Your new favorite holiday game is Sniper Chess

If you've been on the internet for a minute then you're probably be aware of Smosh. It's one of Youtube's pioneering channels. It has evolved from two teenagers lip-syncing the Pokemon theme song to a full production company with multiple channels, a cast, and crew.

I'm not here to talk about that though. I'm here to talk about one of their games. While I don't know the full story of its creation, I do know that came from an idea of Shayne Topp's. It takes chess and turns it into an IRL turn-based, team game.

I've looked for rules on the game but haven't found them. So, in the spirit of play, I'm going to do my best to come up with some fundamental rules based on the two videos of Sniper Chess.

Now, it's important that you feel free to modify this game. It's loose as shit. Even the rules change in the same video. I think this is brilliant.

If you'll allow me to get on my soap box for a hot second, I think games should be loose. They should have house rules that change from family to family. Unbending rules are fine when there is a sporting competition but that changes a game to a sport and often times to a business. I'm not interested in sport or business necessarily. I'm interested in games. In the play. So use the base of this and do with them what you will.

Unless Smosh decides to be weird about it.

RULES

Sniper Chess is a team based game. Each team consists of two members. One who plays chess and one who shoots the chess pieces. I will be referring to them as players and shooters respectively.

General rules & variations

Starting turn, the players move a chess piece as if it's a regular chess game.

After the opening move, players move away from the chess board and pieces and behind the shooters. The shooters take turns in the same order as the players. The goal of the shooter is to knock the opposing team's pieces off the board using their gun.

After the shooters take their shots, then that is the end of the first turn. Each following turn happens in the same order of players then shooters.

When a shooter knocks over a piece or knocks it off the board (despite it standing), the piece is considered captured the same as if removed by an opponent's chess piece.

When a piece is pushed across the board but still remains standing then that piece is not captured and placed on the nearest open square, no matter the color.

The primary targets are the knights, bishops, rooks, and queen. Once these have all been captured by the shooter or player then the shooter may target the king. While the pawns are also in play, it seems more effective to target the minor and major pieces.

If the king is shot accidentally before the other pieces are captured then the king is reset in their place as if nothing happened. Other pieces that are captured due to ricochets or otherwise remain captured and off the board.

A variation of play is allowing three shots per shooter. The player still moves one piece. The shooter, however, can take three shots. This allows for a quicker game. This variation has been applied partially through game and at the beginning.

Adding additional movement for players could do the same.

Winning

The team that captures the king, either through a player's checkmate or a shooter's dart, wins the game.

In the first video, there was a chance for a "one bullet rebuttal" where the losing team's shooter could capture their opponent's king. If they do so, then that would revive their king, and I believe would have allowed both teams to reset their pieces to their last positions prior to the first king being knocked down.

The shooter did not succeed, however, so I'm unsure how that rule would have played out exactly.

Playing chess

Players play a standard game of chess. This includes movements, captures, checks, and promotions.

• The king can move one square in any direction.
• The queen can move any distance in any direction.
• The rooks move any distance in a straight line.
• The bishops move diagonally on the board.
• The knights move in an "L" shape (two squares x three squares)
• The pawns can only move forward one square at a time. On first move a pawn may move either one or two squares forward.

REGULATIONS

While the above rules are open to changes, I believe the regulations are even more available to modifications. These will rely on what you have access to or the challenge you would like to have.

Equipment

• Chess board with pieces
• Table
• Two Chairs
• Stool or other supporting object at waist height
• Nerf gun with scope
• Nerf bullets
• Goggles

Set-up

The distance between the stool and the chess board seemed to be about 10 to 15 feet. There was line on the floor in front the stool, but most people shot from behind the stool, using it as a brace to steady their aim while in a kneeling position. However, sitting on the stool and aiming from above is acceptable as well, as long as they did not cross that line.

A variation of this could be naked shots where a simple marker on the floor designates how far back you stand with no support.

The chess board was a slightly larger size than standard. While this gave shooters better targets, it created larger gaps between pieces. I think this is ideal as a small, crowded set could be could be difficult to knock over or target. However, if this is what you have then I would use it.

The board is placed on a table, flanked by two chairs for the players. I think the chairs are completely optional. The table should be low enough for shooters to properly target the pieces. Placing the board on the floor may be an interesting variation.

The gun in the video was a nerf with a scope, magazine, and safety. I could not find the model. This seemed like a medium range gun with decent fire power.

You do not need this exact model. Any variety of a nerf or dart gun will do. Even small pistols without a scope. Of course, this will offer a greater degree of challenge. The important things are range and firepower regarding your gun.

Goggles are worn as primarily a safety measure though I think that they add a certain degree of difficulty. You may or may not have these available to you, so I do not see these as a requirement. I suggest sunglasses as a variation in difficulty and extreme coolness.

The important thing to remember regarding Sniper Chess is to have fun and feel free to create your own house rules.