Your Complete Guide to Drawback Chess

Chess is a relatively fair game. Each side has the same number of pieces, the same board to play on, and the only thing really differentiating players is their skill level. That creates a problem for chess players. How do you play a fair game when two players are of vastly different abilities? How could a Grandmaster have a fun game against a beginner? Is it even possible? Drawback Chess provides an interesting way to play, even if it's a slightly winding road to get there.

Odds Matches

For years, the solution to this problem has been something called “odds matches.” This would be where the higher-rated player would give up something to achieve a more even game. One such odds match would be something called “piece odds.”

Piece Odds

In a match with piece odds, the better player would give up a piece before the game even began in order to provide a more even playing field. Imagine playing a position where you have lost your queen (not very difficult to imagine for most of us), but it happens right at the start of the game! Even a grandmaster would have trouble winning if you take away all of their pieces. But, the best players still know how to use their tempo and strategy to attack even in an odds match. Paul Morphy, an American chess player from the 1850s, had some of his most famous games start as odds matches. He was a master of playing with tempo and using attacking chess. In this particular game, he starts down a rook, but the game ends before most of the rooks ever even became relevant!

Time Odds

Another method of evening the playing field is a match with “time odds.” This means one player, the more experienced one, would have less time on their clock than their opponent. Players in chess clubs across the world use this method to even up games. I have played games against amazing players where the only way I stood a chance was because they had only minutes left on their clock, while I had ten or twenty. 

Evening the Playing Field

These two methods, piece odds and time odds, are methods of making a chess game more even. You could argue that these methods change the game enough that you could call them chess variants. Not every variant of chess does something to even the game, but odds matches do. That, along with Drawback Chess.

What is Drawback Chess

Drawback Chess is an online chess variant in which each player has a hidden drawback. These drawbacks are new rules that limit how they play, very much like a piece in an odds match. The fun thing is that you don’t know what kind of drawback your opponent has, and they don’t know yours! As you play, you have to follow your own rules and try to determine what their drawback is, then use that to your advantage.

The Rules of Drawback Chess

One interesting rule in Drawback Chess is that there is no checkmate! Neither checkmate nor stalemate is recognized. You lose if your king is captured or if you have no legal moves because of your disadvantage. The King, therefore, is allowed to ignore obvious threats, move into check, or move a pinned piece. Also, Kings can be captured en passant. If your king castles out of or through check, your opponent can capture it on their next turn by moving to the square it vacated or passed through.

Not All Drawbacks are Created Equal

Maybe the most interesting part about Drawback Chess is that not all drawbacks carry the same weight. Some are more challenging than others. So, just like playing an odds match, Drawback Chess can be enjoyed by players of all levels! If your opponent's drawback is easier than yours, you'll earn more points when you win and lose fewer points when you lose. Generally, the stronger player will face a greater disadvantage.

How to Play

You can give Drawback Chess a try at Drawbackchess.com. The first thing you will have to get used to is your own drawback. When you start your game, you will see it on the right side of your screen. It will say something like, “Guerrilla Tactics: After playing a capturing move, you must return the capturing piece to its previous location if possible.” At first glance, you might not think that’s a big deal. But it forces you to play like a beginner, always moving your pieces right back to where they came from. 

Notice Your Opponent’s Drawback

If you can, keep an eye out for odd moves from your opponent. It might clue you in on just what kind of drawback they have. Or, it might become obvious very quickly, like it did in some of my games, where my opponent was immediately forced into hanging their king! Remember, Kings can put themselves into check in Drawback Chess, so make sure you don’t miss an opportunity to win if your opponent does so.

Other Drawbacks

I’ve played a few games, and here are some drawbacks I’ve encountered. They range from simple and not too difficult to put into practice to game-losing!

“Bipartisanship”

You cannot move left twice in a row or right twice in a row. This one was very trippy to play with. You can’t follow many of your normal developing moves without running headlong into this drawback. It also stopped me occasionally from recapturing, which was a problem.

“Boastful”

You lose if you have fewer pieces than your opponent. This gave me one of my fastest wins. I captured an opponent's piece, and suddenly the game was over. This just showed me how brutal Drawback Chess can be.

“Elephants Fear Mice”

Your non-pawn pieces cannot capture pawns. Another example of a drawback that really changes the way I thought about my opening and the game in general. It forces you to think outside the box.

“Guerrilla Tactics”

After playing a capturing move, you must return the capturing piece to its previous location if possible. This one made me feel like a brand-new player. I’ve seen beginners play exactly like this, and it’s bad for a reason.

“Jumpy”

When possible, you must move a piece under attack. This one gave me a quick win because my opponent was forced to move a pinned piece, and I captured their king.

“Superstitious”

You cannot move to a square that your opponent has previously captured on.

“Vegan”

You cannot capture knights. There are many, many more drawbacks in the game. This hopefully gives you a good understanding of the types of rules that are added to the game in Drawback Chess.

Should You Play Drawback Chess?

I think it is a fun variant! Like most variants, there is nothing wrong with playing them and having fun. If you are brand new to chess, I would recommend not spending too much time playing any variant before you grasp all of the basic rules first. But it can be a fun way to explore the game of chess and to force yourself out of your comfort zone. Just be careful using this variant if you think it will help you improve at regular chess.

The Verdict of Drawback Chess

Drawback Chess is a clever twist on the classic game. It doesn’t add so much that it becomes overwhelming, and it keeps the game interesting without being overly confusing. Be careful if you are a beginner because the game might teach you some bad habits. Maybe spend some time doing chess puzzles, instead. Otherwise, give it a shot and see what you think. If you enjoy the game, it is worth your time.

meta: There are plenty of drawbacks to Drawback Chess, but it's a fun variant and can provide with a fun way to have an odds match.