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How to Play Celtic Circular Chess

Circular chess is a variant of traditional chess played on a circular board with no play allowed through the middle. The same number and types of chess pieces are used as in the traditional game; the greatest difference is in the arrangement of the pieces on the board. Once you get through the basic setup, the rules are familiar.

Instructions

- 1
  Arrange the chess pieces on the board. The white pieces are set up in the center of the board with the pawns forming the outer ring and the king protected in the middle. The dark pieces are arranged at the edge of the board, with an outer ring formed by the important pieces and an inner ring of pawns.
- 2
  Begin the game with the white pieces making the first move.
- 3
  Move the various pieces as you would in a traditional game of chess. Kings move one space in any direction. The queen may move one or multiple spaces in any direction. The rook moves one or multiple spaces forward and back or side to side. Bishops move diagonally one or multiple spaces. Knights advance up one over two or up two over one. Pawns advance forward only one or two spaces initially then one space thereafter unless capturing an opponent's piece when they may move one space diagonally.
- 4
  Move the rooks differently than in traditional chess. Each rook may change places with the king from either direction side to side.
- 5
  Continue the game until a checkmate, stalemate or abdication occurs.

Chess & Checkers