Chess Variants and Variations
If chess is inexhaustible, so are its variants and variations. They include precursors like chaturanga and cousins like shogi. Has the variant you dreamed up already been invented by someone else? Find out from these sites.
The Chess Variant Pages
Huge site with high-quality information on chess variants. Covers ancestors of modern chess.
Huge site with high-quality information on chess variants. Covers ancestors of modern chess.
Chess960.info
Landing page for the Fischer Random Chess (FRC) email club and forum.
Landing page for the Fischer Random Chess (FRC) email club and forum.
Fischer Random Chess (Chess960)
Article written by David A. Wheeler; also used on Wikipedia.
Article written by David A. Wheeler; also used on Wikipedia.
Playchess960
'The leading site for Chess960 (Fischer Random Chess) on the web and the home to the best free Web Chess PGN player (works also with Chess960!)'
'The leading site for Chess960 (Fischer Random Chess) on the web and the home to the best free Web Chess PGN player (works also with Chess960!)'
Bughouse.net
For four players. 'Don't lose a Knight!'.
For four players. 'Don't lose a Knight!'.
SchemingMind.com Variants
Brief description of all chess variants available on the Scheming Mind server; play them using email.
Brief description of all chess variants available on the Scheming Mind server; play them using email.
ChessClub.com (ICC) Variants
'Playing "Wild" Chess Variants : ICC offers a number of chess variants. All of them are grouped under the rating category of wild, except for bughouse, which has its own rating category.'
'Playing "Wild" Chess Variants : ICC offers a number of chess variants. All of them are grouped under the rating category of wild, except for bughouse, which has its own rating category.'
USChessLive.org Variants
'There are many different types of chess you can play on Chess Live. Crazyhouse, Suicide, Wild, Bughouse, Atomic'; online play server.
'There are many different types of chess you can play on Chess Live. Crazyhouse, Suicide, Wild, Bughouse, Atomic'; online play server.
Zillions of Games
'The first infinitely expandable PC gaming system.'
'The first infinitely expandable PC gaming system.'
Chess in the Round
Two player game on a round surface that looks like a dartboard. Twice as many pawns as usual. From White Bear Enterprises.
Two player game on a round surface that looks like a dartboard. Twice as many pawns as usual. From White Bear Enterprises.
Chessapeak
A four player game on a square board using the traditional rules.
A four player game on a square board using the traditional rules.
Three Man Chess in the Round
Three players on a round board use the traditional rules.
Three players on a round board use the traditional rules.