Crown ChessCrown, chess and five variants
Chess
redefined.
Crown Chess sets up and moves exactly like chess. The twist: your king can win the game.
iPhone and Android apps coming soon.
More ways to play chess.
Each variant keeps the board, the pieces and the moves you know, then changes one big thing. Pick one, read how it differs, and start a game.
The King can win
Crown Chess
Take the enemy throne, touch both far shrines, or checkmate.
King never moves
Throne Hunt
Your King is a fixed throne. Win with three undefended attacks in a row, or checkmate.
No checkmate
Shrine Rush
Shrines are the only goal. Hold both enemy shrines at once, before they move.
Draft your army
Duel Chess
A King, eight Scouts and two pieces each, drafted from a shared pool.
Hidden information
Fog Crown
You see only what your pieces attack. Find the hidden throne, or capture the King.
Captures change sides
Relay
Captured pieces join your reserve. Drop them back in for five moves.
The pieces
A cast you can recognise.
The headgear tells you the role; the round or octagonal base tells you the side. No letters to decode.
Already play chess?
You already know 90% of Crown.
The same 32 pieces in the same places, moving the same way, castling, en passant and promotion included. Stalemate is a draw. Only the goal changes, and the King stops hiding in the corner.
- Play on any chess set you already own
- Experienced players can skip the basics in the lessons
- Regular chess mode is built in, too
How to win
Three ways to take the crown.
Take the throne
Step your King safely onto the square where the enemy King started. Seven King steps on an empty board, if you can get through.
Touch both shrines
Visit both shrines in the enemy half with your King, in either order. A longer tour, and a different plan of attack.
Checkmate
The classic still counts. Trap the enemy King before it gets anywhere, and the game is yours.
Every goal starts guarded, so a King can't just stroll forward — the defence has to be broken, drawn away or outpaced first.
Ways to play
Play however you like.
Learn in ten short lessons
Interactive lessons teach one idea at a time, right on the board. Wrong moves get a hint, not a lecture.
Against the computer
Pick a level and practise against a computer opponent that plays the Crown rules.
With a friend
Send an invite link and play online, or find a rated opponent with matchmaking.
Pass and play
Two players, one device, no connection needed. Great at the kitchen table.
Regular chess, too
Switch to classic chess any time, with the same board and the same characters.
Works offline
Lessons and local games work without a connection, and sync when you're back online.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Is Crown free?+–
Yes. You can play in your browser for free. The mobile apps are free and show occasional ads, which you can make non-personalised in the app's privacy choices.
Do I need a special board?+–
No. Crown uses a standard 8 × 8 board and a standard chess set. The thrones are E1 and E8; the shrines are C3, F3, C6 and F6.
How is it different from chess?+–
Every piece moves exactly as in chess. The only difference is that your King has two extra ways to win: reaching the enemy throne, or touching both shrines in the enemy half.
What are the variants?+–
Five games built on Crown, each changing one big thing. Throne Hunt fixes the King in place, Shrine Rush is a race for the shrines, Duel Chess lets you draft your army, Fog Crown hides the board, and in Relay captured pieces switch sides. Each one has its own rules page.
Is the game finished?+–
Crown is new, and the rules are still being playtested. We'd love to hear how your games go — there's a short feedback form after each game.