Check out Grant Acedrex, our featured variant for April, 2024.

Since Java is no longer supported in most browsers, our Java applets probably will not run unless you install an extension that will run them. We recommend installing the CheerpJ Applet Runner extension on Edge, Chrome, or another Chromium browser. If your browser still does support Java, and you're not using this extension, make sure this site is listed in your Java exceptions list. You should find this in the Security tab of your Java control panel.

Avalanche Chess

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

Ralph Betza, 1977. This is one of the most popular chess variants. After each legal move, advance one of your opponent's pawns one square if you can do so. (Exception: White does not advance a red pawn on the first move.) If you are forced to check yourself by advancing a pawn, you lose. This takes precedence even if you just checkmated your opponent. There is no en passant capturing. I had enemy pawns advanced to promotion be amazons.

Avalanche Chess

Chess Variants

These are simple illustrations rather than strong opponents.

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Written by Ed Friedlander


WWW Page Added: Sunday, December 30, 2001