- BGG rank
- BGG #182
- BGG rating
- 7.8
War Chest
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,080
- BGG rating
- 6.5
3 Man Chess
2004
Rules assistance for 3 Man Chess
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for 3 Man Chess
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
3 Man Chess is a board game released in 2004 for 3 players and 60 minutes per game. It was designed by Clif King and its main mechanics are Grid Movement and Team-Based Game.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #317
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Santorini
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #894
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,310
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Santorini: Pantheon Edition
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,613
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Apotheca
- 1–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,807
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Santorini: Second Edition
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,205
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Feudal
- 2–6 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1967
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,216
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Less: Like Chess but Less!
- 2–4 players
- 2–30 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,981
- BGG rating
- 5.8
The Phantom Society
- 2–4 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.5/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,898
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Dance of Muses
- 2–4 players
- 25 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,582
- BGG rating
- 6.4
TacTile
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,895
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Nika
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2014
About the game
3 Man Chess is played “in the round,” that is, the field of play is circular. For the most part, 3 Man Chess is played just like conventional Chess. – there was NEVER any intention of trying to make the game “better” because that can’t be done. However, being able to play with three minds interacting creates situations that never arise in conventional Chess. 3 Man Chess’ circular game board consists of 6 concentric ranks of 24 files and an open central “void” that pieces may pass, but not stop on. There are teardrop shaped curves drawn on the board to help diagonal moves navigate the “void.” 3 Man Chess uses conventional chess teams (three of them!) – 16 pieces that follow all of their traditional rules; 8 pawns start on rank #2 protecting 2 rooks, 2 knights, 2 bishops, a queen and a king which start on rank #1 (the outermost rank). The teams are separated from each other by “moats” and “creeks” that are impassable at the start of the game. Diagonal moves follow the drawn guidelines, passing across the center to the opposite “spoke.” Straight moves may also pass across the central “void,” or move around the circular ranks. After just a couple of turns around the board, strategy becomes intensely complex and fascinating! An unexpected move might well result in a cascading massacre. Defense is crucial since a diagonal move through the center, or a horizontal move around the center can sneak up behind you. Your two opponents can team up to checkmate you, or ultimately you can checkmate both of them at the same time! —description from the publisher
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- (Unknown)
- 3 Man Chess
Questions and answers
3 Man Chess supports 3 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for 3 Man Chess is 60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
3 Man Chess has a complexity rating of 3.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
3 Man Chess belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Grid Movement and Team-Based Game. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of 3 Man Chess are: Clif King. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists 3 Man Chess as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.