Bughouse Rules
Bughouse is a chess variant played on two chessboards by four players in teams of two. Each team member faces one opponent of the other team. Partners sit next to each other and one player has black, while the other has white. Each player plays the opponent as in a standard chess game, with the exception of the rules specified below.[2]
Captured pieces
A player capturing a piece immediately passes that piece to the capturing player's partner. The partner keeps these pieces in reserve and may, instead of playing a regular move, place one of these pieces on the board, called dropping the piece. Pieces in reserve or on deck may be dropped on any vacant square, including squares where the piece delivers check or checkmate; however, pawns may not be dropped on the first or last rank. Dropped pawns may promote, but all promoted pawns convert back to pawns when captured. In play over the board, a promoted pawn can be put on its side to indicate promotion.[3] Each player must keep the reserve or stock pieces on the table in front of the board, always visible to all players of the game.
Clock and completion of a move
Bughouse chess is played with chess clocks (with 4 minutes & 2 second time delay) to prevent players from waiting indefinitely for a piece. Clocks are placed on the outside so that each player can see both clocks. At the start of the game, the players with the black pieces start the clocks simultaneously. Bughouse is played using clock move, which allows touching of pieces. A move is completed only when the clock is pressed.
End of the game
The match ends when either of the games on the two boards ends. A game is won when one player gets checkmated, resigns, forfeits on time or has their King taken.
Communication
Partners are normally allowed to talk to each other during the game. They can for instance ask for a specific piece, for more trades, ask to hold a piece, suggest moves or ask their partner to stall. Shouts like "Knight mates!" or "Don't let him have a Rook!" are common, and can lead to seemingly absurd sacrificial captures on the other board. Partners are not allowed to physically act on the other board.[7]
Captured pieces
A player capturing a piece immediately passes that piece to the capturing player's partner. The partner keeps these pieces in reserve and may, instead of playing a regular move, place one of these pieces on the board, called dropping the piece. Pieces in reserve or on deck may be dropped on any vacant square, including squares where the piece delivers check or checkmate; however, pawns may not be dropped on the first or last rank. Dropped pawns may promote, but all promoted pawns convert back to pawns when captured. In play over the board, a promoted pawn can be put on its side to indicate promotion.[3] Each player must keep the reserve or stock pieces on the table in front of the board, always visible to all players of the game.
Clock and completion of a move
Bughouse chess is played with chess clocks (with 4 minutes & 2 second time delay) to prevent players from waiting indefinitely for a piece. Clocks are placed on the outside so that each player can see both clocks. At the start of the game, the players with the black pieces start the clocks simultaneously. Bughouse is played using clock move, which allows touching of pieces. A move is completed only when the clock is pressed.
End of the game
The match ends when either of the games on the two boards ends. A game is won when one player gets checkmated, resigns, forfeits on time or has their King taken.
Communication
Partners are normally allowed to talk to each other during the game. They can for instance ask for a specific piece, for more trades, ask to hold a piece, suggest moves or ask their partner to stall. Shouts like "Knight mates!" or "Don't let him have a Rook!" are common, and can lead to seemingly absurd sacrificial captures on the other board. Partners are not allowed to physically act on the other board.[7]
Blitz Rules
Each player plays the opponent as in a standard chess game, with the exception of the rules specified below:
- Blitz is played with chess clocks (with 4 minutes & 2 second time delay)
- Blitz is played using clock move, which allows touching of pieces. A move is completed only when the clock is pressed.
- In Blitz, after the opponent has hit their clock (indicating that they are done with their move), if you are able to take their King you may do so; and therefore, win the game! A game is won when one player gets checkmated, resigns, forfeits on time or has their King taken.