What is Chess960?
A · Advanced · Other forms of play · 5 of 6Chess960 is chess with the pieces on the first rank shuffled at random before the game. The pawns start as usual, and Black's pieces mirror White's. After that the game is played by the normal rules. Castling is the one thing that needs care: the king and rook always finish where they would in regular chess.
How it works
- Pawns: on the second rank, as in regular chess.
- Pieces: placed at random on the first rank, with three limits.
- King between the rooks: somewhere between them.
- Bishops on opposite colours: one on a light square, one on a dark.
- Mirror image: the black pieces stand opposite the white ones.
- 960: the number of different starting positions those limits allow.
- Chosen how: by a computer program, dice, a coin or cards, before the game.
- Everything else: pieces move normally and the aim is checkmate.
- Castling: once per game for each player. Afterwards the king and rook stand exactly where they would after castling in regular chess.
The glossary has castling, the king, the rook, the bishop, the opening and the board.
Tricky cases
After castling on the c-side, where do the king and rook stand?
The king on the c-file and the rook on the d-file, on the player's first rank, wherever they started.
The king already stands on the square it would castle to. Can the player still castle?
Yes. In some positions only the rook moves, and in others only the king.
Which squares must be empty to castle?
All the squares between the king's start and finish, and between the rook's start and finish, including the finishing squares. Only the king and the castling rook may be on them.
Is Chess960 part of the Laws of Chess?
No. It is in the Guidelines, which the Laws say are "not part" of them but are strongly recommended where they apply.
Why the rule exists
Top players memorise opening moves many moves deep. Shuffling the pieces makes that preparation useless, so both players have to think for themselves from the first move. The limits on the shuffle keep castling possible and keep both bishops useful.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Starting position | First-rank pieces shuffled within three limits | FIDE Laws, Guidelines II.2 |
| Castling | Four ways of making it, with the same finishing squares as regular chess | FIDE Laws, Guidelines II.3.2 |
| On a physical board | Recommended: king off the board, rook to its square, then king to its square | FIDE Laws, Guidelines II.3.2.5 |
| Everything else | As regular chess | FIDE Laws, Guidelines II.1 |
| "Fischer Random" and "Freestyle" | Other names used for the same game | C; not in the Laws |
From the rule book
FIDE, Laws of Chess (approved 7 August 2022, applied from 1 January 2023), Guidelines II. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: FIDE Laws of Chess taking effect from 1 January 2023 (FIDE Handbook E.01).