There is a psychological motif underlying the making and playing of boardgames, as explicated in my little game alchemy essay. It corresponds to mandala creations, which try to encapsulate the hectic game playing nature of human life. As a whole, constructs such as these are expressions of psychic wholeness, a dynamic form of mandala. They are not meant to be studied and analyzed, while that would be a great waste of valuable time. Still, it's entertaining to play a game or two against my programs. Suffice it to say that this motif, the playing of games, is what underlies practically all human activity, whether art, politics, science, or technology. Fascinated and obsessed, we play our "games" according to predefined rules, but from a bird's eye perspective we appear like little laboratory mice running around in labyrinths.


Gustav III's Chess - invented by a king! (Gustav den tredjes schack)

4-handed Chaturanga with dice - ancient chess for gamblers (Fyrsidig Chaturanga med tärning)

4-handed Shatranj - a relative of 4-handed Chaturanga.

Burmese Chess - in rememberance of the god Rãma's joint battle with the monkeys. (Burmesiskt schack).

Oblong Shatranj with die - a medieval chess variant (Avlångt shatranj (schack) med tärning).

Chinese Chess - the world's most popular game.

MiniXiangqi - 7x7 Chinese Chess.

Korean Chess - a variant native to Korea.

Hiashatar - a variant native to Mongolia.

Circular Chess - a revived medieval variant.

Paulovits's Game - featuring the General and the Pasha

Capablanca's Chess and other 8x10 chess variants. (Capablancas schack)

Blindfold Chess - advanced training of the "little grey." There is also a DOS implementation to download (Blindschack).

Royal Pawn Chess - introducing the absolute pawn

Bario - the future of chess?

Bolyar Chess - a variant native to Bulgaria

Seirawan Chess - a conservative drop chess

Gorgona Chess - featuring the paralyzing Gorgona

Airplane Chess - introducing the Airplane

Aviation Chess - featuring the Aviator

Coordinator Chess - featuring the Coordinator

Angel Chess - a bellicose variant

Troitzky Chess - chess on a roundish board

The following variants are attempts at "improvements" of standard chess. At least, they are suitable for training purposes. The ten that immediately follow are relocation variants.

Relocation Chess - rearranging the piece array (also Chess64).

Dynamic Chess - introducing a new pawn move (also Chess4).

Fischer Placement Chess - generating a modest subset of Chess960.

Configuration Chess - reconfiguring the startup position (also Chess400).

Placement Chess - mirrored rearrangement of the piece array (also Chess20).

Arrangement Chess - rearranging the initial position (also Chess100).

Regiment Chess - reordering the piece array (also Regiment Random Chess).

Regroupment Chess - regroupment in the piece array (also Chess484).

Multi-chess - regroupment in the initial array (Chess57).

Chess-9 - modest non-mirrored rearrangement of the initial position.

Revised Chess - introducing the revised pawn.

Adjutant Chess - with empty extra corner squares.

Castle Chess - standard chess with extended castle.

Future Chess - a relocation variant with extra corner squares.

Improved Chess - an improvement of Fide-chess

Reformed Chess - introducing swapping pawns

Neoorthodox Chess - introducing extended castling

The following variants are "modest", i.e. they are played on a standard board with the inclusion of a new piece, or some other new feature.

Valiant Chess - introducing a new pawn move.

Variable Chess - one light piece is initially external.

Flexible Chess - the light pieces are initially external

Reserve Chess - chess with extra piece.

Neoteric Chess - relocation chess with extra piece.

Pioneer Chess - chess with extra piece.

Accessory Chess - chess with accessory piece.

Pilgrim Chess - chess with extra piece.

Alternative Chess - with or without extra piece.

Alpaca Chess - the Alpaca can be exchanged for two pawns.

Chess256 - pawns are randomized on the 2nd and 3rd ranks.

Extrapawn Chess - standard chess with extra pawn.

Winther's Chess - introducing the Bombard cannon.

Stoltz Chess - in honour of Gösta Stoltz

Stahlberg Chess - in honour of Gideon Ståhlberg

Pyrrhus Chess - introducing the paralysing Pyrrhus

Basilisk Chess - introducing the Basilisk cannon.

Culverin Chess - introducing the Culverin cannon.

Perier Chess - introducing the Perier cannon.

Swedish Cannon Chess - introducing the Swedish Cannon

Hoplit Chess - introducing the Hoplit bifurcation piece

New Chess - drop-chess with pawn relocation

Meteoric Chess - a sound but lively drop chess variant

The following variants are of various type, many are controversial but interesting.

Twinmove Chess - a fully practicable double-move chess (Dubbeldragschack)

Scorpion Chess - introducing the dangerous Scorpion pawn

Correlator Chess - a big board variant featuring the Correlator.

Swedish Chess - finally, the "perfect" chess variant. (Svenskt Schack.)

Elephant Chess - a tranquil form of chess.

Mammoth Chess - a new big-board drop-chess.

Mastodon Chess - a new big-board chess.

Dromedary Chess - the long-leaper unshackled

Hopper Chess - introducing the new hop move

Orphic Chess - an entrancing chess

Gunnery Chess - introducing the cannon pawn

Gunnery Chess (8x10) - big-board chess with cannon pawns

Geminus Chess - twinmove drop-chess

Samhain Chess - in commemoration of the ancient Celts

Barion - quantum physics on the chessboard.

Mastodon Chess (8x10) - a new big-board chess.

Mammoth Chess (8x10) - a new big-board drop-chess.

Scandinavian Chess - a development of Capablanca's 8x10 variant. (Skandinavisk schack)

Shamanic Chess - introducing the shaman piece

Chess-B - a complement to Fide-chess.

Harpy Chess - introducing the pestering Harpy

Elk Chess - enters the Elk, the King of the Wood

Hopper-Elk Chess - a dynamic variant with hopper moves

Gustavian Camelrider Chess - featuring the long-leaping Camelrider (Kamelryttarschack)

Elkrider Chess - introducing the Elkrider

Cannonrider Chess - introducing the Cannonrider

Gustavian Cannonrider Chess - Cannonriders on a Gustavian board

Magicpawns Chess - introducing the flighty magic pawn

Royal CannonChess - introducing the royal cannon move

Brigadier Chess - introducing the brigadier piece

Commodore Chess - featuring the commodore cannon

Constable Chess - introducing the constable piece

Grenadier Chess - introducing the grenadier piece (Grenadjärschack)

Mortar Chess - introducing the mortar piece (Mörsarschack)

Howitzer Chess - introducing the howitzer piece (Haubitsschack)

Magneticpawns Chess - introducing the magnetic pawn

Stheno Chess - introducing the repulsive stheno piece

Oxybeles Chess - introducing the oxybeles catapult

Mangonel Chess - introducing the mangonel catapult

Naiad Chess - introducing the magnetic naiad piece

Castalia Chess - introducing the magnetic castalia piece

Ladon Chess - introducing the repulsing ladon piece

Alseid Chess - introducing the magnetic alseid piece

Turret Chess - introducing the turret catapult

Belfry Chess - introducing the belfry catapult

Bodyguard Chess - featuring bodyguard and kwagga

Echidna Chess - introducing the repulsing Echidna

Leto Chess - introducing the telekinetic Leto

Trebuchet Chess - introducing the Trebuchet catapult

Gastrophete Chess - introducing the Gastrophete catapult

Bombardier Chess - introducing the Bombardier piece

Columbiad Chess - introducing the Columbiad piece

Scout Chess - introducing the long-leaping Scout

Gustavian Cannon Chess - featuring the Swedish Cannon

Guanaco Chess - introducing the Guanaco.

Zeppelin Chess - introducing the Zeppelin

Dragonet Chess - introducing the Dragonet

Interloper Chess - introducing the invulnerable Interloper

Phalanx Chess - introducing the Phalanx pawn

Warlock Chess - introducing the transforming Warlock

Matron Chess - introducing the attacking Matron

Pitcher Chess - introducing the catapult pawn.

Leapfrog Chess - introducing the hopping pawn.

Capablanca Relocation Chess - rearranging the Capablanca piece array.

Here follows bifurcation pieces.

Crossbishop Chess - introducing the crossbishop piece

Crossrook Chess - introducing the crossrook piece

Crossbishop Chess (8x10) - a big-board variant with crossbishops

Doublebarrel Chess - introducing the leaping doublebarrel

Doublecannon Chess - introducing the leaping doublecannon piece

Doublecannon Chess (8x10) - a big-board variant with doublecannons

Amiral Chess - introducing the bouncing amiral

Helmsman Chess - introducing the bouncing helmsman

Buccaneer Chess - introducing the bouncing buccaneer

Secutor Chess - introducing the colliding secutor piece

Murmillo Chess - introducing the colliding murmillo

Hoplomach Chess - introducing the leaping hoplomach

Retiar Chess - introducing the bouncing retiar

Pegniar Chess - introducing the bouncing pegniar

Sagittar Chess - introducing the sagittar cannon

Venator Chess - introducing the venator cannon

Essedar Chess - introducing the colliding essedar

Provocator Chess - introducing the colliding provocator piece

Laquear Chess - introducing the colliding laquear

Meridian Chess - introducing the bouncing meridian

Samnis Chess - introducing the bouncing samnis

Thraex Chess - introducing the leaping thraex

Gaul Chess - introducing the leaping gaul

Veles Chess - introducing the Veles bifurcation piece.

Dimachaer Chess - introducing the colliding dimachaer piece

Gladiatrix Chess - introducing the agile Gladiatrix

Flexible Chinese Chess - the horses are initially external