Poker chess
Chess you can bluff.
Some of your pieces are dealt face down. You know them – your opponent doesn't. Every move is a tell. Bet, raise or fold.
How it works
Chess has no hidden information: both players see the whole board. Poker is built on the opposite. RaiseChess puts the hidden hand on the chessboard.
Pocket pieces
Three of your pieces on the first two ranks are drawn at random – queen, rook, bishop, knight or pawn, 20% each. Three queens are possible. So are three pawns.
Every move is a tell
A face-down piece moves as what it really is. A diagonal step rules out the rook; a jump gives away the knight. You read your opponent’s range from the moves.
Heads-up for chips
Blinds, then a bet or check before every move: call, raise or fold. No fold and no mate – showdown on material after move 30. Or play to mate.
Why betting finally works on chess
Betting on chess has been tried before. It never took off for one reason: when both sides see everything, there is nothing to bluff about and nothing to read.
In RaiseChess each player knows something the other does not. A bad deal can be folded for one chip. A good one can be bet on. A weak one can be played as if it were strong.
- Fair by design. The server deals and referees. Your browser never receives the opponent’s pieces before the showdown.
- Heads-up matches. 100 chips each, colours alternate, blinds can rise every 5, 10 or 15 minutes – as in heads-up poker tournaments.
- Play anyone. Against the computer, or send a friend a link to your table.
The Association in formation
The International RaiseChess Association is being founded to keep the official rules, run rankings and organise tournaments – starting with the first international RaiseChess championship.
We are looking for the first players, clubs and partners. Founding members will shape the rules, the ranking and the championship format.
RaiseChess was invented by Mark Zavadckiy in Madeira in September 2026.