The History of Tamerlane Chess (Timur Chess)

Classical chess is played on an 8×8 board with six different piece types. But throughout the history of chess, far larger and more elaborate variants have appeared. One of the most famous of these is popularly known as Tamerlane Chess (also called "Timur Chess" or "Great Chess") — reportedly played under the patronage of Timur (Tamerlane), the Turco-Mongol ruler who conquered Central Asia and the Khorasan region in the 14th century.

Why Is It Called "Great Chess"?

Tamerlane Chess differs from classical chess in two fundamental ways: board size and piece variety. Instead of the standard 8×8 board, it's played on a massive board that effectively spans 11×10 squares, with a "citadel" square jutting out on each side. That means far more pieces, much longer opening phases, and deeper strategic planning than in classical chess.

With the larger board come new pieces absent from classical chess: short-range pieces like the Vizier and the General, and leaping pieces like the Giraffe, Elephant, Camel, and War Machine, added to balance out the wide board. Every piece — even every pawn — has its own distinct way of moving, which turns the game into a fresh, enjoyable challenge to learn, even for players already familiar with classical chess.

Legends and Sources

Primary sources from Timur's era are limited, and over the centuries different writers have passed down different starting arrangements and rule variations — some sources even record three separate starting setups. That ambiguity is part of the game's charm: what survives is a rich strategy game, handed down across generations, part history and part legend.

Timuria was built to bring this historical legacy to today's players. Drawing on the recorded rules, we offer a single ruleset that stays faithful to history while remaining genuinely playable and simplified — so that even someone who has never played chess before can start playing within minutes.

Key Differences from Classical Chess

• Board size: 11×10 instead of 8×8, plus a citadel square on each side.
• Extra pieces: pieces absent from classical chess, such as the Vizier, General, Giraffe, Scout, Elephant, Camel, and War Machine.
• Stalemate is reversed: in modern chess, stalemate is a draw; in Timuria, a player with no legal move on their turn loses.
• Citadel draw: if your King reaches the opponent's citadel square, the game ends in an immediate draw — a rule with no equivalent in classical chess.
• King swap: once per game, each player may instantly swap their King with one of their own pieces — a kind of emergency maneuver.