A different label does not always mean a different chess game. Sometimes the rules or starting position change; sometimes only the thinking-time budget does. This distinction prevents mistaken expectations about a game or its settings.
In this guide
Standard chess as the rules baseline
The usual initial position, familiar piece moves and checkmate objective underpin our local and live editions. “Two people on one device” and “private live room” describe how players participate; they are not different systems of pieces.
A stronger computer setting does not change legal moves either. It changes how the opponent selects and plans them. If a move looks unusual, first consider castling, en passant or promotion before assuming a different variant was activated.
Chess960 changes the initial setup
Chess960 rearranges the back-rank pieces: the king is between the rooks, bishops occupy opposite colours, and Black mirrors White. Castling has special execution rules; its final squares correspond to kingside or queenside castling.
Further reading: FIDE Arbiters’ Manual 2024: Chess960 guidelines
Rapid and blitz are time formats
Shorter thinking time changes practical decisions without changing how a knight or pawn moves. An increment adds time per move; an elapsed-time display does not. Do not compare formats using just one number of minutes.
An official event’s classification and procedures follow its regulations and the applicable federation rules. Our browser stopwatch is not a blitz mode. Playing quickly in private does not turn the game into an official rapid event.
State house rules explicitly
Removing a piece, limiting moves or agreeing a different winning condition changes the task. A standard-chess evaluation may no longer apply. Describe the modification fully before the first move.
Our chess editions currently have neither a Chess960 switch nor a free editor for arbitrary setups. This variant guide is background reading. Exercises using changed positions need a suitable separate board or tool.