Four-Dimensional Chess

Four-dimensional chess may be played with either 2D or 3D playing spaces, but adds the element of movement along a single timeline

  • The game starts with the game set up as usual, but as tick zero on a timeline into the future.
  • After the first move, that changed playing space become tick 1 on the timeline.
  • After the second move, that changed playing space become tick 2 while tick 1 is preserved in history.
  • After each successive move, that changed playing space becomes the next tick in the timeline, while the positions of the pieces in each previous tick are preserved in history.
  • The “t” number for each tick is added to the x,y,z coordinates to identify piece location in time and space.
  • On each player’s turn, any piece may move into the same space in any previous tick, or into the same space in any existing future tick . The player’s move ends at that time-jump. An opponent’s piece may be captured by this time-jump by occupying that space.
  • As a piece is moved to an earlier tick, that same piece in that previous tick is removed from play in that tick.
  • A piece time-jumping from the past or future cannot exist at the same tick with its self. The piece already in that tick is removed.
  • A piece that time-jumps into an unoccupied space, may not move or jump again until the next turn.
  • Whenever a piece is jumped from a future tick into a past tick, the play is resumed from that point forward.
  • Whenever a piece is jumped from a past tick into a future tick, the play is resumed from that point forward.
  • Whenever a piece time-jumps to a future tick containing its future self, that future piece is removed.
  • Play ends when the opponent’s king is captured.
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