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Losing Chess

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description Losing Chess Overview

Losing Chess, also known as Antichess or Suicide Chess, is a chess variant in which the objective is reversed: a player wins by losing all of their pieces or being left with no legal moves. Captures are mandatory—when a capture is available, it must be taken. The king has no special status and can be captured like any other piece, eliminating the concepts of check and checkmate. The variant has been documented since at least the nineteenth century and is played competitively on online platforms.

help Losing Chess FAQ

How do you win at Losing Chess?

You win by getting rid of all your pieces or by reaching a position with no legal moves. This reverses the normal goal of chess, where players try to checkmate the opponent's king.

Are captures mandatory in Losing Chess?

Yes. If a capture is available, the player must make a capture, and a player may often choose between several legal captures. This forced-capture rule drives much of the strategy.

Can the king be captured in Losing Chess?

The king has no special royal status in the usual rules of Losing Chess. It may be captured, and check and checkmate do not function as they do in standard chess.

Is Losing Chess also called Antichess?

Yes. Losing Chess is commonly grouped with Antichess and Suicide Chess, although rule details can vary between servers and regional versions. The shared core is mandatory capture and the goal of losing your pieces.

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