Racing Kings

Racing Kings is a two-player abstract-strategy game which utilizes a chess board and all the chess pieces, except for the pawns. Moves are also the same as in chess, however, unlike chess, the goal of the game is to move a king all the way across the board.

Pieces are set-up as follows: White: King h2; Queen h1; Rook g1, g2; Knight e1, e2; Bishop f1, f2. Black: King a2; Queen a1; Rook b1, b2; Knight d1, d2; Bishop c1, c2.

Checks are not allowed. White moves first. Should Black reach the other side of the board one turn after White does, the game is drawn.

Racing Kings was popular in postal play, especially among members of NOST (the kNights Of the Square Table).

A shorter variant, called Dodo Chess, with the following set-up, has not gained the following Racing Kings has: White: King a1; Rook a2; Knight c1, c2; Bishop b1, b2. Black: King h1; Rook h2; Knight f1, f2; Bishop g1, g2.

—user summary