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War Chest
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Atomic Chess
1995
Rules assistance for Atomic Chess
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- Complexity 2.7/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Atomic Chess
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Atomic Chess is a board game released in 1995 for 2 players. Its main mechanics are Grid Movement.
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About the game
Atomic chess is a chess variant. Standard rules of chess apply, with the exception that all captures result in an "explosion" by which the capturing piece or pawn is removed, and all Black and White pieces in adjacent squares are also removed. Pawns in adjacent squares are not removed. The game is won by either checkmate or the explosion of the enemy King. Because Kings cannot voluntarily destroy themselves, they are forbidden to capture enemy pieces and pawns.
Questions and answers
Atomic Chess supports 2 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.
Atomic Chess has a complexity rating of 2.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light 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.
Atomic Chess belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Grid Movement. 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 catalogue lists Atomic 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.