The Weirdest Chess Variants You’ve Never Heard Of
Chess is one of the oldest and most popular board games in the world, cherished for its deep strategy, elegant tactics, and timeless appeal. While the standard 8×8 game with the classical set of pieces is the one most of us know, chess has inspired countless variants—alternative versions that twist, tinker, and sometimes wildly reinvent the rules, boards, and pieces. These variants can range from subtle changes to completely bizarre creations that challenge what we think chess can be.
If you think you know chess, think again! Beyond the well-known variants like Chess960 (Fischer Random) or Three-Check Chess, there exist some truly weird and fascinating chess variants that you’ve probably never heard of. In this article, we dive deep into the most unusual, creative, and downright strange chess variants that bring a fresh twist to the game.
Why Chess Variants Exist
Before we jump into the weirdest ones, it’s worth understanding why chess variants are created:
To break monotony: Standard chess can sometimes feel repetitive, especially at advanced levels.
To explore new strategies: Variants force players to think differently, often requiring entirely new tactical and strategic concepts.
To add fun or challenge: Some variants introduce randomness or new piece types just for entertainment or fresh challenges.
To reflect cultural or thematic interests: Some variants incorporate elements from other games, mythology, or science fiction.
The Weirdest Chess Variants You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
1. Alice Chess
Imagine playing chess on two boards simultaneously. That’s Alice Chess for you.
Invented by: V. R. Parton in 1953, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking-Glass.”
How it works: The game uses two standard chessboards (Board A and Board B). Pieces start on Board A. When a piece moves, it disappears from Board A and reappears on the corresponding square of Board B. Players alternate moves on these boards, and the position changes dynamically as pieces switch boards with every move.
What makes it weird: You must visualize two different boards and track piece locations switching each move, creating mind-bending tactics where your pieces appear and disappear mysteriously.
2. Omega Chess
Omega Chess ups the ante by expanding the board and introducing new pieces.
Invented by: Daniel MacDonald in 1992.
Board size: 10×10 with an extra “wizard” and “champion” piece.
New pieces:
Wizard: Moves like a bishop or jumps two squares in any direction.
Champion: Combines rook and knight moves.
What makes it weird: The larger board and novel pieces significantly expand tactical possibilities. The “wizard” and “champion” break traditional chess movement patterns and force players to rethink defense and attack.
3. Atomic Chess
Explosive fun where capturing a piece causes a literal explosion.
Invented by: Unknown, but popularized on online platforms.
Rules twist: When you capture a piece, both the captured piece and the capturing piece, plus all non-pawn pieces on adjacent squares, are removed (“explode”).
No castling or en passant.
Objective: Checkmate still applies, but explosions make the board highly volatile.
What makes it weird: The chain reactions create spectacular tactical fireworks. Sacrifices can blow up entire clusters of pieces, making it a fast-paced, unpredictable variant.
4. Racing Kings
This variant turns chess into a race rather than a battle.
Invented by: Unknown, but popular on lichess and other online platforms.
Goal: Get your king to the 8th rank first.
No check or checkmate: Kings can’t move into check, but there’s no concept of checkmate.
Pieces can be captured or used strategically to block opponent’s king.
What makes it weird: The king becomes the protagonist in a pure racing contest, completely changing traditional chess’s battle mindset into a tactical sprint.
5. Knight Relay Chess
The knight suddenly becomes king.
Invented by: Not well documented but played online in niche chess communities.
Core rule: Any piece defended by a knight gains the movement ability of a knight.
What makes it weird: Suddenly, bishops, rooks, and queens can jump like knights if supported correctly, creating unpredictable hybrid movements and new strategic layers.
6. Cylinder Chess
What if the board were wrapped like a cylinder?
Invented by: Not tied to a specific inventor; a long-standing chess curiosity.
Board setup: Standard 8×8, but the left and right edges “wrap around.” So, a rook moving off the right edge appears on the left side of the same rank.
What makes it weird: Piece movement becomes more complex as horizontal edges connect, opening strange lines of attack and defense unseen in regular chess.
7. Extinction Chess
Here, capturing all pieces of a specific type wins the game.
Invented by: Probably first formalized by online chess variant communities.
How it works: Instead of checkmating the king, you win by capturing all of any one type of your opponent’s pieces — for example, all pawns or all bishops.
What makes it weird: Strategy shifts dramatically. Protecting your piece types becomes vital, and sacrificing to prevent extinction can be a key defense.
8. Three-Check Chess
Simplicity with a twist.
Invented by: Popularized by Garry Kasparov and online platforms.
Rule: The first player to check their opponent three times wins the game.
No other changes: Normal chess rules apply, but the game often focuses on aggressive checking tactics.
What makes it weird: It incentivizes risk-taking and attacking the king directly, often leading to wild, tactical battles rather than slow maneuvering.
9. Fog of War Chess
Chess, but with limited vision.
Invented by: Introduced on online platforms like Playchess and Chess.com.
Rules: You can only see squares your pieces currently control or attack. The rest of the board is hidden.
What makes it weird: Players must remember and guess the opponent’s position, leading to tense, almost “battlefield” style play with bluffing and reconnaissance.
10. Baroque Chess
A highly tactical chess variant with new pieces and capture rules.
Invented by: Robert Abbott in the 1960s.
New pieces: Includes pieces like the “pincer,” “coordinator,” and “leaper,” each with unique capturing methods.
Board: Standard 8×8.
What makes it weird: The unique pieces and capture mechanics make for intricate tactics unfamiliar to regular chess players.
Why Try Weird Chess Variants?
Chess variants, especially the weird ones, offer many benefits:
Sharpen Creativity: You’re forced out of familiar territory.
Improve Calculation: New rules demand fresh calculation approaches.
Enjoyment: Breaking monotony and having fun with friends.
Insight Into Chess Fundamentals: Variants often highlight core chess principles by twisting them.
How to Start Exploring Chess Variants?
Online Platforms: Websites like Lichess.org and Chess.com host many variants for free.
Variant Communities: Join forums, Discord servers, or Reddit groups focused on chess variants.
Variant Software: Programs like Fairy-Max allow you to create or play customized variants.
Books and Articles: There are books dedicated to chess variants if you want deep dives.
Conclusion
Chess, despite its centuries-old history, remains fertile ground for innovation. The weirdest chess variants introduce wild rules, bizarre boards, and novel pieces that challenge how we think about the game. Whether it’s the mind-bending board swaps of Alice Chess, the explosive tactics of Atomic Chess, or the mysterious jumps in Knight Relay Chess, these variants invite players to explore fresh strategic horizons.
So next time you’re bored with standard chess, dive into one of these weird variants — and you just might discover a whole new side of the royal game.
