to care about my queen? It helps one’s attacking skills as well.
Conclusion
Chess variants can provide a great way to challenge yourself and explore different strategies. Whether you’re looking for a fast-paced game or a more strategic experience, there’s a chess variant out there to suit your needs. So why not give one a try?
Here’s one thing though, these variants are really exciting and huge fun but it should not be something like a daily habit. As they say, overdoing something isn’t good.
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