How to play Quadular

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RULES:
The rules are the same as regular chess, except for these changes. The object of this 2-4 player chess variant is to capture your opponent’s kings, there is no checkmating. Layout the board. Each player orients from a corner and places 5 pawns on their 3rd row. On the 2nd row they place: Rook, knight, bishop, knight, rook. On their first row, from left to right they place: Queen, bishop, prince (the prince starts the game with its crown detached and set aside). In the corner space, called the throne, they place their king. The king is the only piece that can freely move in and out of the throne. All other pieces may only capture into the throne, after which they can then move out of it according to their normal movement. The throne is orthogonally and diagonally adjacent to each of the 3 squares in front of it.

The prince can move 1 or 2 spaces horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. The prince captures the first piece it slides into. The first time your prince enters any opponent’s domain, indicated by crossing the red line towards their throne; your prince receives its crown and may now move any number of spaces in any direction like a queen. Once crowned, a prince is called, “The King to Be”, should your king be captured, you immediately replace your “King to be” with the king.

After a bishop captures to a throne, when that bishop returns to the battlefield, it must do so on the same color it was on before capturing to the throne.

Pawns are allowed their initial double step move option, en passant is allowed like normal. After their first move forward, pawns are allowed to move 1 space vertically or horizontally so long as they move away from their own domain. The only exception is that pawns may capture backwards towards their own domain, so long as they are also capturing into an opponent’s domain. Whenever a pawn enters an opponent’s domain, they promote to either a rook, bishop, or knight. Pawns may not promote if moving to an empty domain when playing with 2 or 3 players.

If playing with 2 or 3 players, 1 player must be the orange player. The player playing orange goes first, then play proceeds clockwise. Once you capture an opponent’s king when they have no price crowned “king to be”, then that player is eliminated from the game and you get to control their pieces as if they were your own. However, you may not promote any of their pawns or prince.

When there is only one king remaining then the game ends, and the player with the remaining king wins.

[theomelettecuber]

Basically a chess variant with a devastating fight, each of the kingdoms tries to be the last one standing, really creative at adding a prince and allowing it to promote so you have the second chance to not be eliminated out the game.

[sagatario]

I like how much risk/reward there is in this version. Having the prince become a 2nd queen sounds really powerful and can lead to some strong aggressive plays, but if you're too aggressive and the king gets captured you might be in a poor position. Same with taking peices from an elimination. That means aggressive plays that get eliminations early is good because it gets you a numbers advantage, but it also opens you up to attacks. Lots of strategy, but the game disincentivizes defensive plays by giving more peices out, so once someone's eliminated the game should probably be close to the halfway point atleast. I may have to look at adding this to my collection, it's simple to pick up, but different enough from chess that even a 2 player game will feel unique.

[rew_mate]

This variant looks well-thought out, balanced and fun! Someone should publish this again, we haven't had another edition for over 30 years. HPH Development probably doesn't still make games, but maybe another company could buy the rights?

[dekucake]

"En passant is allowed"
Already the best variant.

[cloveruty]

Your King To Be: * sets up for a move to take the King deep into enemy territory *
Your King: * gets captured *
Your King To Be, now King: "Guess I'll die."

[joshyycute]

Adding thrones and princes makes it pretty realistic. If only you can make generals or something thay commands pawns, it would be perfect variant

[logandekmarques]

The best part is that the kings have names (king Solomon, Cleopatra...)

[brendaneichler]

Neat. My only complaint is "King to be" is a horrible name. "Heir Apparent" was right there!

[tarvoc]

This sounds incredibly fun, not going to lie. The introduction of the Prince is interesting. It feels a bit like Chess meets Crusader Kings 2.

[Hawokki]

I wish someone would make gameplay videos of all these variants :(

[annsihkesmaa-serud]

My stepfather developed Quadular in the 80's as well as another game called "Whose Poor" based off my college years expenses.

[yajiewang]

Awesome that you can control your defeated opponents pieces as it they were your own. Would be nice if it happened more often in other variants. Alternatively, allowing the defeated players to continue moving their pieces to get points would be interesting.

[gibhib]

Interesting game! Thanks for sharing :)

[QueenoftheSkunks]

The only rule that makes no sense: "Orange must be on the board so it can go first"

Just play any 2 colours that are on opposite sides.. it doesn't matter which side starts :|

[kusogaki_man]

So basically: A chess battle royale.

This is awesome! Honestly, I kinda wonder why this is not a popular chess variant.

[RacketEPIC]

- Adds The Prince which starts out a King that can be captured and fan move 2 spaces Diagonally or Forward/Backward
But Promote and Basically become a Queen

- can be played with 2, 3 AND 4 Player

- Pawns can move forward and Diagonally one square Regardless of it capturing a piece or not but cannot promote to a Queen (still can promote to Rook, Bishop or Knight)


Truly the best version of Chess

[LeotheTiger]

This is different. My middle school science teacher had a 4-player chess game, but it was regular traditional chess. I think you could only move towards the player directly across from you.

[joshuasims]

Cool variant, but CROWN PRINCE, it was RIGHT THERE!

[Ggdivhjkjl]

If the Prince is captured before the King, is there any way to reintroduce him to the board?

[Luukboekhoud]

Make a video on the la casa de papel / money heist card game