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Odds Chess

An interesting chess variant is Odds Chess.

Overview

During the 18th & 19th centuries, it was common to give odds in chess games, which means the practice of giving some advantage to the player with lesser skill. Odds giving can also be an interesting way to play with a computer program whose skill level differs from your own. You can also play the games in pairs, with the winner being the player who checkmates in fewer moves.

Types of Odds

These are various handicaps I have seen in actual games or chess books. They are in rough order of severity.

Move	Weaker player plays White.
Draw	The weaker player wins if the outcome is a draw under the usual rules.
Time	Weaker player receives more time on his clock.
2 Moves	Weaker player plays White and starts the game with 2 moves, which may not cross the 4th rank.
6 Moves	Weaker player plays White and starts the game with 6 moves, which may not cross the 4th rank
Pawn & Move	The stronger player takes Black and removes the pawn at F7. This was the most commonly given odds during the 19th century.
Pawn & 2 Moves	The stronger player takes Black and removes the pawn at F7. White makes 2 moves, neither of which may cross the 4th rank.
Knight	The stronger player takes White and removes his Knight at B1.
Rook	The stronger player takes White and removes his Rook at A1. His Pawn at A2 is moved to A3.
Rook & Move	The stronger player takes Black and removes his Rook at A8. His Pawn at A7 is moved to A6.
Rook & Pawn & Move	The stronger player takes Black and removes his Rook at A8 and his pawn at F7. His pawn at A7 is moved to A6.
2 Minor Pieces	The stronger player takes White and removes 2 of his Bishops or Knights, of his choice.
Rook & Knight	The stronger player takes White and removes his Rook at A1 and his Knight at G1. His Pawn at A7 is moved to A6.
2 Rooks	The stronger player takes White and removes both his Rooks
Capped Knight	The stronger player takes White. He must deliver mate with his Knight that started at B1 or lose. The loss of the Knight or any normal draw situation results in a loss for the stronger player.
Queen	The stronger player takes White and removes his Queen.
Capped Pawn	The stronger player takes White. He must deliver mate with his Pawn that started at F2 or lose. The loss or promotion of the Pawn or any normal draw situation results in a loss for the stronger player.
Queen-side	The stronger player takes White and removes the pieces starting at A1, B1, C1 and D1.