Introduction
Chess has its origins in the Muslim game of Shatranj, which derives from the Indian game of Chaturanga. It is also related to Xiangqi in China, to Janggi in Korea, and to Shogi in Japan. Besides these and various other historical and regional relatives, many other games have been inspired by or based on Chess and its relatives. All of these games are similar to Chess yet also different from it in various ways. Thanks to computers and the internet, it is now possible to play several of these Chess variants without physical boards and pieces. This website – The Chess Variant Pages – is here for cataloging, discussing, and playing the many games that are based on, related to, or similar enough to Chess.
- What is a Chess Variant?
- The History of Chess Variants
- Why Should I Play Them?
- Where Can I Find Equipment or Opponents?
- Which are the Best?
- How Can I Design and Post my Own?
- Who are Behind the Chess Variant Pages?
Chess Variant Kits
- On Designing Good Chess Variants
- Chess Variant Construction Set
- House of Staunton Chess Variant Kits
- Diagram Designer
- Play Chess Variants with Game Courier
What's New?
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Last Chess Variant problem added 774 DAYS ago.
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Last game review entered 11 hours ago.
Week ending Apr 28, 2018
Palace Shogi. A complicated hybrid of Shogi, Xiang Qi, and Chess. By Silvia Hollinshead.
- Granlem Shatranj.
Added larger short-range variant with a 4-move/turn option. By Joe Joyce.
- CHESSAGON. CHESSAGON® is like traditional Chess, but with Triangles, with one new additional piece named the Duke. By Kerry Langford.
Week ending Apr 21, 2018
Cardinal Super Chess Home Page
. Updated link.
- Amazons. Updated dead link. Inventor: Walter Zamkauskas.
American Chu Shogi Association. Updated link to point to archived copy of the site. Author: Joseph Peterson.
Week ending Apr 14, 2018
- Amalgamated Chess. Tweaked for balance and playability. (8x8, Cells: 64) By James Gryphon.
Mortal Shogi. New settings file enforces rules and displays legal moves. Author: Fergus Duniho. Inventor: Roberto Lavieri and Fergus Duniho.
Week ending Apr 07, 2018
Game Courier Tournament 2017. Updated with final results and additional information about game selection. By Greg Strong.
- Janus Kamil Chess. Rules clarified, graphics added, and page reformatted to CVP stardards. (12x8, Cells: 96) By Jörg Knappen.
- Wide Nightrider Chess. Chess on a 12x10 board with Nightriders, Champions and fast castling rules. By Kevin Pacey.
- Wide Nightrider Chess. Chess on a 12x10 board with Nightriders, Champions and fast castling rules. By Kevin Pacey.
- Tower Chess. Game with additional stationary pieces. By Jack Zavier.
- Deception Chess. Each piece has two identities, Cloak and concealed Base. By Greg Shanker.
Week ending Mar 31, 2018
- Kyoto Shogi. Modern 5x5 Shogi variant where pieces promote and unpromote with every move. Author: Greg Strong.
Favorite Games of their Inventors. What the Chess variant inventors here consider their best work. Author: Fergus Duniho.
Total items listed: 16