Totally Normal Chess
Rate itChess on a 6x6 board against a bot, where every few turns someone drafts a new rule that bends the game.
on totallynormalchess.com
Totally Normal Chess is a chess variant where the rules keep changing. The game starts as ordinary chess, but every three turns a player picks a new rule from a random selection, which can change how pieces move, set off explosions or summon new pieces. The Daily Mini puts everyone on the same 6x6 board against a bot, with the same chaos.
About Totally Normal Chess
Totally Normal Chess is a browser chess variant that says it was inspired by the streamer DougDoug. It begins as a regular game, but the rules do not stay put: every three turns a player chooses one new rule from a short random selection.
The rules can be small or drastic. Each draft offers three cards: some act at once, as Earthquake shifts every piece one square in a random direction, and others run for a set number of turns before they take effect. The site says rules can change how pieces move, add explosions, summon pieces or rewrite the board entirely. A panel next to the board lists the active rules so you can keep track of what now counts as legal.
The Daily Mini is the daily mode. It is played on a 6x6 board against a bot, and the site says everyone gets the same board and the same rule chaos that day. You win, lose or draw, and an archive calendar records your results with win, loss and draw totals and streaks so you can go back to days you missed.
Outside the daily you can play a bot as often as you like, invite a friend to a game, or play rated online games with a public leaderboard. It suits chess players who want something lighter than a normal game, and anyone who likes picking upgrades in a roguelike.
How to play Totally Normal Chess
- Open the Daily Mini and close the welcome card.
- Move your pieces as in normal chess against the bot by tapping a piece and then its square.
- Every three turns, pick one of three rule cards; some act at once, others last a set number of turns.
- Check the Active Rules panel to see how the game has changed.
- Play on to checkmate, or until the game ends in a loss or draw.
Screenshots
Tips
- Read each rule option carefully and think about whether it helps your pieces or the bot's more.
- On a 6x6 board the kings are close, so watch for quick attacks after a rule changes how pieces move.
- Use the archive to replay earlier days and learn how the rule drafts tend to go.
Questions
Is the Daily Mini the same for everyone?
Yes. The site says everyone gets the same board and the same rule chaos each day.
Who do I play against?
In the Daily Mini you play a bot. Outside the daily you can play more bot games, invite a friend, or play rated online games with a leaderboard.
Can I play past days?
Yes, the archive calendar lets you open earlier Daily Mini games and tracks your results.
Is it free?
Yes, it is free in the browser with no account needed.
Ratings and reviews
No ratings yet. Be the first to rate Totally Normal Chess.
Games like Totally Normal Chess
Really Bad Chess
A full game against the computer each day with shuffled armies, so normal chess plans need rethinking.
Really Bad Chess (app)
The same random-army chess as a phone app, with a Daily board played once against the computer.
Chess Attack
Also a daily on a 6x6 board against the computer, scored by how few moves you need to checkmate.
ZakuChess
A daily mid-game position played with pixel-art units against Stockfish, a playful take on a chess battle.
MorphMove
A small daily strategy board where you must win as the given side within a set number of moves.
Ronin
A numbered daily puzzle on a 6x6 chessboard, for a quieter chess fix after the chaos.
Shredder Chess Puzzle of the Day
Three daily chess tactics from the makers of the Shredder engine, at easy, medium and hard levels.
Boardle
Guess the whole winning line of a chess puzzle, with Wordle colours on each move.