How do you win in Tamerlane Chess?

Win by checkmating the opponent king, trapping the king so it cannot escape capture, or forcing the opponent to resign.

What is the King Swap rule?

Once per game, while their king is in check, a player may swap the king's position with any friendly, non-royal piece on the board.

How to Play

Tamerlane Chess is a much larger and more complex strategy game than standard chess. With a 10x11 board, 28 pieces, and unique rules, it offers a deep strategic experience.

10×11 Board

28 Pieces Each

Unique Rules

Your first move in 60 seconds

Try it yourself first: four small steps on the real board.

Start

How to Start

Ready to play? Here's everything you need to know to start your first game.

Who Moves First?

White always moves first in Tamerlane Chess. The bottom player (ranks 1-2) controls the white pieces, while the top player (ranks 9-10) controls black.

Your Goal

The main goal is to checkmate your opponent's King — put them in a position where their King is under attack and has no safe squares to escape to. Unlike standard chess, stalemate (no legal moves) means you LOSE, not draw!

Making a Move

Tap a piece to select it. The squares it can go to show a dot; the pieces it can take show a red ring. Tap a dot or a ring (or drag the piece there) to move.

What is Check?

When your King is under attack, you are in "check." You must respond to escape check on your next move. You can: move the King, block the attack, or capture the attacking piece.

Special Moves

Tamerlane Chess has unique moves not found in regular chess. Once per game, when your King is in check, you can swap it with any friendly piece (King Swap), and certain pawns can transform into powerful pieces when they reach the last rank (Promotion).

Playing Your First Game

Start a game against the computer from Play and pick your level. You can learn the unique rules from the examples in the “Special Rules” tab. Take your time: Tamerlane Chess is deeper than standard chess.

Ready?

Play the computer

Rules at a glance

A plain-text summary of the tabs above: the board, the pieces, the special rules and the ways to win. Handy to print or share.

The board and the setup

The game is played on a 10 rows × 11 columns board (a-k, 1-10). Each side has one citadel square jutting out of the board: White's is off the right end of rank 2 (beyond k2), Black's is off the left end of rank 9 (beyond a9).
IMPORTANT: The citadels are two extra squares outside the board — to the right of k2 for White and to the left of a9 for Black. If your king reaches the opponent's citadel, the game ends in a draw.
White pieces start at the bottom (ranks 1-3) with their citadel on the right, on rank 2. Black pieces start at the top (ranks 8-10) with their citadel on the left, on rank 9. White always moves first.
Each player: 1 King, 2 Rooks, 2 Knights, 2 Elephants, 2 Camels, 2 War Engines, 2 Talias, 2 Giraffes, 1 Ferz, 1 Vizir (17 major pieces) + 10 different pawn types and 1 Pawn of Pawns (11 pawns) = Total 28 pieces

The pieces and how they move

King: Moves 1 square in any direction. The most important piece - if checkmated, you lose.
Ferz: Moves only 1 square diagonally. Weak but strategic piece.
Vizir: Moves only 1 square orthogonally. Weak but strategic piece.
Rook: Moves unlimited squares orthogonally (horizontal/vertical). Powerful long-range piece.
Knight: Moves in an L-shape (2+1). Can leap over other pieces.
Elephant: Leaps exactly 2 squares diagonally. Can jump over pieces in its path (doesn't need a clear path).
Camel: Leaps 1 square diagonally then 2 squares orthogonally (3 total). Can jump over obstacles.
War Engine (Dabbaba): Leaps exactly 2 squares orthogonally (up/down/left/right). Can jump over pieces in its path.
Talia: Moves diagonally, but must move at least 2 squares. Cannot move just 1 square diagonally.
Giraffe: Moves 1 square diagonally, then at least 3 squares straight on (orthogonally), always away from where it started: it never turns back. Cannot leap: the diagonal square and every square on the way must be empty.
Pawn: Moves 1 square forward, captures diagonally. Each pawn type promotes to its corresponding piece when reaching the last rank (e.g., Rook's Pawn → Rook).
Pawn of Pawns: Special pawn - moves like a normal pawn but must reach the last rank 3 times. On the 3rd promotion, it becomes the powerful Adventitious King and moves like a king.

Pieces that come from promotion, and the pieces of the larger variant

Prince: Moves 1 square in any direction, like the King. A King’s Pawn becomes a Prince on the last rank. It is a royal piece.
Adventitious King: Moves 1 square in any direction, like the King, and can shelter in its own citadel. A Pawn of Pawns becomes this piece on its 3rd promotion.
Sea Monster (Lukhm): Moves only 1 square orthogonally. Even weaker than the vizier, but a unique piece.
Lion: Can leap up to 3 squares in any direction. Jumps over all obstacles - an extremely powerful piece.
Bull: Leaps 1 square orthogonally then 2 squares diagonally. Versatile and powerful leaper.
Revealer: Leaps exactly 3 squares diagonally. Moves unseen past enemies.

Special rules

King Swap: Once per game, when your king is in check, you can swap its place with any friendly piece. It cannot be used while your king is safe.
Citadel Draw: If your king reaches the opponent's citadel square, the game ends in a draw. A way to salvage a losing position.
Stalemate = Loss: Unlike standard chess, a player with no legal moves loses the game. Stalemate is a loss, not a draw!
Pawn Promotion: Each pawn type promotes to its corresponding piece when reaching the last rank. For example, Rook's Pawn → Rook.
Pawn of Pawns: The Pawn of Pawns is unique: it moves like a normal pawn but must reach the last rank 3 times. Each time it promotes, it retreats and advances again. On the 3rd promotion, it transforms into the powerful Adventitious King - a piece that now moves like a king!

Winning and drawing

Checkmate: Put the opponent's king in check with no escape. The most fundamental way to win.
Stalemate (Loss): Force your opponent into a position with no legal moves. In Tamerlane Chess, stalemate means losing.
Resignation: Force the opponent to resign. Players may choose to resign in hopeless positions.
Citadel Draw: If your king reaches the opponent's citadel, the game ends in a draw. A way to escape a losing position.

Rules at a glance

A plain-text summary of the tabs above: the board, the pieces, the special rules and the ways to win. Handy to print or share.

The board and the setup

The game is played on a 10 rows × 11 columns board (a-k, 1-10). Each side has one citadel square jutting out of the board: White's is off the right end of rank 2 (beyond k2), Black's is off the left end of rank 9 (beyond a9).

IMPORTANT: The citadels are two extra squares outside the board — to the right of k2 for White and to the left of a9 for Black. If your king reaches the opponent's citadel, the game ends in a draw.

White pieces start at the bottom (ranks 1-3) with their citadel on the right, on rank 2. Black pieces start at the top (ranks 8-10) with their citadel on the left, on rank 9. White always moves first.

Each player: 1 King, 2 Rooks, 2 Knights, 2 Elephants, 2 Camels, 2 War Engines, 2 Talias, 2 Giraffes, 1 Ferz, 1 Vizir (17 major pieces) + 10 different pawn types and 1 Pawn of Pawns (11 pawns) = Total 28 pieces

The pieces and how they move

King

Moves 1 square in any direction. The most important piece - if checkmated, you lose.

Ferz

Moves only 1 square diagonally. Weak but strategic piece.

Vizir

Moves only 1 square orthogonally. Weak but strategic piece.

Rook

Moves unlimited squares orthogonally (horizontal/vertical). Powerful long-range piece.

Knight

Moves in an L-shape (2+1). Can leap over other pieces.

Elephant

Leaps exactly 2 squares diagonally. Can jump over pieces in its path (doesn't need a clear path).

Camel

Leaps 1 square diagonally then 2 squares orthogonally (3 total). Can jump over obstacles.

War Engine (Dabbaba)

Leaps exactly 2 squares orthogonally (up/down/left/right). Can jump over pieces in its path.

Talia

Moves diagonally, but must move at least 2 squares. Cannot move just 1 square diagonally.

Giraffe

Moves 1 square diagonally, then at least 3 squares straight on (orthogonally), always away from where it started: it never turns back. Cannot leap: the diagonal square and every square on the way must be empty.

Pawn

Moves 1 square forward, captures diagonally. Each pawn type promotes to its corresponding piece when reaching the last rank (e.g., Rook's Pawn → Rook).

Pawn of Pawns

Special pawn - moves like a normal pawn but must reach the last rank 3 times. On the 3rd promotion, it becomes the powerful Adventitious King and moves like a king.

Pieces that come from promotion, and the pieces of the larger variant

Prince

Moves 1 square in any direction, like the King. A King’s Pawn becomes a Prince on the last rank. It is a royal piece.

Adventitious King

Moves 1 square in any direction, like the King, and can shelter in its own citadel. A Pawn of Pawns becomes this piece on its 3rd promotion.

Sea Monster (Lukhm)

Moves only 1 square orthogonally. Even weaker than the vizier, but a unique piece.

Lion

Can leap up to 3 squares in any direction. Jumps over all obstacles - an extremely powerful piece.

Bull

Leaps 1 square orthogonally then 2 squares diagonally. Versatile and powerful leaper.

Revealer

Leaps exactly 3 squares diagonally. Moves unseen past enemies.

Special rules

King Swap

Once per game, when your king is in check, you can swap its place with any friendly piece. It cannot be used while your king is safe.

Citadel Draw

If your king reaches the opponent's citadel square, the game ends in a draw. A way to salvage a losing position.

Stalemate = Loss

Unlike standard chess, a player with no legal moves loses the game. Stalemate is a loss, not a draw!

Pawn Promotion

Each pawn type promotes to its corresponding piece when reaching the last rank. For example, Rook's Pawn → Rook.

Pawn of Pawns

The Pawn of Pawns is unique: it moves like a normal pawn but must reach the last rank 3 times. Each time it promotes, it retreats and advances again. On the 3rd promotion, it transforms into the powerful Adventitious King - a piece that now moves like a king!

Winning and drawing

Checkmate

Put the opponent's king in check with no escape. The most fundamental way to win.

Stalemate (Loss)

Force your opponent into a position with no legal moves. In Tamerlane Chess, stalemate means losing.

Resignation

Force the opponent to resign. Players may choose to resign in hopeless positions.

Citadel Draw

If your king reaches the opponent's citadel, the game ends in a draw. A way to escape a losing position.