page_title: Three-player chess
section_title: Hexagonal boards
hierarchical_section_title: Three-player chess / Three-player variants / Boards with quadrilateral cells / Hexagonal boards
caption_attribution_description: English: This was seen in Prague (CZ), 3 players chessboard
context_page_description: Three-player chess is a family of chess variants specially designed for three players. Many variations of three-player chess have been devised. They usually use a non-standard board, for example, a hexagonal or three-sided board that connects the center cells in a special way. The three armies are differentiated usually by color.
  Three-player chess variants are the hardest to design fairly, since the imbalance created when two players gang up against one is usually too great for the defending player to withstand. Some versions attempt to avoid this "petty diplomacy" problem by determining the victor as the player who first delivers checkmate, with the third player losing in addition to the checkmated player, or having the third player getting a half-point.
context_section_description: Some variants use a hexagonal-shaped board with quadrilateral cells (see example in the photo).  
  Trichess: Features a "non-aggression" rule whereby a player in inferiority is immune from capture in his home portion by a numerically superior opponent, unless the capture also gives check. A pawn that reaches the back rank of an opponent is exchanged for any previously captured friendly piece. Played on a 96-cell board. By Chistophe Langronier (date unknown).
  Chess for three: By Jacek Filek (1992).
  Three-Man Chess: Pawns reaching the 5th rank gain multi-direction capability. The first player to give checkmate wins. Played on a 96-cell board. By George Dekle Sr. (1984).
  Trio-Chess: Played on a 96-cell board, a center triangle splits the central files. By Van der Laken and G. J. Buijtendorp (1979).
  Three-Player Chess: Played on a 96-cell board, the patent for this game provides suggested rules whereby kings are captured, and the player with the last-remaining king wins. The pieces of an eliminated player remain on the board and may be captured. A player may move into check. The patent also describes a variant whereby the army of an eliminated player is appropriated by the capturer. By Robert Zubrin (1971).
  Self's Three-Handed Chess: Played on a 144-cell board. By Hency J. Self (1895).
  Waidder's Three-Handed Chess: Played on a 126-cell board. By S. Waidder (1837).
caption: Chess for three geometry, also using 96 quadrilateral cells. The wooden armies are stained slightly different colors.
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