Bughouse Chess Rules
Bughouse (also called "bug" or "transfer chess") is chess's most popular team variant. Two players per team play side by side on separate boards. When you capture a piece, you pass it to your partner to use on their board.
Setup
Four players, two boards. Partners sit beside each other. One partner plays White on Board 1, the other plays Black on Board 2. Games are played with clocks (usually blitz, 3-5 minutes).
The rules
Standard chess rules apply on each board, plus: when you capture a piece, you pass it to your partner. Your partner can drop it (like Crazyhouse) on any empty square instead of making a normal move. Pawns cannot be dropped on the 1st or 8th rank.
Strategy
Communication with your partner is key: "I need a knight!", "Stall for time!" are common calls. Sacrificing material is different because your partner benefits from the pieces they capture. Speed and coordination matter as much as chess skill.
Where to play
Bughouse is most popular in-person (chess clubs, tournaments). Online versions exist on Lichess and chess.com (as "Bughouse" or "Hand and Brain" variants).