How to use the Chess960 generator
- Press Random position or hit the space bar for a new starting setup.
- Set up your board to match: White’s back rank as shown, pawns in front, and Black mirroring White.
- To replay a position, type its number from 0 to 959. Use Copy FEN to load it into a chess app.
How the positions are numbered
The generator uses the standard numbering scheme for Chess960 positions, so a number here matches the same position in chess apps and databases. Position 518 is the familiar RNBQKBNR, and positions 0 and 959 are BBQNNRKR and RKRNNQBB.
Playing a Chess960 game
Everything works like regular chess except the starting position and castling. Because nobody has memorized openings for most of these setups, both players think for themselves from move one. A random position also makes a great tiebreaker or a fresh challenge for players who know each other’s favorite openings.
Pair it with the Chess Clock for a timed game.
Frequently asked questions
What is Chess960?
Chess960, also called Fischer Random Chess, is a version of chess where the pieces on the back rank are shuffled before the game. Bobby Fischer proposed it in 1996 to reduce the importance of memorized openings.
Why 960?
With the rules for bishops and the king, there are exactly 960 legal starting positions. Each has a number from 0 to 959, and position 518 is the standard chess setup.
What are the setup rules?
The bishops start on opposite-colored squares, the king starts somewhere between the two rooks, and Black’s pieces mirror White’s. The generator only produces legal setups.
How does castling work?
After castling, the king and rook end up on the same squares as in regular chess: king on g1 and rook on f1 for kingside, king on c1 and rook on d1 for queenside. Black mirrors this.