How to play
The rules of each EX Chess variant, how to win, and how to read the screen.
Must CaptureIf you can capture, you must.
If a capture is available, you must take it (en passant and capture-promotions count). The only exception is when you're in check: then you may escape without capturing. You win by checkmate as usual, and stalemate is a draw.
On screen: When a capture is available, a thread of light links the attacker to its target. Picking any other move shows a warning.
Shadow KingFind the True King hiding in the enemy army.
Each side gets a random True King, chosen from every piece except pawns (the King included). Capture the enemy True King to win. There is no check, and taking a King that isn't the True King doesn't end the game. You can castle whenever the King and Rook haven't moved, no matter which squares are attacked.
On screen: Your own True King is marked. You can't see the enemy's during the game; both are revealed in the result and the replay.
InvaderMove as many pieces as you can in a 15-second phase.
In a 15-second phase, each of your pieces can move once (castling uses both the King and the Rook). If your King is still in check when the phase ends, you lose on the spot. There is no en passant. The game is drawn after 50 phases per side with no capture or pawn move.
On screen: The clock shows the time left, and pieces that have moved get an orange outline. Press End phase to hand over to your opponent early.
TrapsHide traps on the board before the game.
Before the game, hide traps on your side of the board (your four nearest ranks). Any piece that lands on a trap is removed from the board, even your own piece on your own trap. The King survives the first trap, but a second one loses the game. When castling, the Rook's landing square can trigger a trap too; squares merely passed over don't.
On screen: Place the required number of traps on your side before the game. You can stack several on one square. Your own traps affect your own pieces too.
VanishEvery few moves, pieces vanish from the board.
Every 4 to 10 moves, any piece on the announced squares vanishes (2 to 5 squares at a time). Every piece except the King can vanish. If a Rook that hasn't castled vanishes, you can no longer castle on that side.
On screen: After the first move, the forecast shows the moves left and the target squares, which are also marked on the board. Room settings can hide part of the forecast. On narrow screens the forecast line scrolls sideways. Kings never vanish.
Play with a friend
Choose a variant and press Play. You join a waiting player, or a room opens and waits for one. To play a friend, turn off "Anyone can join" in the waiting room and send the invite link. When your friend arrives, a short countdown starts the game automatically.
Public games can be watched. Spectators can't make moves.