Bughouse Chess
Captured pieces go straight to your partner. Four players play on two boards at once, dropping pocket pieces to help their team. Play solo with three CPUs.
Bughouse Chess in 30 seconds
- GoalHelp your partner and checkmate an opponent on either board.
- CaptureA captured piece immediately joins your partner’s pocket.
- DropInstead of moving, drop a pocket piece on an empty square.
- ClockYour clock runs on your turn. A loss on either board is a team loss.
At a glance
| Item | This game |
|---|---|
| Players | 4 players |
| Play time | About 10 min |
| Type | Board |
| Ranked play | No |
| Practice against the CPU | Yes |
| Price | Free (no account needed) |
| Rights holder | A public-domain classic game |
| Last updated | 2026-10-31 |
How to play Bughouse Chess online with friends
- Tap "Play with friends"A party is created with a 6-character code. No account is needed.
- Send a link or QR codeShare it on LINE, or just read the code aloud.
- Everyone opens it in a browserOnce 4 players have joined, the host taps "Start".
Rule highlights
Setup, play, winning, and house rules
Setup
- Four players use two boards. CPUs fill empty seats. Each team has one white and one black player.
- The default is 3 minutes per player with no increment. You may wait, but your clock keeps running.
How to play
- Pieces move as in chess. Captures immediately pass to your partner.
- Dropping counts as a move. Pawns may drop only on ranks 2–7. Checking and mating drops are allowed.
- Promoted pieces have a P mark and pass as pawns when captured. A pawn dropped on its starting rank may advance two squares.
- If a future drop could block a check, you wait for a piece instead of being checkmated. With no legal move and no check, you also wait. Settings can disable waiting for a block or make stalemate a draw.
- Signals go only to your partner. Party chat is visible to everyone.
Winning
- Checkmate, a flag or resignation on either board ends the entire game: the other team wins.
- If two players on opposing teams flag at the same instant, the game is drawn. If both belong to one team, that team loses. There is no repetition, fifty-move or insufficient-material draw.
House rules
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time per player | Each player’s starting time. | 3 minutes | Changeable |
| Increment | Seconds added after each move. | None | Changeable |
| Wait for a block | Wait for a piece if a drop could block check, even with an empty pocket. When OFF, it is checkmate if no current move or drop can stop the check. | On | Changeable |
| No legal moves without check | What happens when a king is not in check but its player has no legal move or drop (stalemate). | Wait for a piece | Changeable |
| Legal move hints | Mark legal destinations for moves and drops. | On | Changeable |
| Swap colors | Swap colors on rematches, keeping the same teams. | On | Changeable |
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FAQ
How many players can play?
Four players. CPUs fill empty seats, so you can play solo with three CPUs.
What is the time control?
The default is 3 minutes per player with no increment. Before play, everyone sees the settings screen: choose 1, 2, 3, 5 or 10 minutes and 0, 2 or 5 seconds of increment. Settings are locked during play.
How long is a game?
About 10 minutes, depending on the time control and increment.
Can I talk to my partner?
Preset signals reach only your partner. Party chat and voice reach everyone.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. No app is needed — just open it in a browser. You can join the same party as people on a PC or tablet.
Can two people play?
Yes. This game supports 2 or more players.
Can I play against the computer (CPU)?
Yes. You can play against computer opponents without inviting anyone.
Can I play online with friends far away?
Yes. Start a party and send its invite link. Friends can join in their browsers without signing up.
Is there an app?
This is a free app that runs in your browser. No installation is needed.
Rights holder and physical edition
This is a public-domain classic game. The rules follow the standard reference rules.
Related games
Same type (Board)
Same player count
Last updated 2026-10-31 · Run by Qdan, Inc.