Beyond the 64 squares: the infinite world of chess variants

Sport & Games · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Standard chess is just one way to play. With thousands of variations in existence, the game can be transformed by changing a single rule—from shifting the starting position to introducing entirely new pieces that move in ways the traditional king and queen never could.

While most players are familiar with the standard 8x8 board, the landscape of chess variants is vast. The 2007 Encyclopedia of Chess Variants estimated there are well over 2,000 variants, though many more exist that were deemed too trivial for formal inclusion. These variations can be as subtle as changing the starting position or as radical as adding randomness to the gameplay after pieces are placed. These modifications range from the most innocuous changes to the most dramatic shifts in gameplay. Even the board size can be altered, such as in the 6x6 Los Alamos version.

One common motivation for altering the starting position is to nullify established opening knowledge. This includes Fischer Random Chess (or Chess960), invented by Bobby Fischer in 1996, where pieces are randomized on the first rank. Other variations, like Casablanca chess, use positions derived from famous historic games that computers have verified as approximately equal. Even more extreme is 'Upside-down chess,' where players start on the 8th rank with pawns one step from promotion. In Pre-chess, players take turns selecting the initial placement of their non-pawn pieces. This method aims to create a unique setup for every match.

The complexity increases further with 'fairy pieces'—non-standard pieces with unique movement rules. Examples include the Empress (a rook and knight combination) or the Princess (a bishop and knight combination). Some variants even introduce asymmetric battles, such as Dunsany's Chess, where one side uses standard pieces and the other uses 32 pawns. From the computer-driven Los Alamos chess on a 6x6 board to the role-playing elements of Way of the Knight, the possibilities for modification are nearly limitless. The Amazon piece combines the powers of both the queen and the knight. Additionally, some variants like Double Chess utilize a much larger 12x16 board.

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