Chad (chess variant)

Chad is a chess variant played on an 8x12 board. It retains standard chess pieces and setup on the first eight ranks, but the extra four ranks are initially empty. Players each start with a standard chess army arranged as in orthodox chess on ranks 1 and 2 for white, and ranks 7 and 8 for black.

The primary difference from standard chess lies in piece movement and the objective. Pawns, in addition to their normal moves, can move two squares forward from any rank, not just their starting rank, provided the destination square is unoccupied. En passant captures still only apply to pawns moving two squares from what would traditionally be considered their starting rank (ranks 2 and 7).

The object of Chad is not to checkmate the opponent's king, but to move your king to the opposite side of the board (i.e., to any square on ranks 11 or 12 for white, or ranks 1 or 2 for black). A player can also win by checkmating the opponent's king in the conventional chess manner, but achieving positional dominance to transport the king is usually the quicker path to victory.

The larger board and modified pawn movement contribute to a more open and tactical game compared to standard chess. Piece activity and king safety take on greater importance due to the elongated board and the unconventional win condition. The longer board also means that pieces like rooks and queens are able to develop lines of attack from a greater distance.