Chess Variants

Chess may be one of the most popular pastimes of all times, but there is more to chess than just the standard game.

Chess variants have been around for a while and are actually quite fascinating but unfortunately no one has the time to study them and play them.

Some commercial variants include Omega chess and Gothic Chess.

Omega Chess board     Gothic Chess Board.

Game Design

There are many types of chess variants and they accomplish one or more of the following:

• Enrich the game with new ideas while preserving most of the ideas of the orignal game.
  Most of the variants on this page (Flying Bombers and Stealth Ninja Chess) as well as the commercial variants such as Omega and Gothic chess strive to do so.
• Create a completely different type of game
  Ultima is an example of such a game.

Chess, because of its immense popularity, has had all its opening theory mapped by extensive and intensive extensive literature, not to mention constant computer analysis to find the perfect opening line. As a result, every opening move up to move 20 or even up to move 40 has already been played or explored one way or the other. Quite clearly, chess is in need of some fresh ideas that would continue its grand tradition. While games such as Xiangqi (Chinese Chess), Korean Chess and Shogi (Japanese Chess) are very popular in the East (and quite popular in the West too), they do not have the same appeal as the traditional game of Chess does. Additionally, those variants too are danger of getting their best opening moves mapped out.

A new variant needs to introduce enough differences to keep the game for a lot longer time without getting stale. The author is of the opinion that Fischer Random Chess - a game proposed by former World Champion Bobby Fischer, is not the only game with remarkably new ideas that can be the next logical step for chess. A larger board (preferably a 12x12 10X10 board) with new pieces can introduce so much more to chess than if on an 8x8 chess or 10X8 board (as used in Gothic Chess).

Many variant designers have been hesitant to introduce this type of board because they think the pawns are pushed too far back and that "hand-to-hand combat" should start early. This is complete hogwash! It is precisely because of early tactical skirmishes that the opening moves have been mapped out to death in standard Chess. Additionally, this gives White a small but significant advantage at Grandmaster level! On a 10*10 board with the pawns on the second rank (not closer as in some badly designed chess variants), each side must plan strategically and cannot resort to early cheap shot attacks. And the advantage to White has been nullified! Still not convinced? Take a look at Omega chess and the reviews by well-known grandmasters.

With this in mind there are a few variants that I have proposed on this site. The first one Hadean Chess is a very large board variant (12x12) with many interesting ideas, and is an excellent alternative to chess.

The second one, Birds and Ninjas Chess played on a 104 square board contains two pairs of new pieces: the Flying Bombers and the Ninja Guards. The Flying Bombers uses in this game are a combination of short leapers (the Helicopter move), slide movement (they move like rooks when not capturing), and a special fly over capture (never before seen in chess).

The new exciting variants on this site are:

1. Birds and Ninjas: - The birds (flying bombers) fly over the enemy to capture and the ninja guards put up a fierce defense. This game should appeal to all chess enthusiasts!
2. Hadean Chess: A grand game with an array of exciting pieces. New longer reaching leapers called Sorcerers and the Knights are compounded with a diagonal or orthogonal step movment. The Flying Warmachines and Flying elephants are linear shortrange leapers that add even more diversity to this mix. These new pieces, the original bishops, rooks, king and queen are rounded off with 10 Ninja Pawns that stand behind the standard army of 12 pawns.
3. Stealth Ninja Chess: - The ninja guards and ninja warriors slowly mount an attack, but watch out for the Stealth Gryphon and Stealth Anti-Gryphon that can be dropped.
4. Raptor Chess: - Similar to Birds and Ninjas except that the Raptors add a new level of excitement to the game.
5. Insane Ninja Chess:- A pair of long leaping pieces, and a pair of multi-directional short-range leapers makes this game truly phenomenal.
6. Asylum Chess: - An experimental 10X10 board variant featuring super fire-through rooks, mad leaping bishops and insane ninja knights!
7. Sorcerer Chess: Zebra and Camel compound leapers characterize this chess variant
8. Flying Bombers Grand Chess: -This 10X10 board feels just like chess except for the larger area. The spacious feel and the two Flying Bombers, which capture by flying over the enemy piece together makes for a great experience.
9. Random Move Number Chess - An exciting new variant which introduces a luck factor to the game. A die and perhaps a pencil and paper are the only new items needed.
10. Flying Bombers with Hangars: : - Requires only a standard chess board! Same flying bombers as in the larger version except that they are housed on 4 extra squares protruding from the edge of a standard board.
11. Super Knights Grand Chess: - The knights are replaced by Super Knights! Plus a Queen-Knight and a bishop-knight. A 10X10 board required.
12. Palace Ninja Guards: - Two Ninja Guards occupy the rear of the palace which consists of two squares protruding from each side of the standard chess board.
13. Capture the Scepter: - new extra-mobile pawns and a new objective: the king can capture the opposing king's scepter! Play on a standard board.
14. Power Absorption Chess - A variation with FUN potential yet with remarkable simplicity in the rules. Some extra pieces needed plus caps or crowns needed to signify piece -pawns.