How to play Handicap Chess (Odds Chess)

Learn the rules to Handicap Chess (Odds Chess) quickly and concisely - This video has no distractions, just the rules. For a refresher of the original Chess rules, check out this video:    • How to play Chess (2025 rules)  

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RULES:
The rules are the same as regular chess, except for these changes. For a refresher of those rules, check out this video. The purpose of a handicap, or odds, is to compensate for the difference in skill between two chess players. The handicap-giving player plays White unless otherwise indicated. If rooks are removed, the player giving the odds can still castle with the absent rook, moving only the king. These handicaps are ranked in an increasing level of severity.

1. Draw odds: the stronger player plays White, and draws are counted as wins for Black.
2. Odds of the move: The weaker player plays White.
3. Two moves: The weaker player plays White and starts the game by making two moves.
4. Pawn and move: The weaker player plays White; a black pawn (typically that on f7) is removed from the board.
5. Pawn and two moves: The weaker player plays the first two moves, and Black's pawn on f7 is removed.
6. Knight odds: One of the stronger player's knights is removed, usually the queen knight on b1 or b8.
7. Queen for a rook: the odds-giver's queen, and the odds-receiver's queen rook, are removed.
8. Rook odds: One of the stronger player's rooks is removed, usually the queen rook on a1 or a8.
9. Queen for a knight: the odds-giver's queen, and the odds-receiver's queen knight, are removed.
10. Rook and pawn: The stronger player's queen’s rook and f-pawn are removed.
11. Two minor pieces: The odds-giver chooses which of their two knights and/or bishops to remove.
12. Rook and knight: The stronger player's queen rook and queen knight are removed.
13. Queen odds: The stronger player's queen is removed.
14. Two rooks: Both rooks of the stronger player are removed.
15. Queen and rook: The stronger player's queen and queen rook are removed.
16. Queenside odds: All queenside pieces, excluding pawns, of the stronger player are removed.
17. Strong king: The weaker player's king may move up to two squares in any direction in a straight line.
18. Pawn and three moves: White plays the first three moves, and Black plays without the f7-pawn.

In odds games with extra moves (like pawn and two moves, or pawn and three moves), the odds-receiver cannot move beyond the fourth row with those moves. You can also impose unequal time restrictions to use as a handicap. For example the stronger player has 2 minutes and the weaker player has 10 minutes.