Bughouse chess

Bughouse chess

A game of bughouse chess in progress
Players	4
Setup time	About 1 min.
Playing time	Usually 5–10 mins.
Chance	None
Skills	Strategy, tactics, blitz chess
Synonyms	Exchange chess Siamese chess Tandem chess Tandem Put-Back Transfer chess Double chess Double blitz, Double speed Double bughouse, bughouse Double bug, bug Double Drop-In New England Double Bughouse Cross chess Simultaneous chess Team chess Pass-On chess Pass the Pieces

Bughouse chess (also known as exchange chess, Siamese chess (but not to be confused with Thai chess), tandem chess, transfer chess, double bughouse, doubles chess, cross chess, swap chess or simply bughouse, bugsy, or bug) is a popular chess variant played on two chessboards by four players in teams of two.^[1] Normal chess rules apply, except that captured pieces on one board are passed on to the teammate on the other board, who then has the option of putting these pieces on their board.

The game is usually played at a fast time control. Together with the passing and dropping of pieces, this can make the game look chaotic to the casual onlooker, hence the name bughouse, which is slang for mental hospital.^[2] Yearly, several dedicated bughouse tournaments are organized on a national and an international level.