Chess960

Fischer Random Chess (or Chess960) is a variant of chess invented and advocated by former World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer, introduced in Buenos Aires, Argentina in June 1996. It employs the same board and pieces as standard chess, however the starting position of the pieces on the players' home ranks is randomized. The random setup (if not the same as the classic starting position) renders the prospect of obtaining an advantage through the memorization of opening lines impracticable, compelling players to rely instead on their talent and creativity.

Randomizing the main pieces had long been known as Shuffle Chess, but Chess960 introduced new rules that preserve full castling options in all starting positions, resulting in 960 unique starting setups. To maintain the character of standard chess, a player's bishops start on opposite-color squares, and the king starts on a square between the rooks.