Chess Piece Traps
Chess Piece Traps are mounted behind pieces and remain hidden from the opponent. After a capture, check the trap behind the captured piece. If its icon matches the capturing piece type, the capturing piece is removed.
Trap Chess™ Rules and Official Game Modes
Learn how hidden Chess Piece Traps and Landmines change captures and movement in Trap Chess™. Use this page for a quick overview, then open the official rulebooks for complete setup instructions, examples, and game-mode details. You can also play the free app or explore the physical board game.
How Trap Chess™ Works
Landmines
Landmines replace board tiles on the placing player’s half and look like normal board squares. When an opposing piece ends a move on that half, a matching Landmine removes the piece and is replaced by a blank tile.
Fizzle
If a trap on your move would leave your King in check, that trap fizzles. Remove the trap, keep the move and any capture in place, and leave the moving piece on the board.
Resolve traps in this order: first check any Chess Piece Trap behind a captured piece; if the moving piece survives and ends on the opponent’s half, then check the landing square for a Landmine.
Official Game Modes
Game Mode 1
Players place their selected traps before the game begins. Use the Trap Chess™ Core Rules for setup, trap resolution, special moves, and Fizzle.
Game Mode 2
The board starts without traps. When a piece crosses onto the opponent’s half, use the Divider so both players can secretly place traps during the game.
Game Mode 3
The board starts without traps. After every pair of moves, run a Divider round and have each player add one trap until the agreed trap total is reached.
Official Rulebooks
Printing instructions for printable versions
Print double-sided and flip on the short edge.
Trap Chess™ Core Rules
For classic chess movement, Game Mode 1, Chess Piece Traps, Landmines, promotions, en passant, and Fizzle.
Standard version
Printable version
Trap Chess™ Divider Add-On Rules
For Official Game Modes 2 and 3, Divider sequences, trap settings, and mid-game trap placement.
Standard version
Printable version
Quick Videos
Trap Chess™ Rules in 50 Seconds | Hidden Traps (Mines + Piece Traps)
Trap Chess™ Divider Add-On Rules in 70 Seconds | 2 New Game Modes (Game Modes 2 & 3)
Playlists
How to Play Chess
Trap Chess™ Rules and Game Modes
Trap Chess™ Informational Videos and Strategies
Explore Trap Chess™
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