Swap Chess is also called Exchange Chess, Tag Team Chess, Double Chess, Siamese Chess, Double Bug, Tandem Chess, Transfer Chess, or Bughouse

The Rules

Team 2, Board A Team 1, Board A Team 2, Board B Team 1, Board B

Swap Chess setup and start position

Swap chess is a chess variant played on two chessboards by four players in teams of two. Each team member plays one opponent of the other team. Partners sit next to each other and one player plays black, while the other plays white. Each player plays his opponent as in a standard chess game, with the exception of the rules specified below.

Captured Pieces

A player capturing a piece passes that piece to his partner. The partner keeps these pieces in reserve but may at any time, instead of playing a regular move, place one of these pieces on the board. Pieces in reserve or on deck may be placed on any vacant square, the exception being pawns which may not be dropped on the first and last rank. Dropped pawns may promote, but convert back to pawns when captured. A dropped piece is considered a piece that has not been moved. A pawn placed on the second rank may therefore move two squares on its first move. Equally, a dropped rook can be used for castling provided that the other requirements for castling are met. The reserve or stock should be kept in front of the board, but is not required. However if your oppenent asks you to show your pieces you must do so immediatly.

The clock and completion of a move

Swap chess is usually played with chess clocks to prevent players from waiting indefinitely for a piece. Clocks are placed on the outside so that each player can see both clocks. At the start of the game, the players with the black pieces start the clocks simultaneously. Swap chess is played using clock move, that is, a move is only completed when the clocked is pressed and touch-move is not required. There is no time relief. Instead, three illegal moves are allowed and if a fourth one is made it can result in a loss.

End of the game

The match ends when either of the games on the two boards end. The match is won if one player gets checkmated, resigns or forfeits on time. The match cannot be drawn under any circumstances.

Communication

Partners are normally allowed to talk to each other during the game. They can for instance ask for a specific piece, for more trades, ask to hold a piece or even suggest moves. Shouts like "Gimme a knight, it mates!" are common, and can lead to seemingly absurd sacrificial captures on the other board. It is however not allowed to physically make the move for your partner.

Basic Therory

Swap Chess depends on three things, checks, stalling and the f7 square. Taking the f7 square is the most basic beginning of any swap chess. The main idea is to force the king to emerge from its safety on e1/8 and to then check him until its mate. The Checks are very important in swap chess. Once checks have been obtained no piece is too valuable to sack in order to drag the enemy king further out or valuable enough to give up the checks to take. Stalling is the probly the most important aspect of swap chess. Stalling can be used to devestating effect. For instance if your king is dragged out into the open as your oppentant continusly sacks pieces and he runs out of pieces to place he will be found waiting for pieces from his partners bord . If this happens and your partner has more time your partner can simply stop playing thus starving your oppenent of pieces and forcing him to move and give up the checks allowing you to turn the tables and begin draging your oppenents king out around the board.

This leads to openings such as 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf3 3. Bxf7+ Kxf7 4. N^g5+ (^=places) Ke8 5.^f7#. This of course is only a beginers mistake and can easily be avoided with 2. ...e6. Other more advanced openings are

"The Night Race" 1.Nf3 Nf6 2. Ne5 Ne4 3. Nxf7 Nxf2 4. Nxd8 Nxd1 5. ^f2+ Kxd8 and rook mates on e8.

"The Night Race declined" 4. Nxh8! or 4. ...Nxh1 were ^f7# or ^f7# respectivly