Bughouse and Tandem Chess

Introduction Setup Pieces Rules See also: Bughouse page by Georg v. Zimmermann. Comprehensive Bughouse Chess. Website with excerpts from book on Bughouse Chess. (Link.) Bughouse.net. Extensive website on Bughouse. (Link.) Bughouse Links

Introduction

We will begin with the more popular Bughouse Chess and then discuss the rule changes that distinguish the older Tandem Chess variant.

Setup

Pieces

Rules

Each pair of contestants plays an Orthodox Chess game which has a special feature: All captured pieces are given to ones partner. Once received they become reserve pieces which can be dropped onto an empty square on the board to be used as ones own. This is done in lieu of a board move. (Compare Shogi.)

There is one restriction on drops: A captured Pawn may not be placed on the 1st or the 8th rank.

A Rook dropped onto either Rook home square is considered not to have moved; so one may castle with such a Rook. A similar rule applies to a Pawn dropped onto the second rank: The Pawn inherits the two-step-move option along with the risk of en passant capture.

You may not advise your partner, but you can ask him to capture a certain piece that you need: 'Partner, I really need a Knight'.

A gentleman's rule: In an unclocked game, a player may not delay his move beyond the time that it takes for his partner to make three moves. (This rule discourages the practice of perpetually delaying one's move in the hope that one's partner will capture a much needed piece. The rule is unnecessary, however, in a clocked game, as stalling in the presence of a clock is self-defeating.)

The game may be scored in either of two ways, depending on prior agreement:

1. The first mate or overtime (when using clocks) decides the match.

2. The first mate or overtime (when using clocks) does not decide the match, and play continues on the remaining board. Captives in hand may still be dropped, but there is no way to acquire new captives. Once the remaining game is completed, points are counted as follows: 1 for a win, 1/2 for a draw, and 0 for a loss. The team with the most points wins. If teams score 1-1, the match is a draw.

Clock-play rules

Bughouse is best played with clocks and with little time per player (e.g., 5 minutes). Clocks should be positioned so that all four players can see them clearly.

One may not inform one's partner that his opponent's time is up (flag has fallen).

There is no proscription on exactly when you must hand your partner the captured piece; it may be done before or after you hit the clock.

Tandem Chess rules

1. One is not allowed to give check or mate with a drop.
2. The match continues until both games are completed.

Bughouse per e-mail

1. South begins by moving a white piece.
2. North replies by moving a black piece followed by a white piece.
3. South replies by moving a white piece followed by a black piece.
4. Etc.

This type of play gives the e-mail game a kind of 'synchronous' effect which the face-to-face version lacks. This serves to makes it yet another chess variant.