🔀 Antichess: rules and free online play

Captures are mandatory and the goal is reversed: you win by running out of pieces or having no legal move.

Win: Lose all pieces or be stalemated
Captures: Compulsory
King: An ordinary piece

Rules

If a capture is available you must make one. The king has no special status: there is no check and no castling, and a pawn may promote to a king.

You win by giving away all your pieces or by having no legal move.

Try the rules

Pick a position and press a button to see the rule in action.

How it differs from classic chess

Because captures are forced, you can steer the opponent's moves with sacrifices. Positions that look hopeless can be won by an elegant chain of forced takes.

Tips for beginners

Offer a piece in such a way that the forced capture opens a line for you.
Keep pieces that can safely avoid captures late into the game.
Count how many pieces each side still has to lose.

Play and practise

Choose “Antichess” in the game window and play against the Fairy-Stockfish engine or send a link to a friend. Ratings are kept separately for every mode. The site interface is currently in Russian; this page explains the rules in English.