stalemate (13. 354)

One of the most popular variants of the game, in reverse or losing chess, the objective is to be the first to have all their pieces captured, the players obliged to act on taking an opponent’s square if availed to them. Aside from compulsory capturing and the lack of royal succession—no pawns become queens and pieces are not promoted in rank—the rules remain the same but without careful opening strategies, the game tends to result in a draw, with greater regularity than in standard chess, and a dead board. Originally codified in the late nineteenth century as “take me,” this anti-chess has seen a surge in popularity in recent decades with its own clubs and tournaments, players intrigued with challenge of competitive exposure and creating vulnerabilities.