Atomic Chess: Explosive Strategy & How to Win
Chess Where Every Capture Is a Bomb
Atomic Chess takes elegant chess and adds one rule that changes everything: every capture triggers an explosion. Both the capturing piece and all surrounding pieces in a 3×3 area are destroyed — except pawns.
Atomic Chess Rules
- All standard chess rules apply with modifications
- Explosions — Every capture destroys all non-pawn pieces in surrounding 8 squares
- King safety — Kings cannot capture
- Win condition — Explode the opponent's king OR standard checkmate
Key Strategies
1. The Adjacent Attack
Get a piece adjacent to the enemy king, then capture any piece nearby. The explosion radius will destroy the king.
2. Pawn Power
Pawns survive explosions and become incredibly valuable. A well-placed pawn chain protects your king from explosion chains.
3. Think Defensively
Losing a piece near your king means instant death. Always consider the explosion radius before allowing captures near your king.
How Atomic Compares
Atomic shares DNA with other chess variants that add dramatic tactical elements. While Atomic adds explosive captures, Knight Chase adds power-ups and a disappearing board. Both create games where the board state changes dramatically each turn.
Three-Check Chess shares Atomic's aggressive, attack-first philosophy. Where to play: Lichess.org for Atomic, or download Knight Chase free for a different kind of explosive experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the rules of Atomic Chess?
Every capture triggers an explosion destroying all pieces (except pawns) in the surrounding 3x3 area. The king cannot capture. You can win by exploding your opponent's king.
Where can I play Atomic Chess?
Atomic Chess is available free on Lichess.org. For a chess variant with power-ups and dynamic mechanics, try Knight Chase on iOS and Android.
Ready to Break the Board?
Knight Chase is free on iOS and Android. Experience the most dynamic chess variant ever made.
Download Knight Chase