Historic+Chess+Variants

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• Byzantine chess. A variant of Shatranj, played on a round board. (Cells: 64) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Chaturanga. The first known variant of chess. (8x8, Cells: 64) (Recognized!) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Chaturanga for four players.. Oldest multiplayer chess variant. (8x8, Cells: 64) (Recognized!) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Courier Chess. A large historic variant from Medieval Europe. (12x8, Cells: 96) (Recognized!) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Shatranj. The widely played historic Persian game, predecessor of modern chess. (8x8, Cells: 64) (Recognized!) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Tamerlane chess. A well-known historic large variant of Shatranj. (11x10, Cells: 112) (Recognized!) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

0-9

• 4-handed Chaturanga with dice. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Mats Winther.
• 4-handed Shatranj. Shatranj for Four. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Mats Winther.

A

• Alfil. Jumps two diagonally. Author: Fergus Duniho.
• Alfonso X book. Website with pictures from historical book on games.
• Ancient Bulgarian Chess. Web page in Bulgarian with an English version of the page. Slow. (Cells: 76)
• Ancient Chess. Site dedicated to the history and evolution of Chess! Author: Rick Knowlton.
• Archchess. Large chess variant from 17th century Italy. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: Dr. Francesco Piacenza.
• Archchess. Late 17th chess variant from Italy on large board with pieces which include modern queen and squirrel. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: Jeremy Gabriel Good. Inventor: Dr. Francesco Piacenza.
• ArchCourier Chess. This game is Courier Chess expert Eric Greenwood's modernization of Courier Chess. (12x8, Cells: 96) By Eric Greenwood.
• Atlantean Barroom Shatranj. The most ambitious in a series of new games Joe Joyce is introducing with powerful short range compound double jumpers. (10x10, Cells: 100) By Joe Joyce.

B

• Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations. Author: R. C. Bell.
• Bulgarian Chess. Web page in Bulgarian with an English version of the page. Slow. (Cells: 76)
• Byzanatine Chess. Circular 16x4 Shatranj variant. (Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Byzanatine Chess II. A different account of the old circular game. (Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Byzantine chess. A variant of Shatranj, played on a round board. (Cells: 64) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Byzantine Chess . A variant of Shatranj, played on a round board. (Cells: 64) Author: Robert Price.
• Byzantine Chess endgames. Queen vs Pawn. Endgame analysis for historic round chess variant. (Cells: 64) Author: Ernst Saperow.
• Byzantine Chess Theory. Towards the theory of Byzantine Chess. (Cells: 64) Author: Ernst Saperow and Anatoly Khalfine.

C

• Cambodian Chess . Mysterious 9x9 "Cambodian" Chess game that seems unknown in Cambodia. (9x9, Cells: 81) Author: Ivan Derzhanski.
• Cambodian Chess. Historic 9x9 game. (9x9, Cells: 81) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Camel. Makes (1,3)-jump. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Carrera's Chess. Large chess variant from 17th century Italy. (10x8, Cells: 80) Author: Eric Greenwood. Inventor: D. Pietro Carrera.
• Chariot. See Rook. Author: Fergus Duniho.
• Chaturanga. The first known variant of chess. (8x8, Cells: 64) (Recognized!) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Chaturanga . Oldest known form of chess. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Tony Quintanilla.
• Chaturanga. Oldest known form of chess. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Chaturanga. Oldest known form of chess. (8x8, Cells: 64) (Recognized!) Author: Fergus Duniho.
• Chaturanga . Version with fancy graphics. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: David Howe.
• Chaturanga . Version using Alfaerie graphics. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: David Howe.
• Chaturanga. Computer game that plays Chaturanga and many other variations. (8x8, Cells: 64)
• Chaturanga for Four. Ancient partnership game, sometimes said to be the. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Chaturanga for four players.. Oldest multiplayer chess variant. (8x8, Cells: 64) (Recognized!) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Chess History and Reminiscences. Project Gutenberg eBook version of this public domain book (large!). Author: H. E. Bird.
• Chess Problems of 1001 years ago. Mansubat: Ancient and interesting shatranj puzzles. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Chess problems of 1001 years ago: A modern exercise?. This old and simple shatranj problem uses only modern pieces and rules. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Chess problems of 1001 years ago: Check!. Old shatranj problem of a form, typical for many such problems (mansubat). Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Chess Stamps from Laos. Stamps with historical paintings of chess variants. Author: Jean-Louis Cazaux and Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Citadel Chess. A variant of Shatranj, played on a ten by ten board with four extra citadels. (10x10, Cells: 104) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Citadel Chess. A variant of Shatranj, played on a ten by ten board with four extra citadels. (10x10, Cells: 104) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Citadel Shatranj . A variant of Shatranj, played on a ten by ten board with four extra citadel. (10x10, Cells: 104) Author: Marek14 .
• Courier Chess. A large historic variant from Medieval Europe. (12x8, Cells: 96) (Recognized!) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Courier Chess . A large historic variant from Medieval Europe. (12x8, Cells: 96) Author: Francis Monkman.
• Courier Chess. Early German version. (12x8, Cells: 96) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Courier Chess. A large historic variant from Medieval Europe. (12x8, Cells: 96) Author: Fergus Duniho.
• Courier Chess. A painting of a Courier Chess game by the famous Dutch painter Lucas van Leyden, from 1510. (12x8, Cells: 96) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Courier Chess (modified). (8x12, Cells: 96) By Eric Greenwood.
• The Courier Game. Description of Courier Chess, with printable pieces and board. (12x8, Cells: 96) Author: Lawrence C. Smith.
• Courier-Spiel. 19th century variant of Courier Chess. (12x8, Cells: 96) Author: Eric Greenwood.
• Courrier Chess . Version using Alfaerie graphics. (12x8, Cells: 96) Author: David Howe.

D

• Dabbabah. Jumps two orthogonally. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Dilaram's problem. Chess problems of 1001 years ago. Famous old shatranj problem. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• The Duke of Rutland's Chess. Large variant from 18th century England. (14x10, Cells: 140) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: John Third Duke of Rutland.
• Duke of Rutland's Chess . Large variant from 18th century England. (14x10, Cells: 140) Author: Robert Price.
• Duke of Rutland's Chess. (10x14, Cells: 64) Author: Jeremy Gabriel Good. Inventor: John Third Duke of Rutland.

E

• EDILÁN. EDILÁN has available facsimiles of many of the books of King Alfonso X, including his book on chess and other games.
• The Elephant. Jumps two diagonally (see Alfil). Author: Fergus Duniho.
• Enochian Chess. Four-player team variant of the Golden Dawn. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Jeff Rients.

F

• Ferz. Moves one diagonally. Author: Fergus Duniho and Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Fortress chess. An old Russian variant for four players. (Cells: 192) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Four seasons chess.. Medieval multiplayer chess variant on 8 by 8 board. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Four-handed Chess by Capt. George Hope Verney. (14x14, Cells: 160) Author: George Hope Verney.

G

• Gala. Medieval game of German farmers. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Gala set photos. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Games ancient and oriental and how to play them. Author: Edward Falkener.
• Giraffe. Makes (1,4)-jump. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Grande Acedrex. A large variant from 13th century Europe. (12x12, Cells: 144) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Grande Acedrex . A large variant from 13th century Europe. (12x12, Cells: 144) Author: Marek14 .
• Grande Acedrex. Java applet that plays Grande Acedrex. (12x12, Cells: 144) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Grande Acedrex . Version using Alfaerie graphics. (12x12, Cells: 144) Author: David Howe.
• Great chess. An Indian/Turkish and very playable historic variant on a 10 by 10 board. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Great Chess. An Indian/Turkish and very playable historic variant on a 10 by 10 board. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: Fergus Duniho.

H

• Heian-Dai Shogi. Early Great Shogi. (13x13, Cells: 169) Author: Steve Evans.
• Hiashatar . Mongolian Great Chess played on a 10x10 board with a pair of Bodyguard pieces per side. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: L. U. Kisljuk.
• Hindustani Chess. 19th century Indian game. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: John Ayer. Inventor: _unknown.
• Hindustani Chess. 19th century Indian game. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Tony Quintanilla and John Ayer. Inventor: _unknown.
• Historic chess variants . by Sam Trenholme.
• Historical Variants. Case Western Reserve University Medieval Society Games Page. Author: Jess Rudolph.
• A History of Chess. In depth reference book on the history of chess. Author: H.J.R. Murray.
• Hnefatafl - the Strategic Board Game of the Vikings . Detailed rules and history of a Chess-like game played for 100's of years in Northern Europe. (9x9, Cells: 81) Author: Sten Helmfrid.
• Horse. See Knight. Makes a (1,2)-jump. Author: Fergus Duniho and Hans L. Bodlaender.

I

• Indian Chess. Some local variant rules from the colonial period. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Indian/Turkish Grand Chess. An Indian/Turkish and very playable historic variant on a 10 by 10 board. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Information on historic chess variants.
• Isle of Lewis Chess Men. Author: Tony Quintanilla.

J

• Jeweled General. Shogi King. Royal piece moving one in arbitrary direction. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender and Fergus Duniho.

K

• Knight. Makes a (1,2)-jump. Author: Fergus Duniho and Hans L. Bodlaender.

M

• Maharadscha . Lone king, moving as queen+knight, versus an army. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Uwe Wiedemann.
• Maharaja and Sepoys I. Lone king, moving as queen+knight, versus an army. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Maharaja and Sepoys II. Lone king, moving as queen+knight, versus an army. The maharaja. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• The Maharaja and the Sepoys. Powerful lonely king against a full set of pieces. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Maka-Dai-Dai Shogi. Historical ultra large Shogi variant. (19x19, Cells: 361) Author: Jean-Louis Cazaux.
• Marinelli's three-handed chess, or Triple Chess. Historic chess variant for three players. (Cells: 136) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: Philip Marinelli.
• Mimotaur Chess. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: Jeremy Gabriel Good. Inventor: Vernon Rylands Parton.

N

• Nilakantha's Intellectual Game. 17th or 18th century Indian chess variation. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: John Ayer. Inventor: _unknown.
• Nilakantha's Intellectual Game. 17th or 18th century Indian chess variation. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Tony Quintanilla and John Ayer. Inventor: _unknown.
• Ninth Century Indian Chess. Differs from Shatranj in the setup and the Elephant's move. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: John Ayer.
• Ninth Century Indian Chess. Differs from Shatranj in the setup and the Elephant's move. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Tony Quintanilla and John Ayer.

O

• Oblong chess. Variant of Shatranj, played on a four by sixteen sized board. (4x16, Cells: 64) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Oblong chess . Variant of Shatranj, played on a four by sixteen sized board. (4x16, Cells: 64) Author: Andrew Juell.
• Oblong Chess 1. Historic chess variant on 16 by 4 board - Setup 1. (4x16, Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Oblong Chess 2. Historic chess variant on 16 by 4 board - Setup 2. (4x16, Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Oblong Chess 3. Historic chess variant on 16 by 4 board - Setup 3. (4x16, Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Oblong Chess 4. Historic chess variant on 16 by 4 board - Setup 4. (4x16, Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Oblong Chess 44 . (4x11, Cells: 44) By Erez Schatz.
• Oblong Chess 5. Historic chess variant on 16 by 4 board - Setup 5. (4x16, Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Oblong Chess 6. Historic chess variant on 16 by 4 board - Setup 6. (4x16, Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Oblong Chess 7. Historic chess variant on 16 by 4 board - Setup 7. (4x16, Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Oblong Shatranj with Die. (4x16, Cells: 64) Author: Mats Winther.
• Oxford History of Board Games. Describes board games from their ancient inception to the present day. Author: David Parlett.

P

• Parsi Chess. 19th century southern Indian chess variation. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: John Ayer. Inventor: _unknown.
• Pawn. Moves straight forward, takes diagonally forwards, and can promote. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender and Fergus Duniho.
• Photos of a Gala Set.. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Proto-Chaturanga. A seminal so-called "indo-persian" game with only King and Pawns. (8x8, Cells: 64) By Jean-Louis Cazaux.
• Proto-Chaturanga . A seminal so-called "Indo-Persian" game with only King and Pawns. (8x8, Cells: 64) By Jean-Louis Cazaux.

R

• Raumschach. "... (German for Space Chess) is one of the first three-dimensional chess variants and the first to survive until present". (5x5x5, Cells: 125) Author: Jeremy Gabriel Good. Inventor: Dr. Ferdinand Maack.
• Romanchenko's Chess. FIDE Chess trainer Romanchenko shifted the FIDE board in the middle to help his students think for themselves. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Jeremy Gabriel Good. Inventor: V. Romanchenko.
• Rook. Moves across unobstructed orthogonal line. Author: Fergus Duniho.
• Round chess. A variant of Shatranj, played on a round board. (Cells: 64) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Russian fortress chess. An old Russian variant for four players. (Cells: 192) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

S

• Self's three-handed chess. 19th century chess variant for three players. (Cells: 144) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: Henry J. Self.
• Senterej . (8x8, Cells: 64)
• shat2diag2. A tool to make uncheckered chess and fairy / variant chess diagrams. By Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Shatra . Old game from the Altai from Russia, on special shaped board with draughts-like capture. (7x14, Cells: 62) Author: Francis Monkman.
• Shatra . Old game from the Altai from Russia, on special shaped board with draughts-like capture. (7x14, Cells: 62)
• Shatra. Old game from the Altai from Russia, on special shaped board with draughts-like capture. (7x14, Cells: 62) Author: Fergus Duniho.
• ShatraDev2 . Windows program to play Shatra against the computer. (7x14, Cells: 62) Author: Francis Monkman.
• Shatranj. The widely played historic Persian game, predecessor of modern chess. (8x8, Cells: 64) (Recognized!) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Shatranj . The widely played historic Persian game, predecessor of modern chess. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Tony Quintanilla.
• Shatranj. Persian chess, ancestral to the Western forms. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Shatranj. The widely played historic Arabian game, predecessor of modern chess. (8x8, Cells: 64) (Recognized!) Author: Fergus Duniho.
• Shatranj . Version with fancy graphics. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: David Howe.
• Shatranj Al-Husun - Citadel Chess. Historical variant of Shatranj. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: Jeremy Gabriel Good.
• Shatranj for Four. 4-handed Shatranj. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Mats Winther.
• Shatranj Kamil. Shatranj Kamil or "Perfect Chess" a historical variant combining alfils, camels rooks and ferz. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: Jeremy Gabriel Good.
• Shatranj Kamil I. Large shatranj variant with new piece: camel. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Shatranj Kamil II. Large historic shatranj variant with new piece: dabbabah or war machine. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Shatranj Plus . Play four large historical variations of Shatranj including Tamerlane Chess! () Author: Malcolm Maynard.
• Shatranj Problems. Mansubat: Chess Problems of 1001 years ago. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Siege Chess. Historic chess variant with fortress on cross-shaped board. (Cells: 160) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.

T

• Tamerlan Chess . Westernized version using Alfaerie graphics. (11x10, Cells: 112) Author: David Howe.
• Tamerlane chess. A well-known historic large variant of Shatranj. (11x10, Cells: 112) (Recognized!) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Tamerlane Chess . A well-known historic large variant of Shatranj. (11x10, Cells: 112) Author: David Howe.
• Tamerlane Chess. Old Persian large-board game, widely-played in medieval times. (11x10, Cells: 112) Author: Ed Friedlander.
• Tamerlane Chess. Chess game said to have been favored, perhaps even invented, by ruler Timur the Lame in the 14th c. (8x8, Cells: 64) Author: Jeremy Gabriel Good.
• Tamerlane Chess set. Photo of home made set of historic chess variant. Author: Jean-Louis Cazaux.
• Tamerlane chess: ms 7322 version. Information on historic variant of Tamerlane chess. (11x10, Cells: 112) Author: Ivan Derzhanski.
• Turkish Great Chess, variation II. Gollon's large historical variant. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: John Ayer and John Gollon.
• Turkish Great Chess, variation II. Gollon's large historical variant. (10x10, Cells: 100) Author: Tony Quintanilla and John Ayer.
• Turkish Great Chess, variation III. John Gollon's third of six variations on Great Chess. (12x12, Cells: 144) Author: John Ayer and John Gollon.
• Turkish Great Chess, variation III. John Gollon's third out of six variations on Great Chess. (12x12, Cells: 144) Author: Tony Quintanilla.
• Turkish Great Chess, variation IV. John Gollon's fourth variation. This completes the set of 6. (14x14, Cells: 168) Author: John Ayer.
• Turkish Great Chess, variation IV. Play this variation of Great Chess by e-mail! (14x14, Cells: 168) Author: Tony Quintanilla and John Ayer.
• Two Large Shatranj Variants. (10x10, Cells: 100) By Joe Joyce.

V

• Vierschach. 19th Century 4-player game where allies start off at right angles to each other. (14x14, Cells: 160) Author: Jörg Knappen. Inventor: G. Arthur Lutze.

W

• Waider's three-handed chess. (Cells: 126) Author: Hans L. Bodlaender. Inventor: Waider.
• The Water wheel. Chess problems of 1001 years ago. A shatranj problem with an ingenious construction. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender.
• Wazir. Moves one square orthogonally. Author: Hans L. Bodlaender and Alberto Monteiro.

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