Duck, Duck, Chess!
Details
GET READY FOR SOME QUACKY FUN!
Join the World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries, Saint Louis's premier cultural destination, for a unique chess variant event. This hands-on, family-friendly program is a highlight of the local calendar and a fun way to experience chess education through creative play. This is your chance to turn a simple rubber ducky into a playable masterpiece for the board!
The Program: Duck Chess and Creative Play
A Delightful Introduction to Chess Variants
Visit our dedicated Play and Create Space to design and decorate your very own rubber ducky. Once your unique piece is complete, you can use it to challenge a friend in a game of Duck Chess—a fun and easy-to-learn twist on the classic game.
Duck Chess uses all the standard chess moves but introduces a quirky twist: a rubber duck acts as a movable blocker on the board. On every turn, after you make a piece move, you must move the duck to any empty square. The duck prevents all other pieces from landing on or moving through its square (though the Knight is the only piece allowed to jump over it). There is no check or checkmate; instead, the object of the game is simply to capture the opposing King.
All supplies for this self-led activity are included, and no chess experience is needed to join in!
The program has a $5 entry fee, but is FREE for World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries Members! Learn more about becoming a member.
The Exhibition: Chess Variants: Transforming Tradition
The Intersection of Strategy and Culture
This fun, hands-on program is offered as part of our current interactive exhibition, Chess Variants: Transforming Tradition. This exhibition explores how the game of chess has evolved over 1,500 years, from its origins to the inventive new forms being played today. This activity promotes chess education by demonstrating how a simple rule change can drastically alter strategy.
Want to take a piece of the fun home? Pick up the official WCHOF Rubber Duck at Q Boutique!
Current Exhibitions
While visiting the World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries in Saint Louis, we also invite you to explore our other current exhibitions:
AI summary
By Meetup
Hands-on, family-friendly activity teaching a chess variant; participants design and decorate a rubber duck and then play a game of Duck Chess.
AI summary
By Meetup
Hands-on, family-friendly activity teaching a chess variant; participants design and decorate a rubber duck and then play a game of Duck Chess.