🎲 Chess960 (Fischer Random): rules and free online play

One of 960 possible back-rank setups is chosen at random, so memorised openings are useless and understanding wins.

Setups: 960 possible
King: Always between the rooks
Castling: Same final squares as classic

Rules

The pawns start where they always do. The pieces behind them are shuffled, with two limits: the bishops stand on opposite colours and the king stands somewhere between the two rooks.

Castling still ends with the king on g1 or c1 and the rook beside it, whichever squares they began on. The only requirement is that the path between them is clear and safe.

Try the rules

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

How it differs from classic chess

Because the first few moves are unfamiliar, both players have to think from move one. It is a great cure for opening-book routine and a fair fight between players of different theory knowledge.

Tips for beginners

Spend your first moves finishing development rather than copying a favourite opening.
Look at which pawns are loosely guarded by the setup, and protect them.
Work out early where each king will castle.

Play and practise

Choose “Chess960 (Fischer Random)” 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.