Setup
Base rules: chess, except where this guide says otherwise. Use the ordinary 8×8 chess setup. The hill consists of d4, e4, d5 and e5.
King of the Hill
Bring your king safely to one of the four central squares, or win by checkmate.
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Moves and captures
Normal chess movement, check, castling and promotion apply. A king may never move into check.
Winning and draws
The game ends immediately when a king legally reaches the hill. Checkmate also wins. Stalemate is a draw. King against king is not a draw, because either king can still reach the hill. A player may claim a draw after the same position occurs three times, or after 50 moves by each side without a capture or pawn move. Neither rule ends the game automatically.
Special rules
The highlighted center is a winning destination, not a safe zone: attacked center squares remain illegal for a king.
Read the full guide
Board setup, special rules and winning conditions for King of the Hill.
Kd4 wins immediately only if d4 is not attacked and the move is otherwise legal.
A quick guide to King of the Hill
Read the King of the Hill rulesWhat is King of the Hill?
King of the Hill is a chess variant played with the normal 8×8 setup and rules. Besides checkmate, a king in the centre wins. You win at once by legally moving your king onto d4, e4, d5 or e5. The king still may not enter an attacked square, so the game becomes a race to control the centre safely.
Which squares are the hill in King of the Hill?
The hill is the four central squares d4, e4, d5 and e5. You win the moment your king legally moves onto any of them, including by capturing a piece there. The game ends at once, so your opponent gets no reply move.
Can the king move onto an attacked centre square in King of the Hill?
No. All normal chess rules still apply, so a king may never move into check, and an attacked hill square is simply not a legal move. To win, you must first stop the opponent from controlling the square, or approach a hill square they do not attack.
Is king against king a draw in King of the Hill?
No. Unlike normal chess, bare kings are not drawn for lack of material, because either king can still win by reaching the hill. The game goes on until a king reaches the centre, a stalemate occurs, or a player claims a draw by threefold repetition or the 50-move rule.
How can I play with a friend?
Share one device for a local game, or choose the friend option above to create an online room and send its invitation. Online games need an internet connection. Local games are saved in this browser.
Play King of the Hill on one deviceWhich rules apply here?
King of the Hill. Read the setup, legal moves, special rules and end conditions before starting. The guide describes the variant used on ChessPlayX, including differences from other versions where relevant.
Read the King of the Hill rulesCan I play against AI?
Choose AI mode to practice at your own pace. Start with a lower difficulty while learning the moves, then increase it when you can spot threats and plan your replies.