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Antichess

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description Antichess Overview

Antichess, also referred to as Losing Chess, is a variant that reverses the traditional objective by requiring players to lose all of their pieces or be left with no legal moves. The defining mechanic dictates that captures are completely mandatory; if a player can make a capture, they must execute it. Additionally, the king piece loses its royal status and can be captured like any other piece.

This variant tests a player's ability to unilaterally force opposing captures and appeals to those who enjoy logic puzzles and reversed tactical scenarios.

help Antichess FAQ

What are the rules of Antichess?

Antichess, also called Losing Chess, reverses the goal: you win by losing all your pieces or by being left with no legal move. Captures are mandatory when available, and if multiple captures exist you may choose among them.

How does the king work in Antichess?

The king is an ordinary piece with no special protection; there is no check or checkmate, and kings can be captured like anything else. The only special rule is that castling is typically removed from the game.

Has Antichess been solved by computers?

In 2016, researchers announced a weak solution for losing chess, showing a win for White beginning with 1.e3. This makes it one of the few chess variants with a known game-theoretic result.

Where can I play Antichess online?

Lichess offers Antichess as a built-in variant with matchmaking and puzzles, and Chess.com has also supported losing-chess variants. You can also set it up over the board with a normal set since no extra equipment is needed.

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