''Really Bad Chess'' (stylized as ''really bad chess'') is a mobile video game developed by Zach Gage. It was released on October 13, 2016, for

iOS iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the iPhone; the term also include ...

, with a version for Android released in May 2017. The game is based on the original game of

chess Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to dist ...

but contains rearranged boards.

Gameplay

''Really Bad Chess'' is played using a normal

board, but with each player given one king and 15 other pieces selected at random based on the player's skill level. The pieces, moves, and goal are identical to the original game. Because of the rearranged pieces, players cannot use typical chess

opening moves Opening may refer to: * Al-Fatiha, "The Opening", the first chapter of the Qur'an * The Opening (album), live album by Mal Waldron * Backgammon opening * Chess opening * A title sequence or opening credits * , a term from contract bridge * , a te ...

. Unlike in standard chess, in ''Really Bad Chess'' there are no draws: a stalemated player loses the game, and no draws can be claimed for reasons such as

threefold repetition In chess, the threefold repetition rule states that a player may claim a draw if the same position occurs three times during the game. The rule is also known as repetition of position and, in the USCF rules, as triple occurrence of position.Article ...

. As such, the game does not end when only the kings remain.

Development

''Really Bad Chess'' was developed by Zach Gage, the developer behind the 2015

solitaire Solitaire is any tabletop game which one can play by oneself, usually with cards, but also with dominoes. The term "solitaire" is also used for single-player games of concentration and skill using a set layout tiles, pegs or stones. These gam ...

mobile game ''Sage Solitaire''. The game was released on October 13, 2016, for

devices. Some players have reported stability issues when playing the game. A

port A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as ...

for Android, produced by Noodlecake Studios, was released in May 2017. In 2023, Really Bad Chess is integrated within the games portal Puzzmo, developed by Gage and Orta Therox, as a daily puzzle.

Reception

Stephen Totilo of video game news site ''

Kotaku ''Kotaku'' is a video game website and blog that was originally launched in 2004 as part of the Gawker Media network. Notable former contributors to the site include Luke Smith, Cecilia D'Anastasio, Tim Rogers, and Jason Schreier. History ...

'' recommended the game to those with an iPhone because though he doesn't "care for chess", he enjoyed playing it. Rob Funnell of mobile gaming site ''

TouchArcade ''TouchArcade'' is a mobile video game website that launched in 2008. Arnold Kim of '' MacRumors'' worked on the site and its editor-in-chief was Eli Hodapp from 2009 to 2019. ''TouchArcade'' has been recognized as one of the best mobile game ...

'' awarded the game a 5/5 rating and said the game turns the "mundane task of learning chess into an extremely enjoyable experience". Reviewers thought the game would be good for helping newer and more inexperienced

players learn how the game works. Funnell believed ''Really Bad Chess'' was a good way for new players and chess veterans to learn how to understand chess, and eventually become better at the game through learning how to "read the board". Prior to release, Emma Kidwell of ''

Kill Screen ''Kill Screen'' (stylized as ''KILL SCREEN'') was a print and online magazine founded in 2009 by Jamin Warren and Chris Dahlen and owned by Kill Screen Media, Inc. It focused on video games and culture, but also included articles based on ente ...

'' said the game "should be great for beginners to learn about the joy of landing a checkmate without having to study openings".

References

;Further reading * https://www.theverge.com/2016/10/13/13262994/really-bad-chess-zach-gage-iphone-ipad * http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/gaming/2016/10/really_bad_chess_proves_that_games_don_t_need_to_be_fair.html

External links

* {{Zach Gage 2016 video games Android (operating system) games IOS games Noodlecake Games games Single-player video games Video games designed by Zach Gage Video games developed in the United States

Gameplay

Development

Reception

See also

References

External links