Chess960 Position Generator
Chess960, also known as Fischer Random Chess, randomises the starting position of the pieces on the back rank. This generator creates any of the 960 legal positions - ensuring bishops are on opposite colours and the king is placed between the rooks. Click to generate a random position or enter a specific position number (0-959).
Professor Archer says: Bobby Fischer invented this variant because he believed opening theory had become too dominant in classical chess. Whether you agree with him or not, Chess960 is a wonderful way to test your understanding of chess principles. When your memorised openings are useless, you discover how well you truly understand piece development, center control, and king safety.
Features
- Generate any of 960 legal starting positions
- Random generation with one click
- Enter specific position number (0-959)
- Visual board display of the generated position
- FEN output for use in other tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the rules for Chess960 starting positions?
Three rules govern legal Chess960 positions: (1) Bishops must be placed on opposite-colored squares. (2) The king must be placed between the two rooks. (3) Pawns start on their normal squares. All other piece arrangements on the back rank are valid, giving exactly 960 possible starting positions.
How does castling work in Chess960?
Castling in Chess960 follows the same principle as standard chess but the king and rook may start on different squares. After castling kingside, the king ends on g1 and the rook on f1. After castling queenside, the king ends on c1 and the rook on d1. The end positions are always the same, regardless of where the pieces started.
Is Chess960 played in tournaments?
Yes. FIDE has held official Chess960 World Championships, won by players like Wesley So and Magnus Carlsen. Many online platforms support Chess960 as a game mode. It is growing in popularity as both a competitive format and a training tool for improving positional understanding.