How to Play Chess Melee
Place a set of chess pieces on the board so that no piece attacks another. A fresh spin on N-Queens with multiple piece types.
Try it now — Easy 6x6 →The Rules
- Place all given chess pieces on the board so no piece attacks any other
- Each piece attacks according to standard chess rules
- Queens attack rows, columns, and diagonals; rooks attack rows and columns; bishops attack diagonals; knights attack L-shapes
- Every piece must be placed — none can be left off
Available in 3 sizes (5x5, 6x6, 8x8) and 3 difficulty levels (easy, normal, hard).
See It in Action
Place all chess pieces so that no piece attacks another
How to Play
- Place the most powerful pieces first (queens, rooks, bishops) — they attack the most squares
- After placing each piece, mark all squares it attacks as unavailable
- Knights are most flexible — place them last in spots that avoid other pieces' attack zones
- If a piece has no valid position, backtrack and try a different spot for a previous piece
Pro Tips
Queens dominate rows, columns, and both diagonals — always plan for queen placement before other pieces
Knights in corners only attack 2 squares — corner and near-corner positions are often safe for other pieces
Bishops only attack one color of square — a light-square bishop never conflicts with a dark-square bishop
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chess Melee?
Chess Melee asks you to place multiple types of chess pieces on a board so that no piece attacks another. It extends the classic N-Queens problem to knights, bishops, rooks, and more.
Choose Your Challenge
Start with easy to learn the rules, then progress to harder difficulties.