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Knightmare Chess (tabletop)

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description Knightmare Chess (tabletop) Overview

Knightmare Chess is a chess variant published by Steve Jackson Games that adds a hand of cards to the standard board, pieces, and rules. Players use the cards to alter legal moves, introduce unusual attacks, or change the position during play, creating tactical situations that ordinary chess does not allow. The game is for chess players who want a deliberately unpredictable, rules-modifying format while retaining the familiar chess objective of checkmating the opposing king.

help Knightmare Chess (tabletop) FAQ

Who published Knightmare Chess and when?

Steve Jackson Games published Knightmare Chess in 1996. It keeps the normal chessboard and pieces but adds cards that can override standard rules. ([Steve Jackson Games rules](https://www.sjgames.com/knightmare/img/knightmare-chess-rules.pdf))

How do the cards change a game of Knightmare Chess?

Cards can alter how pieces move, create unusual attacks, move an opponent's piece, or change the board position. A card may be played instead of making a normal chess move, depending on its printed instruction. ([Knightmare Chess](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knightmare_Chess))

Was Knightmare Chess based on another chess variant?

Yes. Steve Jackson Games' rules identify the French game Tempête sur l'échiquier as the source concept, designed by Pierre Cléquin and Bruno Faidutti. The English edition turns that card-driven idea into Knightmare Chess. ([Steve Jackson Games rules](https://www.sjgames.com/knightmare/img/knightmare-chess-rules.pdf))

Did Knightmare Chess receive an expansion?

A second product, Knightmare Chess 2, followed in 1997 as an additional source of rule-changing cards. It is often described as Series 2 or More Chaos on the Chessboard. ([Knightmare Chess](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knightmare_Chess))

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