Check out Atomic Chess, our featured variant for November, 2024.

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Arena Chess

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

David Howe's variant with a maximum of 32 turns.

Pieces may only move to squares in the central 8x4 arena. If they begin in the arena, they may only move to capture. King and queen may both move a maximum of 3 spaces in any direction. Pawns may capture diagonally both forward and backward.

Win by checkmating the king or the queen after capturing the other, by capturing the last enemy piece presently in the arena, or by leaving the enemy with no moves.

Arena Chess

Chess Variants