Chess960
Introduction
Chess960, also known as Fischer Random Chess, is a variant of the game of chess invented and advocated by former World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer. It uses the same board and pieces as standard chess, but the starting position of the pieces on the players' home ranks is randomized. The random setup renders the prospect of obtaining an advantage through the memorization of opening lines impracticable, compelling players to rely on their talent and creativity.
History
Chess960 was announced by Bobby Fischer in Buenos Aires, Argentina on June 19, 1996. Fischer's goal was to create a chess variant in which chess creativity and talent would be more important than memorization and analysis of opening moves. His solution was to create a randomized initial chess position, which would thus eliminate the memorization of opening moves.
Rules
The initial position of the pieces is determined by the following rules:
- The pawns are placed on their usual squares.
- All remaining pieces are placed on the first rank.
- The bishops must be placed on opposite-color squares.
- The king must be placed on a square between the rooks.
After setup, the game is played in the same way as standard chess. In particular, pieces and pawns have their normal moves, and each player's objective is to checkmate the opponent's king.
Notation
The standard algebraic notation (SAN) is used for move notation in Chess960, with one additional rule to handle a situation that can arise that does not occur in standard chess. If castling is legal on both the kingside and the queenside, and the king and a rook are on their original squares, then O-O is used for kingside castling and O-O-O for queenside castling.
Strategy and Tactics
In Chess960, the strategy and tactics differ from those of standard chess. Since the starting position is randomized, the theory of openings does not apply in the same way. The player needs to be very creative from the first move. The value of the pieces can change based on their initial positions. For example, knights in the corners are particularly badly placed.
Popularity
Chess960 has gained in popularity since its introduction. It has been featured in various online chess servers, and many top-level players have explored this variant. A Chess960 World Championship event has been held annually since 2001.