NerfChess
Chess with power-ups and secret handicaps. Free, in the browser, no download. Built by Joseph Leung.
Two ways to play
Nerf mode
Every player secretly draws a nerf, a hidden rule that handicaps them for the whole game. Figure out your opponent's rule before they figure out yours. In the spirit of drawback chess.
Buff mode
Draft power-up cards every five moves and play them when they hurt most. Win by capturing the king.
How it is built
The browser and the server run the same rules engine. Multiplayer games are authoritative on the server for moves, clocks and results, with accounts, ratings and finished games stored alongside. It started as a weekend project and became a real product with users.
Why a chess variant
Joseph Leung played competitive chess for seven years before retiring from tournaments. NerfChess keeps the part he liked most, reading an opponent, and adds a puzzle on top: which rule are they hiding? See his chess record.