The board, the pieces, the same first rank — and a single rule change that turns the game into something else. 6 variants covered. The most popular are Chess 960, where the back rank is randomised, and Bughouse (sometimes called Шведки), where two pairs play with captures becoming reinforcements.
The objective is reversed: lose all your pieces, or end up unable to move. Captures are compulsory whenever available.
Every capture explodes — taking a piece destroys it, the capturing piece, and every non-pawn within one square. King safety becomes king isolation.
Bughouse without the partner — captured pieces become your reserves, droppable onto any empty square. The most popular pure-chess variant on lichess.
Win by checkmate — or by walking your king to the centre. Four central squares become a second way to end the game.