Make three piles: Classic / Golden / Radiant. The recommended order is Classic → Golden → Radiant, or set a random order using the level-combination die.
A Jumble plays like a standard chess game, except that three cards are drawn by each player at the end of turns 1, 8 and 15 (one turn = one White move + one Black move).
Turns are counted with the turn counter. Without a turn counter, an easy method is to place a pawn on the numbers along the edge of the board and move it up one square each turn: draw when it reaches 8, then bring it back down and draw again when it returns to 1.
The game ends by checkmate or draw according to standard chess rules.
An order-selection die is included with the deluxe version of the game (in addition to a chessboard and a turn counter). This die sets the order in which you draw modifiers. A regular die can also be used thanks to the following mapping:
Shuffle all piles into one. On each draw turn, draw a single modifier with no choice: it applies immediately. Draw on turns 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20. Chaos reigns.
If the skill gap is too large, adapt the variants for each player. Three cards are blank to create your own modifiers.
When you play with a short clock (3, 5, 10 min, etc.), the Blitz variant is recommended: right at the start of the game, draw one Classic modifier, one Golden one and one Radiant one (no choice among three, and all three draws happen before the first turn). That way there is no need to count turns or to pause.
Jumble Chess is a chess variant with modifiers. You play a standard game of chess and, on certain turns, each player draws cards that change the rules for their pieces. The game has 54 cards split into three tiers: Classic, Golden and Radiant.
Yes. All the standard chess rules apply; the modifiers are simply added on top.
Yes, that’s the idea. The game is inspired by the augments system of Teamfight Tactics (TFT) and Hades: at key moments, you choose one modifier out of three, and it changes the way you play.
Yes. The online version is free and runs directly in your browser, with no sign-up: alone against the computer, or with two players on the same device or online. The board applies the modifier effects automatically.
No. The cards work with any standard chessboard, which is not included in the base version. The deluxe version includes a chessboard, a turn counter and a selection die.
The Jumble Chess Kickstarter campaign starts on 19 January 2027. The game will be shipped to backers as soon as it is produced.
Put it back in the pile and draw another one. For example, an effect on bishops when both of your bishops have already been captured.
Yes. The game includes 3 blank cards so you can invent your own rules.
As long as a regular chess game: you can play with a clock for quick games, or take all the time you want.
Ages 7 and up.