Diagonal Chess – Introduction

Diagonal Chess is played on a standard chessboard, but in a diamond-shaped perspective. This means the squares are used diagonally, altering the perception and strategy of the game.

Objective

The goal of Diagonal Chess is the same as regular chess: Checkmate the opponent's king. A player wins by threatening the king such that escape is impossible. The game can also end by resignation or stalemate.

Setup

• Use a regular 8x8 chessboard.
• Place the pieces according to the standard chess setup but starting from the lower left corner (A1) diagonally upward. This corresponds to A1 to H8 for White and H1 to A8 for Black.

Pieces and Movements

All rules for piece movements are unchanged:

• Pawns move one square forward and capture diagonally.
• Rooks move horizontally or vertically across any number of squares.
• Knights move in an L-shape: two squares in one direction and then one square perpendicular.
• Bishops move diagonally across any number of squares.
• Queens combine the moves of rooks and bishops.
• Kings move one square in any direction.

Gameplay

1. White starts, the first move is made by White.
2. Players alternate turns.
3. Check for checkmate after each move.

Special Strategies

• Since the game is viewed diagonally, adjust to the new strategic view of board control (e.g., control zones and gaining space).
• The diagonals can make it harder to recognize threats at a glance, challenging tactical skills.
• Develop bishops early, as the board setup allows more diagonal control.

Frequently Asked Questions

• En passant and castling: Special moves are possible and require good understanding of diagonal board setup.

Diagonal Chess is an exciting variation of the classical chess game that challenges strategic senses and provides new challenges.