This page lists all known tricks for Battle Chess.
Take back glitches
Switch-move glitch.
The game stores a maximum of three moves per side in memory for take-back purposes. When take back is selected, the game goes back two moves (one from each side) so it doesn't have to switch the current player. However, if there is only one move remaining in memory, the game takes back that one move, and gives the turn to the other player!
This has consequences, such as:
- Allowing Black to move first from the starting position (or from any set-up position), once White's first move is taken back.
- Allowing any desired player to move consecutively, by going three moves ahead, then taking back moves.
If the switch-move glitch is performed after a king has been checked, the position becomes unplayable and no moves can be made; if a CPU is to move, the game is frozen.
If the switch-move glitch is performed and the act of switching moves creates a stalemate, the game does not recognize the stalemate. Instead, the position becomes unplayable and no moves can be made; if a CPU is to move, the game is frozen.
If a pawn moves without capturing to promote, and the move is taken back, the pawn is now glitched. It can only move and capture towards the left (towards the a-file for both players) and cannot move from the leftmost file. If a checkmate is delivered with this pawn, the pawn does not take the king and the game is completely frozen.
If a pawn captures to promote, and the move is taken back, the pawn becomes a queen instead.
En passant glitch
If an en passant is performed and enough moves are performed to scroll the move before the en passant out of memory, and all moves are taken back, the en passant cannot be performed anymore. If the en passant was the only legal move at the time, then the position is not recognized as a checkmate. Instead, the position becomes unplayable and no moves can be made; if a CPU is to move, the game is frozen.
Other glitches
- A position cannot be made in set-up mode if White or Black is in check, regardless of whoever actually moves in that position.
- A position cannot be made in set-up mode if White or Black is stalemated if it is his turn to move, regardless of whoever actually moves in that position.