Chess Variants/Minichess

Introduction

Minichess is a catch-all term referring to a number of chess variants played on a smaller board than the standard game.

History

Many of these variants were invented in the latter half of the 20th century, usually motivated by a desire to make the variant shorter and simpler than standard chess.

This page will go over these small variants from smaller and larger ones. Not that not all of the small chess variants are included, only the most notable ones.

Rules

4x4 variants

Silverman 4x4

abcd
4a4 black rookb4 black queenc4 black kingd4 black rook4
3a3 black pawnb3 black pawnc3 black pawnd3 black pawn3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white queenc1 white kingd1 white rook1
abcd
Initial position of 4x4 Silverman chess

In 1981 the mathematician David Silverman proposed a 4 by 4 variant of chess, seen at right. Because the two armies begin directly next to each other and there are no knights, the game always begins with a pawn capture.

Assuming perfect play from both sides, this variant has been solved as an easy win for White: 1. axb3+ Qxb3 2. cxb3+ Kxb3 (or 2...Kb4 3. bxc3#) 3. bxa3+ Kc4 4. Qa2#).

To solve this problem Silverman proposed a variant: before the game begins Black can select one of White's pawns, and White must move that pawn as their first move. However, this variant results in an easy win for Black: select pawn b2, 1. bxa3 (or 1.bxc3) b2+ 2. Qxb2 Qxb2#.

Tic Tac Chec

Tic Tac Chec was released in 1995 by Don Green. In this 4 by 4 variant, both players are given a pawn, knight, bishop and rook each. The board begins empty, and the game begins with each player placing one of their pieces on any unoccupied square on the board. Once each player has three pieces in play, pieces may be moved. Captured pieces are returned to the opponent and may be replayed later. The goal is to arrange one's pieces into a line of four.

4x5 variants

Silverman 4x5

abcd
5a5 black rookb5 black queenc5 black kingd5 black rook5
4a4 black pawnb4 black pawnc4 black pawnd4 black pawn4
3a3b3c3d33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white queenc1 white kingd1 white rook1
abcd
Initial position of 4x5 Silverman chess

To make his 4 by 4 variant more playable, David Silverman proposed a 4 by 5 version where an extra row of squares is inserted in between the armies. In this variant the pawns are allowed their initial two-step move if the destination square is unoccupied and the path is free of obstructions.

Microchess

abcd
5a5 black kingb5 black knightc5 black bishopd5 black rook5
4a4 black pawnb4c4d44
3a3b3c3d33
2a2b2c2d2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white bishopc1 white knightd1 white king1
abcd
Initial position of Microchess

With an initial position perhaps inspired by the shogi variant microshogi, Microchess was invented by Glimne in 1995. Castling is allowed in this variant provided the usual conditions are met.

5x5 variants

Gardner minichess

abcde
5a5 black rookb5 black knightc5 black bishopd5 black queene5 black king5
4a4 black pawnb4 black pawnc4 black pawnd4 black pawne4 black pawn4
3a3b3c3d3e33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white king1
abcde
Initial position of Gardner minichess

A fairy chess board needs to be at least five squares wide to contain all of the non-pawn pieces on the first rank. The first such variant was proposed by American mathematician Martin Gardner in 1969. It soon developed a following in Italy, where it was picked up by AISE (Associazione Italiana Scacchi Eterodossi, the Italian Heterodox Chess Association), and opening theory was developed. Initially the variant was played with the pawn double-step, casting and en passant, but these rules were later dropped due to the board's small size.

The variant has been weakly solved - assuming perfect play from both sides in the initial position, the game will always end in a draw.

Baby chess

abcde
5a5 black kingb5 black queenc5 black bishopd5 black knighte5 black rook5
4a4 black pawnb4 black pawnc4 black pawnd4 black pawne4 black pawn4
3a3b3c3d3e33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white king1
abcde
Initial position of baby chess

This is an alternate setup of Gardner minichess proposed by Gardner in 1989. Compared to Gardner minichess the arrangement of the black pieces in their home rank is reversed.

Jacobs–Meirovitz chess

abcde
5a5 black bishopb5 black knightc5 black rookd5 black queene5 black king5
4a4 black pawnb4 black pawnc4 black pawnd4 black pawne4 black pawn4
3a3b3c3d3e33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawn2
1a1 white kingb1 white queenc1 white rookd1 white knighte1 white bishop1
abcde
Initial position of Jacobs–Meirovitz chess

This variant was proposed by Paul Jacobs and Marco Meirovitz in 1995.

Mallett chess

abcde
5a5 black rookb5 black bishopc5 black kingd5 black queene5 black bishop5
4a4 black pawnb4 black pawnc4 black pawnd4 black pawne4 black pawn4
3a3b3c3d3e33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white kingd1 white queene1 white knight1
abcde
Initial position of Mallett chess

This variant was proposed by Jeff Mallett, author of the Windows board game program Zillions of Games. The variant is a forced win for White in 25 moves; however, if the knights and bishops are reversed, then theoretically the game will end in a draw with perfect play from both sides.

5x6 variants

Petty chess

abcde
6a6 black queenb6 black kingc6 black bishopd6 black knighte6 black rook6
5a5 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 black pawn5
4a4b4c4d4e44
3a3b3c3d3e33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawn2
1a1 white queenb1 white kingc1 white bishopd1 white knighte1 white rook1
abcde
Initial position of petty chess

Petty chess (also known as petite chess) is one of the oldest minichess variants. It was created in 1930 by B. Walker Watson, and the rules were published in September of that year in the British Chess Magazine.

Speed chess

abcde
6a6 black queenb6 black kingc6 black bishopd6 black knighte6 black rook6
5a5 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 black pawn5
4a4b4c4d4e44
3a3b3c3d3e33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white kinge1 white queen1
abcde
Initial position of speed chess

This variant was created by a Dutchman, Mr. den Oude, in 1988 and was picked up by Centre Parcs, a Dutch company that rents holiday houses. During a certain period around 1992, visitors to these holiday houses would received a package that contained a set for this variant.

Elena chess

abcde
6a6 black rookb6 black bishopc6 black kingd6 black queene6 black knight6
5a5 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 black pawn5
4a4b4c4d4e44
3a3b3c3d3e33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawn2
1a1 white knightb1 white queenc1 white kingd1 white bishope1 white rook1
abcde
Initial position of Elena chess

This variant was invented by Sergei Sirotkin in 1999, but otherwise not much is known about it.

QuickChess

abcde
6a6 black rookb6 black bishopc6 black queend6 black kinge6 black knight6
5a5 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 black pawn5
4a4b4c4d4e44
3a3b3c3d3e33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white bishopc1 white queend1 white kinge1 white knight1
abcde
Initial position of QuickChess

This variant was invented by Joe Miccio in 1991 and published by the company Amerigames International as a tool to help children learn the rules of standard chess, for which it received the National Parenting Publications Award in 1993.

Chess Attack

abcde
6a6 black rookb6 black knightc6 black bishopd6 black queene6 black king6
5a5 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 black pawn5
4a4b4c4d4e44
3a3b3c3d3e33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white king1
abcde
Initial position of Chess Attack

This variant has the same setup as Gardner minichess, but adapted to the 5 by 6 board. It has been published by Norwegian company Yes Games AS since 2008, and has been endorsed by Magnus Carlsen and Alexandra Kosteniuk.

MinitChess

abcde
6a6 black kingb6 black queenc6 black bishopd6 black knighte6 black rook6
5a5 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 black pawn5
4a4b4c4d4e44
3a3b3c3d3e33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white king1
abcde
Initial position of MinitChess

This variant, published in 2010, uses the Gardner setup but with the black pieces reversed. Some other rules that set it apart from other minichess variants:

  • There is no check or checkmate - the enemy king must actually be captured to win the game.
  • Stalemate is considered a win for the player delivering the stalemate.
  • If the game lasts for 40 moves it automatically ends in a draw.
  • The bishop is allowed to move one square forward, backwards or sideways in addition to its usual movement.


6x6 variants

Los Alamos chess

abcdef
6a6 black rookb6 black knightc6 black queend6 black kinge6 black knightf6 black rook6
5a5 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 black pawnf5 black pawn5
4a4b4c4d4e4f44
3a3b3c3d3e3f33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white queend1 white kinge1 white knightf1 white rook1
abcdef
Initial position of Los Alamos chess

This variant has its own page, which can be viewed here.

Diana chess

abcdef
6a6 black rookb6 black bishopc6 black knightd6 black kinge6 black bishopf6 black rook6
5a5 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 black pawnf5 black pawn5
4a4b4c4d4e4f44
3a3b3c3d3e3f33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white bishopc1 white knightd1 white kinge1 white bishopf1 white rook1
abcdef
Initial position of Diana chess

Diana chess (also known as Ladies chess) was invented in 1870. There are no queens on the board and pawns cannot promote to queens. Castling is done by switching the positions of the king and rook, providing all of the usual conditions are met.

L'Hermitte chess

abcdef
6a6 black rookb6 black bishopc6 black kingd6 black knighte6 black bishopf6 black rook6
5a5 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 black pawnf5 black pawn5
4a4b4c4d4e4f44
3a3b3c3d3e3f33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white bishopc1 white knightd1 white kinge1 white bishopf1 white rook1
abcdef
Initial position of L'Hermitte chess

This variant is essentially Diana chess but with the starting positions of the black king and knight reversed. In addition knights cannot move for the first three turns of the game, and the kings may move to their knights' positions without losing the right to castle.

Simpler chess

abcdef
6a6 black knightb6 black bishopc6 black queend6 black kinge6 black bishopf6 black knight6
5a5 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 black pawnf5 black pawn5
4a4b4c4d4e4f44
3a3b3c3d3e3f33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawn2
1a1 white knightb1 white bishopc1 white queend1 white kinge1 white bishopf1 white knight1
abcdef
Initial position of simpler chess without rooks
abcdef
6a6 black rookb6 black bishopc6 black queend6 black kinge6 black bishopf6 black rook6
5a5 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 black pawnf5 black pawn5
4a4b4c4d4e4f44
3a3b3c3d3e3f33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white bishopc1 white queend1 white kinge1 white bishopf1 white rook1
abcdef
Initial position of simpler chess without knights
abcdef
6a6 black rookb6 black knightc6 black bishopd6 black bishope6 black knightf6 black rook6
5a5 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 black pawnf5 black pawn5
4a4b4c4d4e4f44
3a3b3c3d3e3f33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white bishope1 white knightf1 white rook1
abcdef
Initial position of simpler chess without the royal pieces

Simpler chess is a family of minichess variants proposed by A. Wardley in 1977, in which a pair of pieces is removed from both sides. The variant can be played with the rooks, knights or royal pieces removed. If the royal pieces are removed then the objective becomes to capture all of the opponent's pieces.\

Mallett 6x6 chess

abcdef
6a6 black rookb6 black bishopc6 black queend6 black kinge6 black bishopf6 black rook6
5a5 black pawnb5 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 black pawnf5 black pawn5
4a4b4c4d4e4f44
3a3b3c3d3e3f33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white queend1 white kinge1 white knightf1 white rook1
abcdef
Initial position of Mallett 6x6 chess

This variant is a similar affair to Mallett's 5 by 5 variant, putting two knights against two bishops.


Category:Book:Chess Variants#Minichess%20
Category:Book:Chess Variants