Quick Start
Bughouse is chess for four players, played on two boards at the same time. It is fast, loud, and a lot of fun. If you have never played before, this page gets you ready in a few minutes. You do not need to be a strong chess player to enjoy it.
Boards: two games, two teams
Four players split into two teams of two. Two separate chess boards, Board A and Board B, are played side by side at the same time.
You and your teammate sit on different boards and play opposite colors. If you are White on Board A, your teammate is Black on Board B. That pairing is fixed and it is what makes the two games one game.
Pockets: captured pieces switch sides
This is the rule that makes Bughouse Bughouse. When you capture a piece, it does not leave the game. Instead it goes to your teammate's pocket on the other board, ready for them to use.
So a strong attack is a team effort: every piece you capture arms your partner, and every piece they capture arms you. Talk to your teammate — ask for the knight or bishop you need, and tell them when to trade pieces or to hold off.
One catch: a pawn that was promoted (say, to a queen) turns back into a pawn when it is captured. Your partner gets a pawn in their pocket, not a queen.
Drops: place pieces from your pocket
On your turn you can either make a normal chess move or drop a piece from your pocket onto the board. A dropped piece is your color and can be placed almost anywhere:
- Drops land on empty squares only — you cannot capture by dropping.
- Pawns cannot be dropped on the first or last rank (no instant promotion).
- A drop can give check — even a surprise discovered check — and depending on the match settings it may deliver checkmate.
Because pieces keep flowing in from your teammate, attacks can appear out of nowhere. Keep an eye on the squares around your king.
How to win
A Bughouse match is won by the team, and either board can end it:
- Checkmate on either board wins the whole match for the mating team.
- Each board has its own clock. If a player runs out of time ("flags"), their team loses — so speed matters as much as position.
- A team can also win if the other side resigns.
The takeaway: watch both boards, feed your partner the pieces they need, and move quickly. You win together.
Ready to play?
Start a match from the Play page, or head back to Learning for more guides.