Missing Knights
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Main mutator · Unlock level 1

Missing Knights

At match start, one knight is removed from the affected side.

Difficulty: easyAppears in: 2 levelsAt match start

Rule variants

Base and Extra, kept distinct.

A campaign Extra variant changes the main mutator rule. It is separate from an additional side mutator.

Base variant

Main mutator

At match start, one knight is removed from the affected side.

Detailed rule

One randomly selected knight on the chosen side is removed before the first move. It never returns, so bishops, rooks, and the queen must cover the missing knight move.

Extra variant

Changed main rule

At match start, one knight is removed permanently; the surviving original knight stays frozen through player move 7 and is free before move 8.

Detailed rule

One randomly selected knight on the chosen side is removed before the first move and never returns. The other original knight cannot move or be captured by a normal move through player move 7 and is mobile before move 8; its normal attack, defense, and check influence remains active. Both effects are independent, and the freeze does not affect new pieces.

Conquest

Affected side: Your side

At match start, one of your knights is removed permanently; your surviving original knight stays frozen through player move 7 and is free before move 8.

Domination

Affected side: Enemy side

At match start, one enemy knight is removed permanently; its surviving original knight stays frozen through player move 7 and is free before move 8.

Strategy notes

Turn the constraint into a lever.

Plan around it

  • Open the center early and claim space.
  • Let bishops and rooks carry the pressure.

Keep in mind

  • Castle before the board turns sharp.
  • Trade into active, open files.