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.

Fischer Random Chess, "King's Leap" Version

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

Fischer Random Chess

D. Wheeler on Fischer Random Chess and Full Chess. This applet follows Wheeler's castling rules which he says are standard, i.e., kings can castle across occupied squares. This seems to be still under discussion (7/23/03) as Wheeler confirms.

Full Chess is the same game but with no castling across an occupied square.

7/27/04: There now seems to be agreement that true "Fischer Random Chess" does not allow a king's leap, as this applet does.

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