Xiangqi, also known as Chinese chess, is an ancient board game that has been played in China for centuries. It is similar to chess but has unique rules and pieces. The game is played on a board with a grid of nine columns and ten rows, separated by a river in the middle that limits the movement of certain pieces. Each player has seven types of pieces, such as generals, soldiers, chariots, horses, elephants, cannons, and advisors. The goal is to trap the opponent's general so it cannot move without being captured, similar to winning in chess. Pieces move in specific ways, requiring players to plan their moves carefully to attack and defend. The game encourages strategic thinking and is popular across China and other parts of Asia.

What is "xiangqi"?

xiangqi

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Shogi, often called Japanese chess, is a two-player strategy board game that has been popular in Japan for centuries. The game is played on a 9x9 grid, and each player starts with 20 pieces, including a king, rooks, bishops, and other types of pieces. The goal is to checkmate the opponent's king, placing it in a position where it cannot escape capture. A unique feature of shogi is that when a piece is captured, it can be returned to the board by the player who captured it, adding more strategy to the game. Shogi remains popular in Japan, with professional players and tournaments, and has also gained interest internationally.

What is "shogi"?

shogi

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Janggi is a traditional Korean board game similar to chess, played between two players on a 9x10 grid. Each player has 16 pieces, including a general, guards, chariots, elephants, and horses. The main goal is to checkmate the opponent's general, placing it in a position where it cannot move without being captured. In janggi, pieces move in specific ways, and some pieces, like the chariot and horse, can move across multiple squares, similar to the rooks and knights in chess. One unique feature of janggi is the "palace," a special area where the general is restricted and cannot leave under any circumstances. Janggi has been played in Korea for centuries and remains a popular game today.

What is "janggi"?

janggi

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Chaturanga is an ancient Indian board game that is considered the predecessor of modern chess. It is played on an 8x8 grid, with two players each controlling 16 pieces, including a king, ministers, elephants, chariots, horses, and foot soldiers. The main goal is to checkmate the opponent's king, putting it in a position where it cannot escape capture. The pieces move in different ways, similar to how modern chess pieces move. Chaturanga was first played around the 6th century and is believed to have influenced the development of chess, spreading to Persia and then to Europe.

What is "chaturanga"?

chaturanga

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Racing Kings is a fast-paced chess variant that involves two players, each controlling a standard set of chess pieces. The main goal is to move the king to the opposite side of the board, rather than checkmate the opponent's king. Each player begins with their pieces set up in the usual way, but the game is focused on advancing the king across the board as quickly as possible. The pieces are used to protect the king and block the opponent’s pieces, but the king’s movement is the main priority. Racing Kings is known for its speed and strategic gameplay, and it offers a different challenge from traditional chess.

What is "Racing Kings"?

Racing Kings

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Horde Chess is a chess variant where one player controls the standard set of chess pieces, while the other controls an army of pawns. The player with the pawns, known as the "horde," aims to overwhelm the opponent by advancing and capturing with the pawns. The goal is for the player controlling the standard pieces to capture all the opponent’s pawns, while the player with the horde aims to capture all the opponent’s pieces or checkmate the king. The game offers a unique challenge, as the horde must work together to surround and defeat the opponent’s pieces, while the opponent must strategically hold off the advancing pawns.

What is "Horde chess"?

Horde chess

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Crazyhouse chess is a chess variant where captured pieces can be returned to the board by the player who captured them. When a player captures an opponent's piece, they gain control of it and can place it on any empty square of the board as their own piece. The goal of the game is the same as traditional chess: to checkmate the opponent's king. Crazyhouse adds an extra layer of strategy, as players must not only plan their moves but also think about how to use the captured pieces effectively. This makes the game faster and more dynamic compared to regular chess.

What is "crazyhouse chess"?

crazyhouse chess

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Three-check chess is a chess variant where the goal is to check the opponent’s king three times. Each player follows the usual rules of chess, but the game ends as soon as one player checks the opponent’s king three times, regardless of whether the checkmate has been achieved. The game encourages aggressive play and forces players to protect their king more carefully, as one check can quickly lead to another. Three-check chess adds a unique twist to the strategy of traditional chess by focusing on the number of checks rather than just capturing the king.

What is "three-check chess"?

three-check chess

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Blitz chess is a fast-paced version of chess where each player is given a limited amount of time, typically 3 to 10 minutes, to make all their moves. The game is played with a chess clock, and once a player's time runs out, they lose, even if their king has not been checkmated. Blitz chess emphasizes quick thinking and fast decision-making, making it more intense and exciting than traditional chess. Players must balance speed with strategy, as taking too long to move can result in losing the game. It is a popular format in online chess and competitive tournaments due to its exciting and high-speed nature.

What is "blitz chess"?

blitz chess

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Makruk, also known as Thai chess, is a traditional chess variant from Thailand. It is played on an 8x8 board, similar to regular chess, but with different pieces and movement rules. Each player starts with a king, a queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns, but the pieces move in unique ways compared to Western chess. For example, the queen moves more like a rook, and the pawns move differently, only advancing one square at a time but capturing diagonally. Additionally, pawns can promote to a queen upon reaching the farthest rank. The main goal is to checkmate the opponent's king, just like in traditional chess. Makruk has been played for centuries in Thailand and remains popular in the country today.

What is "makruk"?

makruk

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Blindfold chess is a variant where players play without seeing the chessboard. Instead of physically moving pieces, they must visualize the board and keep track of the positions in their minds. Players announce their moves out loud, and the opponent responds by either moving a piece or stating their move. Blindfold chess challenges a player’s memory, concentration, and ability to visualize the game. It is often played by experienced chess players and can be done in both casual and competitive settings. It is a popular demonstration of skill in chess tournaments and exhibitions.

What is "blindfold chess"?

blindfold chess

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Bughouse chess is a fast-paced team variant of chess played with two teams of two players each, using two chessboards. Each player plays against the opponent on their side of the board, and when a player captures an opponent’s piece, they pass it to their teammate. The teammate can then place the captured piece on their own board, helping them in their game. The goal is still to checkmate the opponent’s king, but teamwork and quick thinking are key, as players must manage their own board and the pieces passed to them. Bughouse chess is often played in tournaments and online, offering an exciting and dynamic twist to the traditional game.

What is "bughouse chess"?

bughouse chess

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Four-player chess is a chess variant designed for four participants instead of two. The game is played on a special board that extends the standard 8x8 grid by adding three extra ranks on all four sides. Each player controls a set of pieces in a unique color, and the game proceeds in a clockwise order. The primary objective remains to checkmate the opponent's king, but the dynamics are altered by the presence of additional players and the expanded board. Players must form temporary alliances and navigate rivalries, as an ally can quickly become an opponent. This variant introduces new strategic elements, making it a popular choice for those seeking a more complex and interactive chess experience.

What is "four-player chess"?

four-player chess

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Shatranj is an ancient game from Persia that is considered the precursor to modern chess. Played on an 8x8 board, it involves two players, each with 16 pieces: a king, viziers, which are similar to queens, elephants, horses, chariots, and pawns. The goal is to checkmate the opponent's king, but the movement of the pieces differs from that of modern chess. For example, the vizier moves only one square diagonally, and the elephant moves two squares diagonally. Shatranj was played widely across the Islamic world and is believed to have influenced the development of chess as it spread to Europe.

What is "shatranj"?

shatranj

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Circular chess is a chess variant played on a circular board instead of the usual square grid. The board is typically divided into several rings, and the pieces are arranged in a way that allows them to move in any direction across the circular space. The movement rules for the pieces are generally the same as in traditional chess, but they must adapt to the circular shape. The goal is still to checkmate the opponent’s king, but the round board introduces new strategic elements, as players must consider not just the horizontal and vertical directions but also the curvature of the board. Circular chess offers a unique twist on traditional chess, providing a different challenge for players.

What is "circular chess"?

circular chess

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Gothic chess is a variant of chess that uses a standard chessboard but introduces new pieces and rules. In this version, each player has additional pieces called the princess and the empress. The princess combines the movement of both the queen and the knight, while the empress combines the movement of both the queen and the bishop. These added pieces make the game more complex and strategic, as they have a wider range of movements than the regular pieces. The goal of Gothic chess is the same as traditional chess: to checkmate the opponent's king. This variant provides a new challenge and depth to the game, making it popular among experienced players.

What is "Gothic chess"?

Gothic chess

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Atomic chess is a chess variant where the rules of capturing pieces are altered. When a piece is captured, it causes an "explosion" that destroys not only the captured piece but also all nearby pieces, including those of the capturing player. The explosion affects all pieces in the eight surrounding squares. The goal of atomic chess remains to checkmate the opponent’s king, but players must be cautious about their captures, as they can destroy valuable pieces, including their own, during an explosion. This variant adds a layer of strategy, as players need to carefully plan their moves to avoid unintentional damage while aiming for a checkmate.

What is "atomic chess"?

atomic chess

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Janus Chess is a chess variant played on a 10x8 board and introduces two new pieces called the Janus, as well as two extra pawns for each player. The Janus combines the movement of both the queen and the knight, meaning it can move like a queen, horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, and also like a knight, in an L-shape. This makes the Janus a powerful piece, offering more strategic possibilities. The goal of Janus Chess is the same as traditional chess: to checkmate the opponent’s king. The inclusion of the Janus pieces, the extra pawns, and the larger board size create new challenges, adding depth and complexity to the game.

What is "Janus Chess"?

Janus Chess

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Almost chess is a chess variant invented in 1977. In this game, each player's queen is replaced by a piece called the chancellor, which combines the moves of both the rook and the knight. This means the chancellor can move any number of squares horizontally or vertically, like a rook, and can also move in an L-shape, like a knight. The rest of the game follows the standard rules of chess, with the main difference being the enhanced capabilities of the chancellor. The objective remains to checkmate the opponent's king.

What is "almost chess"?

almost chess

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Hexagonal chess is a chess variant played on a hexagonal grid instead of the traditional square grid. The board typically consists of 91 hexagonal spaces, and each player starts with 16 pieces, similar to standard chess, but the pieces move according to the hexagonal layout. The movement rules are adjusted to suit the six directions of a hexagonal grid, which affects how pieces interact. For example, pawns move forward diagonally instead of straight ahead, and knights move in a pattern that is different from the standard L-shape. The goal of hexagonal chess remains the same as traditional chess: to checkmate the opponent’s king. The unique shape of the board and movement rules create a fresh and challenging twist on the classic game.

What is "hexagonal chess"?

hexagonal chess

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Grand Chess is a chess variant played on a 10x10 board instead of the standard 8x8 grid. In this version, each player has 20 pieces, including the usual pieces such as pawns, rooks, knights, bishops, queens, and kings, along with two new pieces: the marshal and the cardinal. The marshal combines the moves of a rook and a knight, while the cardinal combines the moves of a bishop and a knight. These additional pieces, along with the larger board, introduce new strategic possibilities and challenges. The goal of Grand Chess remains the same as traditional chess: to checkmate the opponent's king. The larger board and extra pieces add more complexity and depth to the game.

What is "Grand Chess"?

Grand Chess

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Sittuyin is a traditional Burmese strategy board game that is similar to chess but with different rules and pieces. It is played on an 8x8 grid, and each player controls 16 pieces: a king, four ministers, two chariots, two horses, two elephants, and eight pawns. The objective of sittuyin is to checkmate the opponent’s king, just like in chess, but the movement of the pieces differs slightly. For example, the elephant moves in a different way than the bishop in chess, and the ministers move diagonally, but only within a specific range. Sittuyin has been played for centuries in Myanmar and remains a popular game today, offering a unique twist on the classic chess game.

What is "sittuyin"?

sittuyin

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Tamerlane chess is a medieval chess variant played on a 10x11 board with 28 pieces per player, including a king, minister, vizir, giraffes, vanguards, horses, rooks, dabbabas, and pawns. The game features unique piece movements, such as the giraffe moving two squares diagonally and one square in a straight line, and the dabbaba moving one square in a straight line. Players aim to checkmate the opponent’s king, just like in traditional chess. The game also includes citadel squares, special spaces located near each player's back row, and these squares have unique strategic value. The addition of extra pieces and the larger board size create new strategic opportunities, making Tamerlane chess a more complex and challenging variant.

What is "Tamerlane chess"?

Tamerlane chess

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Here you will learn some English words related to the different types and variants of chess such as "shogi", "blitz chess", and "shatranj".

English Words for "Types and Variants of Chess"