What is Bughouse Chess?

• Bughouse is a chess variant played on two adjoining chessboards by two teams, each comprised of two people.
• Two chessboards are placed side by side with teammates sitting next to each other.
• One member of a team plays one game with the white pieces and the other plays a second game simultaneously with the black pieces.
• The game is typically played at a very fast time control (such as 10 or 5 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. Object of the Game The object of the game is similar to "normal" chess - the 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.

Specific Rules

• 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.
• When one piece is captured from the adjoining board, the captured piece is passed to his/her partner. The partner receiving the captured piece has the option of placing the piece on an empty square as his/her move or making a move with a piece already on the board and leaving the captured piece "in reserve" in a space on the table next to the board.

NOTE:

• 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.
• 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.
• A Rook dropped onto either Rook home square is considered not to have moved and can be used for castling purposes provided castling is otherwise legal.
• Likewise, a Pawn dropped onto a Pawn home square can move forward two squares on its next move (and can be taken en passant) if moving it is not otherwise illegal.
• Pieces may be dropped to check one's opponent, to deliver checkmate or to shield the king from check. (Rule voted down by Winchester Epiphany Chess Club members and not used in tournament)
• Since captured pieces are used in the game, pawns are not physically replaced with Queens or other pieces when they are promoted upon reach the last rank. The pawn is instead laid down on its side and stays that way as it¹s moved around the board as the promoted piece.
• An important note to remember is that when you capture a promoted Pawn it reverts back to a pawn in function.

Etiquette to be Followed

• 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 discrepancy 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.
•   During 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 (and illegal) 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 or even point out the square that should be used ­ only words should be used.
• Use your words sparingly and quietly, though. Good Sportsmanship is essential. Berating your opponents, your partner or otherwise distracting your opponents and other players in the room with excessive talking or worse is entirely unacceptable.
• After a warning penalties will be enforced that range from adding time to the opponent's clocks to forfeits to expulsion from the tournament.
• Additional Winchester Epiphany Tournament Rules:
  • Teams are formed by pairing the top ranked player with the lowest ranked player; and the second ranked player with the second lowest ranked player.  
  • In each round in each game the highest ranked player of one team plays the highest ranked player of the other team.