How to play Strato Chess

Stra chess how to play .

The rules are the same as regular chess except for these changes for a refresher of those rules check out this video .

The board is made up of three planes each identically oriented on top of the other , set up the pieces for one color on the bottom plane and the other opposing it on the top plane , all pieces have their regular movement .

In addition to being able to move vertically up and down the planes , pawns may move one space vertically up or down a plane .

In addition to their forward movement .

If you want , retaining the same relative location on the new plane , a pond may only move one vertical plane the first time it moves .

Even if it moves two spaces forward , knights can move vertically one or two planes .

In addition to their normal movement simply transfer their relative location to the new plane .

Bishops can move diagonally up or down a plane in a single move for each vertical plane movement , move the bishop one diagonal space in a straight line .

You may not move the bishop vertically up and down in a single move to navigate around other pieces .

Nor may you move horizontally .

After completing your vertical move , the rook may move vertically up or down to any plane in the same relative position .

The rook may not move vertically then horizontally in a single move .

The queen has the same vertical plane movement as both the rook and the bishop combined .

The king may move vertically up or down one plane in the same relative position .

Only the king's first move of the game .

May it move vertically up or down a plane and horizontally one space , no piece may capture another piece when performing a vertical plane movement .

No piece may perform a vertical plane movement .

If their path is obstructed , the path is obstructed when the destination space or the travel space plane is occupied the very first time in a game that each piece is moved , that piece must change at least one plane .

However , the king and Rook are allowed to castle on the same plane or they may both move together up or down one plane .

Also , if your king is in check , then you may move pieces on the same plane to capture or block the check .

Even if it is that piece's first move of the game , you are only allowed to capture pieces on the same plane .

Thus you may only have a check and checkmate if all the pieces used for the attack are on the same plane .

However , remember a king can move across planes .

So having pieces on other planes will be necessary to ensure checkmate ponds get a promotion on the farthest row of any plane .