The last major update to the rules of chess (white moves first) was instituted in 1889; the next is happening now in Gambonanza. This quirky indie hit rewires the classic game into a fast-paced, roguelike strategy game filled with rule-busting tweaks.

Each brief Gambonanza match takes place on a tiny chessboard. With three random pieces to start (maybe a bishop and two knights, or, if you’re lucky, three queens!), you’ll set out to capture your opponent’s pieces while preserving your own. Lose a piece? That’s a problem, because they don’t automatically replenish each round. Good luck beating the next level with just one measly pawn!

Tradition gets upended quickly. Between rounds, spend in-game funds on “gambits” that introduce a unique twist. Maybe you’ll get a king every time you capture a rook. Or your pawns suddenly can move like knights. Dozens of gambits make every run feel fresh.

The board itself changes too. You can upgrade tiles to protect your pieces, trap opponents, or even crumble away entirely (hopefully sending your opponent’s precious queen into a bottomless pit). Stock up on spare pieces!

Think chess grandmasters are imposing? Try trading knights with the game’s formidable bosses. Tal the Cursed randomly places cursed tiles around the board, while the giant fish Jawby Fisher can destroy your entire reserve of pieces. Topping these titans can be a real challenge as you attempt to beat each run’s five progressively harder stages.

Focus on gambits that complement each other. Equip the Banana Peel, Silver Fork, and Demon gambits, for instance, and you’ll increase the odds of skipping an opponent’s turn—hopefully round after round. They can’t win if they can’t move!