- Created
- 1990s
- Creator
- Unknown
- Where
- Internet chess servers
- Board
- 8×8
- What changes
- Captured pieces return
- Also called
- Drop chess
Where it came from
Nobody knows who invented it
Crazyhouse is the one-board form of Bughouse, the two-board team game. Players on internet chess servers in the 1990s made it a game of its own, keeping Bughouse’s drops without needing a partner. Its inventor is unknown.
The drop rule echoes shogi. Because material never leaves the game, attacks can come from nowhere, and draws are rare.
Why it was made: Bughouse’s drops without the need for four players.
How it differs from chess
- Your pocketWhen you capture a piece, it changes colour and goes into your pocket.
- DroppingOn your turn you may drop a piece from your pocket onto any empty square instead of moving. Drops can give check and even checkmate.
- PawnsPawns can’t be dropped on the first or last rank. A promoted piece turns back into a pawn when it is captured.
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Your first game
- Initiative beats material: a sacrifice that keeps the attack going is often right.
- Before trading, ask what the captured piece would do in your opponent’s pocket.
- Keep pawns and minor pieces near your king to stop drops on key squares.
Questions
- What is the difference between Crazyhouse and Bughouse?
- Bughouse is played by two teams of two on two boards, with captured pieces passed to your partner. Crazyhouse keeps the pieces you capture yourself.
- Can you drop a piece to give checkmate?
- Yes. Drop mates are a big part of Crazyhouse tactics.