Chess Variants
Bughouse
Bughouse is a chess variant played on two adjoining chessboards by two teams, each comprised of two people. The pieces are also set up so that each team member is in possession of an opposite colored chess army. The game is typically played at a very fast time control [such as 5- or 3-minute games]. Time is kept track of using two chess clocks—one clock for each chess board. The game is not touch move but rather "clock move," that is, the move is not considered to be made until the player hits his/her clock.
Similar to chess to goal is to checkmate your opponent(s). Checkmate on either one of the boards results in the end of the game. A time forfeit on either on of the boards also ends the game—with the team of the player who forfeit on time losing the game. If both flags are down the game is a draw. If an illegal move is made then the offending side loses if caught. If the offending side is not caught then the game continues. One also does not have to declare check. If a player leaves his/her king in check then the opponent may capture it and claim a win for his/her team.
The Rules
When one piece is captured from the adjoining board, the captured piece is passed to his/her partner. (Note: as a result, all captured pieces are of the same color to his/her partner). The partner receiving the captured piece, has the option of placing the piece as his/her move.
Any piece can be placed on any unoccupied square on the board, with the exception that pawns may not be placed on the first and last rank.
Pieces may be dropped to check one's opponent or dropped to deliver checkmate.
An important note is that when you capture a promoted pawn it reverts back to a pawn in function.
When beginning a bughouse game, it is important to start both chess clocks at the same time. If the clocks are not start at the same time, there will be discrepency between the two chess clocks. When this happens one team may have an unfair advantage against the other team later in the game. This will also become clearer to beginners as they play more bughouse games.
Etiquette
During over-the-board bughouse games it is important to show the pieces one has in hand when one's opponents asks during his/her turn. It is considered unethical to hide chess pieces from your opponent.
Discussing strategy and verbal analysis of the chess positions is legal between partners; however one's partner may not physically reach over the board and complete a move for his/her partner.
Pieces are not considered captured until the clock has been hit completing the move. For this reason, one cannot give the intended capture piece to his partner until the chess clock has been hit.