Check out Symmetric Chess, our featured variant for March, 2024.

Since Java is no longer supported in most browsers, our Java applets probably will not run unless you install an extension that will run them. We recommend installing the CheerpJ Applet Runner extension on Edge, Chrome, or another Chromium browser. If your browser still does support Java, and you're not using this extension, make sure this site is listed in your Java exceptions list. You should find this in the Security tab of your Java control panel.

Cursed Chess

If you had a Java-capable browser, you could play Cursed Chess here.
Keys "s"=save "l"=load "b"=back once

Jeremy Dunn, 1999.

When a unit is captured, it curses the square so that the enemy cannot cross it even with a knight. Where several units have been captured, the curse is on whichever side has captured more, or on both if they are equal.

A unit landing on ANY empty cursed square is destroyed along with the curse. (I had misunderstood this last rule; change made Nov. 2004; sorry.)

Cursed Chess

Chess Variants

These are simple illustrations rather than strong opponents.

Bug Reports -- Thank you! Keep them coming!

Written by Ed Friedlander


WWW Page Added: Sunday, December 30, 2001