The Game

Tricky Chess is an add on game to chess. It is a deck of cards that give chess pieces special abilities or powers throughout the game. Players draw three cards and utilize them throughout the game to gain advantages or create deadly traps. The name Tricky Chess came from the desire for this game to still feel like chess, with just a little bit of trickery. To win, you will still need strategy and creativity, which are hallmarks of chess. A wide range of cards makes for maximum replay value; no two games will be alike.

The Story

My name is Brooks. I am a high school teacher in Phoenix, Arizona. I traditionally spend my lunchtime playing various games with students, and I especially enjoy teaching my students how to play chess. I love how it engages their brains, fosters critical thinking, and even sparks conversations.

One day I was playing with a student who had been learning to play. In the game, they attempted to make an illegal move (to capture their own piece, and gain an advantage). At first I rejected their illegal move, and we continued playing as normal. Later that evening, I was reflecting on the game, and I had a moment of clarity; I was able to see the student's move as a creative spark.

Over the course of the next few days, I dreamt of the fun and wild things that chess pieces could do if they were not constrained by rules. Students chimed in with their ideas of strange moves or rules that could make chess more chaotic, yet still enjoyable. What began as a few ideas, turned into a stack of index cards, each one boasting a game modifier. That stack of 3x5s became the first copy of Tricky chess! Although it wasn't orthodox, it was a fresh new take on chess and it made us both think outside of the box.

I shared my appreciation for the student opening my mind to new possibilities, and now I want to share the game of Tricky Chess with the world. It is a simple way to take the game of chess and add some spice to it, all with a small deck of special cards.