Normal chess with the middle row removed: armies start one step closer.
How to play
Normal chess on an 8×7 board: one middle rank is removed, so the armies start one step closer and clash right away. Pieces move as in normal chess and pawns may still step two squares on their first move. Pawns promote to a queen on the far rank. Checkmate the bot's king to win; stalemate, the 50-move rule and bare kings are draws.