TOURNAMENT RULES FOR
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CHESS

by Jens Meder & friends

Edition December 2013
Content of Tournament Rules unchanged since November 1995

die TURNIERREGELN FÜR DREIDIMENSIONALES SCHACH auf Deutsch
This page in Česky

INTRODUCTION - RULES - SAMPLE GAME - RECORD OF CHANGES - EPILOGUE

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INTRODUCTION

The Laws of Chess cannot cover all possible situations that may arise during a game, nor can they regulate all administrative questions. Where cases are not precisely regulated by an Article of the Laws, it should be possible to reach a correct decision by studying analogous situations which are discussed in the Laws.

The Laws assume that arbiters have the necessary competence, sound judgement and absolute objectivity. Too detailed a rule might deprive the arbiter of his freedom of judgement and thus prevent him from finding the solution to a problem dictated by fairness, logic and special factors.

In these Laws the words 'he', 'him' and 'his' include 'she' and 'her'.

Three-dimensional chess is an extremely beautiful and logical game, known and respected from one edge of the galaxy to another. From Cestus III to the planet Vulcan, from Sol III to the very heart of the Klingon Empire, it is played by numerous forms of intelligent life and honored for its cool logic. However, the basic form of this game is to be found on 20th century Earth, where it was developed from "normal", two-dimensional chess. Nevertheless the Romulans say: "You haven't experienced three-dimensional chess until you read the rules in original Romulan."

1.1 Three-dimensional chess is played between two opponents who move pieces or attack boards alternately on a game set called a '3D-Chessboard'. The player with the white pieces commences the game. A player is said to 'have the move', when his opponent's move has been completed.

1.2 The objective of each player is to place the opponent's king 'under attack' in such a way that the opponent has no legal move which would avoid the 'capture' of the king on the following move. The player who achieves this is said to have 'checkmated' the opponent and to have won the game. The opponent who has been checkmated has lost the game.

1.3 If the position is such that neither player can possibly checkmate, the game is drawn.

2.1 The 3D-Chessboard is composed of 3 main boards and 4 movable attack boards.

2.2 A main board is composed of a 4x4 grid of 16 equal squares alternately clear (the 'white' squares) and coloured (the 'black' squares).

2.3 An attack board is composed of a 2x2 grid of 4 squares.

2.4 By looking at the 3D-Chessboard from the top, the 3 main boards form one board, 8 squares long and 4 squares wide. The lower-most board is termed "White's Board (W)", the middle board is the "Neutral Board (N)" and the top board is "Black's Board (B)".

2.5 The attack boards start the game on the rear pins of the White and Black Boards, and are referred to as "Queen's Level (QL)" and "King's Level (KL)" depending on which side of the board they are located.

2.6 At the beginning of the game one player has 16 light-coloured pieces (the 'white' pieces) and 2 'white' attack boards; the other has 16 dark-coloured pieces (the 'black' pieces) and 2 marked ('black') attack boards.
The pieces are as follows:
a white king, a white queen, two white rooks, two white bishops, two white knights, eight white pawns;
a black king, a black queen, two black rooks, two black bishops, two black knights, eight black pawns.

2.7 The initial position of the pieces on the chessboard is as follows:

2.8 By looking from the top: The vertical columns of squares are called 'files' (z, a, b, c, d, e). The ten horizontal rows of squares are called 'ranks'. A straight line of squares of the same colour, touching corner to corner, is called a 'diagonal'.
Due to the attack boards a 3D-Chessboard has a very individual shape, which may vary. Consequently, there are squares which are part-time or permanently (e.g. b0) non-existent. Also, non-existent squares are part of 'files', 'ranks' and 'diagonals'.

3.2	(a) The queen moves to any square along the file, the rank or a diagonal on which it stands. (b) The rook moves to any square along the file or the rank on which it stands. (c) The bishop moves to any square along a diagonal on which it stands.

When making these moves the queen, rook or bishop cannot move over any intervening pieces. (See Article 3.1(c))

3.3 The knight moves to one of the squares nearest to that on which it stands but not on the same rank, file or diagonal. It does not pass directly over any intervening square.

3.4

(a) The pawn moves forward to the unoccupied square immediately in front of it on the same file, or (b) on its first move the pawn may advance two squares along the same file provided both squares are unoccupied (a pawn which has been moved by the move of an attack board (see Article 3.6) is NO LONGER allowed to move two squares) , or (c) the pawn moves to a square occupied by an opponent's piece which is diagonally in front of it on an adjacent file, capturing that piece. (d) A pawn attacking a square crossed by an opponent's pawn which has advanced two squares in one move from its original square may capture this opponent's pawn as though the latter had been moved only one square. This capture can be made only on the move following this advance and is called an 'en passant' capture. According to Article 3.1(a) you have the option of deciding which level you wish the pawn to land on. A pawn which has been moved by the move of an attack board (see Article 3.6) cannot be captured 'en passant'. (e) (i) When a pawn reaches the rank furthest from its starting position it must be exchanged as part of the same move for a queen, rook, bishop or knight of the same colour. The player's choice is not restricted to pieces that have been captured previously. This exchange of a pawn for another piece is called 'promotion' and the effect of the new piece is immediate. (ii) Which rank is considered 'furthest' depends on the specific situation during the game. For files b and c, rank 1 (or 8) would be considered 'furthest'. For files z and e, rank 0 (or 9) would always be 'furthest'. For files a and d, the furthest rank varies depending on whether an attack board overhanging the corner is present. If present, the furthest rank is 0 (or 9). If not present, the furthest rank is 1 (or 8). (iii) A special situation comes up, if a white pawn is located on a8B or d8B (or a black pawn on a1W / d1W) and is not 'promoted', because an attack board is overhanging the corner. If the attack board later on leaves that corner, the pawn must be 'promoted' before the next move is initiated.(This implies that such an attack board move is prevented temporarily, if this move would place the king of its own colour under attack - see Article 3.5(b).)

3.5

(a)The king can move in two different ways, by: (i) moving to any adjoining square that is not attacked by one or more of the opponent's pieces, or (ii) 'castling'. This is a move of the king and either rook of the same colour on the same rank, counting as a single move of the king and executed as follows: To castle on the king's side: The king exchances its place with the rook. To castle on the queens's side: The king is transferred from its original square to the square beside the rook, then that rook is transferred to the square the king has vacated. (1) Castling is illegal: [a] as first move, or [b] if the king has already been moved, or [c] with a rook that has already been moved. (2) Castling is prevented for the time being: [a] if the square on which the king stands, or the square which it is to occupy, is attacked by one or more of the opponent's pieces. [b] if there is any piece between the king and the rook with which castling is to be effected. (b) The king is said to be 'in check', if it is under attack by one or more of the opponent's pieces, even if such pieces cannot themselves move. Declaring a check is not obligatory. A player must not make a move which places or leaves his own king in check.

3.6 An attack board can only be moved, if it holds no more than one piece (regardless which piece that is). Attack boards are controlled by the player whose piece is located on it. Empty attack boards are the property of the original owner (marking). The movement of an attack board is similar to the move of a rook. The distance is any adjacent pin. "Adjacent" means the next pins of the same or the next main board. (Levels 1 & 6 have three, levels 2 & 5 have four, and levels 3 & 4 have five adjacent pins.) Also, only empty attack boards can be moved to an inverted (i.e. backward) pin position. Occupied attack boards can only move forward or to the side. The diagram to the right should help to better understand the meaning of "adjacent pin". A 'black' attack board located at Queen's Level 6 (QL6) has three adjacent pins: QL5 and QL4 can be reached with a move forward, King's Level 6 (KL6) can be reached with a move to the side. A 'white' attack board located at QL3 has five adjacent pins: QL5, QL4 and QL2 in front, KL3 beside and QL1 inverted (i.e. backward).

4.1 Players should feel free to use more than one hand when executing moves (such as when moving attack boards) due to the special nature of the 3D-Chess-Set.

4.2 Provided that he first expresses his intention (e.g. by saying "j'adoube"), the player having the move may adjust one or more pieces on their squares.

4.3

Except as provided in Article 4.2, if the player having the move deliberately touches on the chessboard

(a) one or more pieces of the same colour, he must move or capture the first piece touched that can be moved or captured, or (b) one piece of each colour, he must capture the opponent's piece with his piece or, if this is illegal, move or capture the first piece touched which can be moved or captured. If it is unclear the player's own piece shall be considered to have been touched before his opponent's.

4.4

(a) If a player deliberately touches his king and a rook he must castle on that side if it is legal. (b) If a player deliberately touches a rook and then his king he is not allowed to castle on that side on that move and the situation shall be governed by Article 4.3. (c) If a player, intending to castle touches the king or king and a rook at the same time, but castling on that side is illegal, the player must choose either to castle on the other side, provided that castling on that side is legal, or to move his king. If the king has no legal move, the player is free to make any legal move.

4.5 If none of the pieces touched can be moved or captured, the player may make any legal move.

4.6 If the opponent violates Article 4.3 or 4.4 the player cannot claim this after he himself deliberately touches a piece.

4.7 When, as a legal move or part of a legal move, a piece has been released on a square, it cannot then be moved to another square. The move is considered to be made when all the relevant requirements of Article 3 have been fulfilled.

5.1	(a) The game is won by the player who has checkmated his opponent's king with a legal move. This immediately ends the game. (b) The game is won by the player whose opponent declares he resigns. This immediately ends the game.

5.2 The game is drawn when the player to move has no legal move and his king is not in check. The game is said to end in 'stalemate'. This immediately ends the game.

5.3 The game is drawn upon agreement between the two players during the game. This immediately ends the game. (See Article 9.1)

5.4 The game may be drawn if the identical position is about to appear or has appeared on the chessboard three times. (See Article 9.2)

5.5 The game may be drawn if the last 50 consecutive moves have been made by each player without the movement of any pawn and without the capture of any piece. (See Article 9.3)

TOURNAMENT RULES

6.1 'Chess clock' means a clock with two time displays, connected to each other in such a way that only one of them can run at one time. 'Clock' in the Laws of Chess means one of the two time displays. 'Flag fall' means the expiry of the allotted time for a player.

6.2 When using a chess clock, each player must make a certain number or all moves in an allotted period of time; or may be allocated an additional amount of time after each move. All this must be specified in advance. The time saved by a player during one period is added to his time available for the next period, except in the 'time delay' mode. In the time delay mode both players receive an allotted 'main thinking time'. They also receive a 'fixed extra time' for every move. The count down of the main time only commences after the fixed time has expired. Provided the player stops his clock before the expiry of the fixed time, the main thinking time does not change, irrespective of the proportion of the fixed time used.

6.3 Each time display has a 'flag'. Immediately after a flag falls, the requirements of Article 8.1 must be checked.

6.4 The arbiter decides where the chess clock is placed.

6.5 At the time determined for the start of the game the clock of the player who has the white pieces is started.

6.6 The player shall lose the game if he arrives at the chessboard more than one hour after the scheduled start of the session (unless the rules of the competition specify or the arbiter decides otherwise).

6.7

(a) During the game each player, having made his move on the chessboard, shall stop his own clock and start his opponent's clock. A player must always be allowed to stop his clock. His move is not considered to have been completed until he has done so, unless the made move ends the game. (See Articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3) The time between making the move on the chessboard and stopping his own clock and starting his opponent's clock is regarded as part of the time allotted to the player. (b) A player must stop his clock with the same hand as that with which he made his move. It is forbidden to keep the finger on the button or to 'hover' over it. (c) The players must handle the chess clock properly. It is forbidden to punch it forcibly, to pick it up or to knock it over. Improper clock handling shall be penalised in accordance with Article 13.4.

6.8 A flag is considered to have fallen when the arbiter observes the fact or when a valid claim to that effect has been made by either player.

6.9 Except where Articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 apply, if a player does not complete the prescribed number of moves in the allotted time, the game is lost by the player. However, the game is drawn, if the position is such that the opponent cannot checkmate the player's king by any possible series of legal moves, even with the most unskilled counterplay.

6.10 Every indication given by the clocks is considered to be conclusive in the absence of any evident defect. A chess clock with an evident defect shall be replaced. The arbiter shall use his best judgement when determining the times to be shown on the replacement chess clock.

6.11 If both flags have fallen and it is impossible to establish which flag fell first, the game shall continue.

6.12	(a) If the game needs to be interrupted, the arbiter shall stop the clocks. (b) A player may stop the clocks in order to seek the arbiter's assistance. (c) The arbiter shall decide when the game is to be restarted.

6.13 If an irregularity occurs and/or the pieces have to be restored to a previous position, the arbiter shall use his best judgement to determine the times to be shown on the clocks.

6.14 Screens, monitors, or demonstration boards showing the current position on the chessboard, the moves and the number of moves made, and clocks which also show the number of moves, are allowed in the playing hall. However, the player may not make a claim based on anything shown in this manner.

7.1 If during a game it is found that the initial position of the pieces was incorrect, the game shall be cancelled and a new game played.

7.2 If a game has begun with colours reversed then it shall continue, unless the arbiter rules otherwise.

7.3 If a player displaces one or more pieces, he shall re-establish the correct position on his own time. If necessary the opponent has the right to restart the player's clock without making a move in order to make sure the player re-establishes the correct position on his own time.

7.4 If during a game it is found that an illegal move has been made, or that pieces have been displaced from their squares, the position before the irregularity shall be re-instated. If the position immediately before the irregularity cannot be identified the game shall continue from the last identifiable position prior to the irregularity. The clocks shall be adjusted according to Article 6.13 and, in the case of an illegal move, Article 4.3 applies to the move replacing the illegal move. The game shall then continue.

8.1 In the course of play each player is required to record his own moves and those of his opponent, move after move, as clearly and legibly as possible, in the algebraic notation (Appendix E), on the scoresheet prescribed for the competition.

A player may reply to his opponent's move before recording it, if he so wishes. He must record his previous move before making another. The offer of a draw must be recorded on the scoresheet by both players.(Appendix E.12) If a player due to physical or religious reasons, is unable to keep score, an amount of time, decided by the arbiter, shall be deducted from his allotted time at the beginning of the game.

8.2 The scoresheet shall be visible to the arbiter at all times.

8.3 The scoresheets are the property of the organisers of the event.

8.4 If a player has less than five minutes left on his clock and does not have additional time of 30 seconds or more added with each move, then he is not obliged to meet the requirements of Article 8.1. Immediately after one flag has fallen the player must update his scoresheet completely.

8.5

(a) If neither player is required to keep score under Article 8.4, the arbiter or an assistant should try to be present and keep score. In this case, immediately after one flag has fallen, the arbiter shall stop the clocks. Then both players shall update their scoresheets, using the arbiter's or the opponent's scoresheet. (b) If only one player is not required to keep score under Article 8.4, he must update his scoresheet completely as soon as a flag has fallen. Provided it is the player's move, he may use his opponent's scoresheet. The player is not permitted to move until after he has completed his own scoresheet and returned his opponent's. (c) If no complete scoresheet is available, the players must reconstruct the game on a second chessboard under the control of the arbiter or an assistant, who shall first record the actual game position before reconstruction takes place.

8.6 If the scoresheets cannot be brought up to date showing that a player has overstepped the allotted time, the next move made shall be considered as the first of the following time period, unless there is evidence that more moves have been made.

9.1 A player can propose a draw after making a move on the chessboard. He must do so before stopping his own clock and starting his opponent's clock. An offer at any other time during play is still valid, but Article 12.5 must be considered. No conditions can be attached to the offer. In both cases the offer cannot be withdrawn and remains valid until the opponent accepts it, rejects it orally, rejects it by making a move, or the game is concluded in some other way.

The offer of a draw shall be noted by each player on his scoresheet with the symbol (=).

9.2 The game is drawn, upon a correct claim by the player having the move, when the same position, for at least the third time (not necessarily by repetition of moves)

9.3 The game is drawn, upon a correct claim by the player having the move, if

9.4 If the player makes a move without having claimed the draw he loses the right to claim, as in Article 9.2 or 9.3, on that move .

9.5 If a player claims a draw as in Article 9.2 or 9.3 he shall immediately stop both clocks. He is not allowed to withdraw his claim.

9.6 The game is drawn when a position is reached from which a checkmate cannot occur by any possible series of legal moves, even with the most unskilled play. This immediately ends the game.

10.1 A 'quickplay finish' is the last phase of a game, when all the remaining moves must be made in a limited time.

10.2 If the player has less than two minutes left on his clock, he may claim a draw before his flag falls. He shall stop the clocks and summon the arbiter.

10.3 Illegal moves do not necessarily lose. After the action taken under Article 7.4, for a first illegal move by a player the arbiter shall give two minutes extra time to his opponent; for a second illegal move by the same player the arbiter shall give another two minutes extra time to his opponent; for a third illegal move by the same player, the arbiter shall declare the game lost by the player who played incorrectly.

10.4 If both flags have fallen and it is impossible to establish which flag fell first the game is drawn.

11.1 A player who wins his game scores one point (1), a player who loses his game scores no points (0) and a player who draws his game scores a half point (½).

12.1 High standards of etiquette are expected of the players.

12.2

(a) During play the players are forbidden to make use of any notes, sources of information, advice, or to analyse on another chessboard. (b) It is stricly forbidden to bring mobile phones or other electronical means of communication, not authorised by the arbiter, into the playing venue. If a player's mobile phone rings in the playing venue during play, that player shall lose the game. The score of the opponent shall be determined by the arbiter. (c) The scoresheet shall be used only for recording the moves, the times of the clocks, the offer of a draw, and matters relating to a claim and other relevant data.

12.3 No analysis is permitted in the playing room when play is in progress, whether by players or spectators. Players who have finished their games shall be considered to be spectators.

12.4 The players are not allowed to leave the 'playing venue' without permission from the arbiter. The playing venue is defined as the playing area, rest rooms, refreshment area, area set aside for smoking and other places as designated by the arbiter. The player having the move is not allowed to leave the playing area without permission of the arbiter.

12.5 It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever; this includes the persistent offer of a draw.

12.6 Infraction of any part of the Articles 12.2 to 12.5 shall lead to penalties in accordance with Article 13.4.

12.7 The game is lost by a player who persistently refuses to comply with the Laws of Chess. The opponent's score shall be decided by the arbiter.

12.8 If both players are found guilty according to Article 12.7, the game shall be declared lost by both players.

13.1 The arbiter shall see that the Laws of Chess are strictly observed.

13.2 The arbiter shall act in the best interest of the competition. He should ensure that a good playing environment is maintained and that the players are not disturbed. He shall supervise the progress of the competition.

13.3 The arbiter shall observe the games, especially when the players are short of time, enforce decisions he has made and impose penalties on players where appropriate.

13.4	Penalties open to the arbiter include: (a) a warning, (b) increasing the remaining time of the opponent, (c) reducing the remaining time of the offending player, (d) declaring the game to be lost, (e) expulsion from the event.

13.5 The arbiter may award either or both players additional time in the event of external disturbance of the game.

13.6 The arbiter must not intervene in a game to indicate the number of moves made, except in applying Article 8.5, when at least one player has used all his time. The arbiter shall refrain from informing a player that his opponent has made a move, or that he has failed to press his clock.

13.7 Spectators and players in other games are not to speak about or otherwise interfere in a game. If necessary, the arbiter may expel offenders from the playing room.

APPENDIX

A1.

(a) If a game is not finished at the end of the time prescribed for play, the arbiter shall require the player having the move to 'seal' that move. The player must write his move in unambiguous notation on his scoresheet, put his scoresheet and that of his opponent in an envelope, seal the envelope and only then stop his clock without starting the opponent's clock. Until he has stopped the clocks, the player retains the right to change his sealed move. If, after being told by the arbiter to seal his move, the player makes a move on the chessboard, he must write that same move on his scoresheet as his sealed move. (b) A player having the move, who adjourns the game before the end of the playing session, shall be considered to have sealed at the nominal time for the end of the session.

A2.

The following shall be indicated upon the envelope: (a) the names of the players (b) the position immediately before the sealed move (c) the time used by each player (d) the name of the player who has sealed the move (e) the number of the sealed move (f) the offer of a draw, if the proposal was made before the adjournment of the game (g) the date, time and venue of resumption of play.

A3. The arbiter shall check the accuracy of the information on the envelope and is responsible for the safe-keeping of it.

A4. If a player proposes a draw after his opponent has sealed his move, the offer is valid until the opponent has accepted it or rejected it as in Article 9.1.

A5. Before the game is to be resumed, the position immediately before the sealed move shall be set up on the chessboard, and the times used by each player when the game was adjourned shall be indicated on the clocks.

A6. If prior to the resumption the game is agreed drawn, or if one of the players notifies the arbiter that he resigns, the game is concluded.

A7. The envelope shall be opened only when the player who must reply to the sealed move is present.

A8.	Except in the cases mentioned in Article 6.9 and 9.6, the game is lost by a player whose recording of his sealed move (a) is ambiguous, or (b) is false, in such a way that its true significance is impossible to establish, or (c) is illegal.

A9.

If, at the agreed resumption time (a) the player having to reply to the sealed move is present, the envelope is opened, the sealed move made on the chessboard and his clock started. (b) the player having to reply to the sealed move is not present, his clock shall be started. On his arrival, he may stop his clock and summon the arbiter. The envelope is then opened and the sealed move made on the chessboard. His clock is then restarted. (c) the player who sealed the move is not present, his opponent has the right to record his reply on the scoresheet, seal his scoresheet in a fresh envelope, stop his clock and start his opponent's clock instead of making his reply in the normal manner. If so, the envelope shall be handed to the arbiter for safe-keeping and opened on the opponent's arrival.

A10.

The game is lost by the player who arrives more than one hour late for the resumption of an adjourned game. However, if the player who made the sealed move is the late player, the game is decided otherwise, if: (a) the absent player has won the game by virtue of the fact that the sealed move is checkmate, or (b) the absent player has produced a drawn game by virtue of the fact that the sealed move is stalemate, or a position as described in Article 9.6 has arisen on the chessboard, or (c) the player present at the chessboard has lost the game according to Article 6.9.

A11

(a) If the envelope containing the sealed move is missing, the game shall continue from the adjourned position, with the clock times recorded at the time of adjournment. If the time used by each player cannot be re-established the clocks shall be set by the arbiter. The player who sealed the move makes the move he states he sealed on the chessboard. (b) If it is impossible to re-establish the position, the game is annulled and a new game must be played.

A12. If, upon resumption of the game, either player points out before making his first move, that the time used has been incorrectly indicated on either clock, the error must be corrected. If the error is not then established the game continues without correction unless the arbiter feels that the consequences will be too severe.

A13. The duration of each resumption session shall be controlled by the arbiter's time piece. The starting time and finishing time shall be announced in advance.

B1. A 'rapidplay game' is one where all the moves must be made in a fixed time between 15 to 60 minutes.

B2. Play shall be governed by the Laws of Chess, except where they are overridden by the following Laws.

B3. Players do not need to record the moves.

B4. Once each player has made three moves, no claim can be made regarding incorrect piece placement, orientation of the chessboard or clock setting.

B5. The arbiter shall make a ruling according to Articles 4 and 10, only if requested to do so by one or both players.

B6. The flag is considered to have fallen when a valid claim to that effect has been made by a player. The arbiter shall refrain from signalling a flag fall.

B7. To claim a win on time, the claimant must stop both clocks and notify the arbiter. For the claim to be successful, the claimant's flag must remain up and his opponent's flag down after the clocks have been stopped.

B8. If both flags have fallen, the game is drawn.

C1. A 'blitz game' is one where all the moves must be made in a fixed time less than 15 minutes.

C2. Play shall be governed by the Rapidplay Laws as in Appendix B except where they are overridden by the following Laws.

C3. An illegal move is completed once the opponent's clock has been started. The opponent is then entitled to claim a win before making his own move. Once the opponent has made his own move, an illegal move cannot be corrected.

C4. In order to win, a player must have 'mating potential'. This is defined as adequate forces eventually to produce a position legally, possibly by 'helpmate', where an opponent having the move cannot avoid being checkmated in one move. Thus two knights and a king against a lone king is insufficient, but a rook and king against a knight and king is sufficient.

C5. Article 10.2 does not apply.

D1. Where games are played as in Article 10, a player may claim a draw when he has less than two minutes left on his clock and before his flag falls. This concludes the game. He may claim on the basis

Hereby the use of the Algebraic chess notation is recommended for tournaments and for chess literature and periodicals. Scoresheets using a notation system other than algebraic may not be used as evidence in cases where normally the scoresheet of a player is used for that purpose. An arbiter who observes that a player is using a notation system other than the algebraic should inform the player in question of this requirement.

E1. The files (from left to right for White and from right to left for Black) are indicated by the small letters, z, a, b, c, d and e, respectively.

E2. The ten ranks (from front to back for White and from back to front for Black) are numbered 0,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, respectively. Consequently, in the initial position the white pieces and pawns are placed on ranks 0, 1 and 2; the black pieces and pawns on ranks 7, 8 and 9.

E3. The levels are indicated by capital letters: B = 'Black's' Board, N = 'Neutral' Board, W = 'White's' Board.

The position of an attack board is indicated by capital letters and a number:

(from left to right for White and from right to left for Black) QL = Queen's Level and KL = King's Level, and

(from front to back for White and from back to front for Black) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (See diagrams, Articles 2 and 3)

E4. As a consequence of the previous rules, each of the squares is invariably indicated by a unique combination of a letter, a number and a level declaration.

E5. Each piece is indicated by the first letter, a capital letter, of its name. Example: K = king, Q = queen, R = rook,

B = bishop, N = knight. (In the case of the knight, for the sake of convenience, N is used.)

E6. For the letter of the name of a piece (or attack board position) , each player is free to use the first letter of the name which is commonly used in his country. Examples: F = fou (French for bishop), L = loper (Dutch for bishop). In printed periodicals, the use of figurines for the pieces is recommended.

E7. Pawns are not indicated by their first letter, but are recognized by the absence of such a letter. Examples: d6B, c4N, a4W.

E8. Attack boards are recognized by the absence of the file and rank declaration. Examples: QL1, QL5, KL3.

E9. Each move of a piece (or of an attack board) is indicated by (a) the first letter of the name of the piece in question and (b) the square of arrival. There is no hyphen between (a) and (b). Examples: Bd5N, Nc6B, Rd0KL1. In the case of pawns, only the square of arrival is indicated. Examples: d6B, c4N, a4W. In the case of attack boards, only the pin of arrival is indicated. Examples: QL1, QL5, KL3.

E10. When a piece makes a capture, an x is inserted between

E11. If two identical pieces can move to the same square, the piece that is moved is indicated as follows:

In the case of capture, an x must be inserted between (b) and (c).

Examples:

If a capture takes place on the square c5N, the previous examples are changed by the insertion of an x:

E12. If two pawns (on different files) can capture the same piece or pawn of the opponent, the pawn that is moved is indicated by

Example: If there are white pawns on squares a3W and c3W and a black pawn or piece on the square b4N, the notation for White's move is either axb4N or cxb4N, as the case may be.

If two pawns are on same ranks and files, but different levels, the pawn that is moved is indicated by

In the case of capture, an x must be inserted between (b) and (c).

Example: If there are white pawns on squares a3W and a3N, the notation for White's move is either aWa4N or aNa4N, as the case may be.
If a black pawn or piece is captured on the square b4N, the notation for White's move is either aWxb4N or aNxb4N, as the case may be.

E13. If two attack boards can move to the same pin, the attack board that is moved is indicated by

Example: If there are attack boards (each occupied with only one white pawn) on KL1 and QL3, and one of them moves to KL3, the notation for White's move is either KL1-KL3 or QL3-KL3, as the case may be.

E14. In the case of the promotion of a pawn, the actual pawn move is indicated, followed immediately by the first letter of the new piece. Examples: d8BQ, e9KL6N, b1WB, d0KL1R.

E15. The offer of a draw shall be marked as (=).

Essential Abbreviations:
0-0 : castling with rook e0KL1 or rook e9KL6 (kingside castling)
0-0-0 : castling with rook z0QL1 or rook z9QL6 (queenside castling)
x : captures
+: check
++ or # : checkmate
e.p. : captures "en passant"

Sample game:

1.	b4N	b5B
2.	c3W	a6N
3.	Nc2W	c6B
4.	a3N	a6S
5.	a3W	Bd6N
6.	Ba2W	Nc7B
7.	Qb1W	Qb8B
8.	Nb2W	Ra9QL6
9.	Ra0QL1	0-0
10.	Ra1W	Nb7B
11.	Nd4W	a5B
12.	Nd3N	d6B
13.	Nxc6B	Qa8B
14.	Na5N	Nxa5N
15.	bxa5N	a4W
16.	Nb4N	a5B
17.	Nd3N (=)	.... etc.

RECORD OF CHANGES

DATE	ARTICLE	DESCRIPTION
10/2005	12	mobile phone ban implemented wording partly adjusted to actual FIDE Laws of Chess
	3.1(b)	extended
	3.4(e)(iii)	added
	3.6	example reworked
12/2005	3	changed article to Article
04/2006 05/2006 06/2006	INTRO, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7. 2.8, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 4.1, 6.9, 12.2, E, E2, E3, E8, E10, E11, E13, EPILOGUE	misprint corrections / rewording
04/2006 07/2007	3.1(a) to 3.1(b)	misprint correction
08/2008	E12	extended
	sample game	misprint corrections
04/2010	Variants	3D-Chess960-variants added
08/2010	Variants	misprint correction
12/2010	Variants V.P6.	misprint corrections / rewording
12/2010	V.P5.3.3(c)	misprint correction
12/2010	V.P7.	variant added
12/2013	3.4	misprint corrections / rewording
06/2014	title	link to Czech version added

EPILOGUE

Besides rules, the thing you need most to play 3D-Chess is a 3D-Chess-Set. Unfortunately all games which are occasionally offered for sale are not inexpensive. As a "real" alternative there are Manufacture Guides for building your own 3D-Chessboard or letting a friend build it. I like also to mention here that there is some freedom to the appearance of the 3D-Chessboard. The only thing which matters is the number of squares and their position in relation to one another.

As futher supplement beside the rules I'd like to offer "3D-Chess Problems" of different levels - for beginners as well as for advanced players. When creating some of the problems I noticed myself, differences from "normal" chess.

Questions and remarks concerning the rules are always welcome. Please don't hesitate to contact me:

Jens Meder
Weichselweg 9
85241 Hebertshausen
GERMANY
jens.meder@gmx.de

In case of requests by "normal" mail, please insert a self addressed envelope and enough international reply coupons. Thanks.

Another version of the same 3D-Chess-Rules is available on the 3D-Chess-Site of Michael Klein:
http://www.3dschach.de

back to 3D-Chess overview

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