10 Best Websites to Play Chess Variants

Best Chess Websites
Updated: Feb, 2026
4 mins read

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Chess is timeless, but if you’ve ever felt bored by the same old 1.e4 e5, then chess variants will feel like a breath of fresh air.

Variants spice up the classic game with new rules, creative strategies, and surprising tactics. From Fischer Random to Bughouse and Atomic, these versions strengthen your chess instincts and keep your brain sharp.

In this guide, we will walk you through the 10 best websites to play chess variants, whether you want casual fun or serious competitive games.

1. Lichess.org

Best for: Free, ad-free play and a huge variety of variants.

Lichess is one of the most popular free chess platforms worldwide. It’s completely free, open-source, and supported by donations, meaning there are no ads or paywalls.

You can play variants like:

Chess960 (Fischer Random)
Atomic
Antichess
Crazyhouse
Three-Check
King of the Hill
Horde
Racing Kings

Lichess also includes strong built-in tools, such as analysis boards and puzzles, so you can learn while you play. The site supports real-time and correspondence games for all levels.

It’s free and easy to get started. Simply visit the site and start playing a game.

2. Chess.com

Best for: Variety, community, and social play.

Chess.com is arguably the most famous chess website on the planet. Alongside standard chess, it has a full variants section where you can play dozens of alternate games.

Here are some variant highlights:

Bughouse
Crazyhouse
4-Player Chess
Duck Chess
Fog of War

Chess.com gives you features like daily puzzles, variant-specific leaderboards, and social league matches. It runs primarily on a freemium model, meaning many features are free, but some advanced tools require a subscription.

If you enjoy variety and a very large global player base, Chess.com is hard to beat.

3. EvoChess.com

Best for: Discovering niche and creative variants.

EvoChess isn’t just a chess server; it’s a variant exploration hub. You’ll find both classic variants and more exotic ones that are rarely available elsewhere.

Examples you can play here include:

Seirawan Chess (adds new pieces)
Cylinder Chess (board wraps around like a cylinder)
Transcendental Chess
Viking Chess
Wildebeest Chess
Extinction Chess

EvoChess offers both live play and correspondence (play-at-your-own-pace) games. It also explains the rules for each variant before you begin.

This makes EvoChess an excellent choice for players who love variety and want to learn as they play.

4. SchemingMind

Best for: Correspondence and deep variant play.

SchemingMind is a long-standing online chess club that supports many chess variants.

The site has:

Chess960
Crazyhouse
Atomic
Suicide
Alice Chess

SchemingMind also runs tournaments and maintains its own rating system. You’ll often find players who enjoy taking their time and analysing variant positions deeply.

5. PlayStrategy.org

Best for: Simple browser variants plus other games.

PlayStrategy is a multi-game platform that includes chess variants, as well as Go, Draughts, and Xiangqi. For chess fans, this site provides:

Standard
Crazyhouse
Chess960
King of the Hill
Atomic
No Castling
Five-Check
Horde
Racing Kings

The site is straightforward and runs in your browser, so you can jump into variant chess without creating accounts or installing software.

6. Internet Chess Club (ICC)

Best for: Traditional experienced community.

The Internet Chess Club is one of the oldest online chess servers, dating back to the early days of internet chess. It offers standard chess as well as some classic variants, plus regular tournaments.

ICC tends toward the more traditional and serious side of online play. The platform has:

Bughouse
Crazyhouse
Atomic
Chess960

ICC requires a subscription, but if you’re looking for a traditional chess club experience with variant options, it’s worth checking out.

7. FICS (Free Internet Chess Server)

Best for: Free classic online play with support for variants.

FICS is a free alternative to commercial servers like ICC. It comes from the original Internet Chess Server and remains completely free for all users.

To play on FICS, you usually connect through a third-party interface. It supports standard chess, and many popular variants such as:

Crazyhouse
Atomic
Bughouse
Chess960

Because FICS is older and more text-based, it’s a great choice for players who prefer a classic or minimalist interface.

8. Green Chess

Best for: Long-term play and unusual variants.

Green Chess focuses on correspondence games that can take days or weeks. You can play multiple games at once, and chat with opponents as you go.

Variants on Green Chess include:

Hexagonal Chess
Three-Player Chess
Multimove Chess

Games are usually slower and more thoughtful, perfect for players who enjoy deep strategic battles with time to consider every move.

9. Chessworld.net

Best for: Info and casual play.

Chessworld.net is a long-running chess resource that includes information on many variants and often links out to playable interfaces. It’s not a full server like Chess.com or Lichess, but its variant glossary is one of the most comprehensive online.

If you want to try popular variants such as Bughouse, Crazyhouse, or Chess960, Chessworld is a solid starting point.