star trek 3d schach

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Three-dimensional chess entry at Memory Alpha

Three-dimensional chess entry at Wikipedia

3D art version of the chessboard at 3DSciFi

resource for Star Trek games (however don't download Parmen from there, old version)

Star Trek's Tri-Dimensional Chess, Explained

No Star Trek redshirts were harmed in the making of this chess variant – well, maybe a pawn or two.

In the vast reaches of space, where no board game has gone before, there exists a chess variant that challenges even the most logical minds. Enter Tri-Dimensional Chess, or as Captain Kirk might say, "Chess with a side of warp speed."

Hailing from the original Star Trek series, Tri-Dimensional Chess has become a hallmark of intergalactic leisure for the crew of the USS Enterprise. Picture Kirk and Spock engaging in a battle of wits, the fate of the galaxy hanging in the balance — well, maybe just the fate of bragging rights on the starship.

Star Trek: The Picard Maneuver, Explained

Quick facts.

• Tri-Dimensional Chess is a chess variant featured in Star Trek , starting with the original series (TOS).
• The original prop was crafted by combining elements from 3D Checkers, 3D Tic-Tac-Toe, and the Classic chess set.
• Captain Kirk's "inspired" and sometimes illogical approach to the game proved surprisingly effective.
• Deanna Troi in The Next Generation emphasized intuition as a crucial element in Tri-Dimensional Chess.
• The game's spatial hierarchy and multiple levels add a futuristic twist to traditional chess strategy.
• Movement involves pieces traversing up or down any number of levels during a turn.
• Tri-Dimensional Chess is often referenced metaphorically in real-life contexts, describing a higher-order understanding of complex systems .
• Raumschach, invented in 1907, stands as one of the oldest and classic 3D chess variants.
• Beyond Star Trek , multi-dimensional chess games appear in various fictional works.
• The game's influence extends beyond fiction, with real-life variations exploring three-dimensional and higher-dimensional chess.

Beam Me Up, Chessboard!

Tri-Dimensional Chess, or 3D Chess, made its debut in Star Trek 's original series, becoming a recurring visual feast for Trekkies throughout the franchise. The game's origins are as eclectic as the crew of the Enterprise itself. The original prop, a visual spectacle that rivaled the warp-speed excitement of the Enterprise itself, was a concoction of 3D Checkers, Tic-Tac-Toe, and a futuristic Classic chess set — all sprinkled with a dash of space-age flair. If only the chess sets at our grandmothers' houses had looked this cool!

Captain Kirk's affinity for this variant was apparent, proclaiming in the "Charlie X" episode that he'd "prefer to call it inspired" when Spock raised an eyebrow at his unorthodox moves. Spock, the epitome of logic, noted that Kirk's "illogical approach to chess does have its advantages on occasion." Who knew the final frontier involved strategic moves and witty banter on the chessboard?

In The Next Generation , Counselor Deanna Troi added a layer of mystique:

[3D] chess isn't just a game of ploys and gambits. It's a game of intuition.

The three-dimensional chessboard itself featured multiple levels, each with platforms resembling floating islands, interconnected by "half-levels." Traditional chess pieces could ascend or descend across these levels during a move.

Spock, ever the voice of reason , revealed that the principles of Tri-Dimensional Chess were "basically mathematic." The setup mirrored the chessboard hierarchy, with black pieces predominantly on the secondary level and white pieces on the tertiary level. It's like playing chess in zero gravity — just with more style.

The Extra-Galactic Influence

Tri-Dimensional Chess didn't confine itself to the Star Trek universe. In real life, the term "three-dimensional chess" has transcended the checkered board, symbolizing a metaphorical struggle within complex systems. Describing someone as "playing three-dimensional chess" implies a level of strategic mastery beyond the understanding of mere mortals playing regular chess — a compliment that even Kirk would appreciate.

But Star Trek wasn't the only, or indeed the first, frontier for this variant. The late 19th century birthed three-dimensional chess variants, with Raumschach ("Space chess") leading the charge in 1907. David Pritchard's chess encyclopedia delves into over 50 such variations, extending the game into the cosmos. It's a ballet of bishops and knights , all vying for victory in the expanse of three-dimensional space.

Tri-Dimensional Chess isn't just a phenomenon within the Star Trek universe. It has transcended into other realms of fiction, popping up in various futuristic and sci-fi settings. Doctor Who , the Legion of Super-Heroes , The Lego Movie , and even The Big Bang Theory have all embraced the multi-dimensional allure of this chess variant. It seems the fascination with chess that transcends the traditional 64 squares knows no bounds.

Checkmate: The Final Frontier

Tri-Dimensional Chess is not just a game. It's a representation of intuition, strategy, and a touch of Kirk's inspired chaos . As Trekkies navigate our own three-dimensional landscapes — whether in relationships, politics, or interstellar travel — perhaps fans can take a cue from Kirk, Spock, and the crew of the USS Enterprise. After all, in the chessboard of life, we're all just pawns waiting for our chance to boldly make a move.

Tri-Dimensional Chess represents the boundless imagination of Star Trek , proving that even in the vastness of space, the allure of a checkmate is universal. In the game of Tri-Dimensional Chess, the final frontier is only a move away. Engage!

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For fans of tridimensional chess who want their own set to play, The Noble Collection has released a new version of tridimensional chess that is quite accurate to the design featured in The Original Series.

The Noble Collection’s tridimensional chess set is not the first set that has been available to fans, of course; The Franklin Mint released two editions of the game in the 1990s (a TOS edition in 1993 and a Next Generation version in 1995). While these sets were highly sought after by fans — the TOS version even got a 50th anniversery re-issue in 2016 — neither of The Franklin Mint’s releases came close to matching the look of the on-screen editions.

New for 2021, The Noble Collection has gone back to the 1960s for their new edition, closely replicating the version of tridimensional chess seen in “Charlie X,” right down to the red-and-clear color scheme — the TFM versions had blue boards — and black-and-white retro-styled game pieces.

This is an impressive set that will be appealing to fans both to play with — and for those of you just looking for a neat Star Trek display piece. The set features three main playing boards at three different heights, as well as moveable “attack boards” that feature one of the biggest innovation of chess’s three dimensional counterpart.

If you have a piece on one of the attack boards, you can move it a nearby peg and relocate your piece around the game board — making every move a chance to physically restructure the shape of the playing field.

When tridimensional chess was included in Star Trek for the first time, it did not have a set of rules attached to it, throughout the franchise, characters have moved game pieces around the boards in all sorts of different ways.

In reality, artist Franz Joseph — best known for his classic blueprints of the original Enterprise and the Star Fleet Technical Manual — actually developed rules for the game, and helpfully they’re included in this set.

The instructions explain how tridimensional chess functions, and the guidesheet can be used as a handy cheat sheet mid-game with any Vulcan science officers. The thoughtful inclusion of the instructions ensures that the game can be played as well as displayed, adding value to the set overall.

The set itself is an impressive size – the game board measures approximately 13 inches tall, and will display extremely well as a centerpiece for any Star Trek collection. The game boards themselves are acrylic, but appear sturdy and not liable to break easily.

The game pieces are presented in an impressive black padded case. Each of the 32 game pieces have a nice heft to them and the case will ensure they remain safe between uses. The game pieces are impressive just on their own, and have a cool 1960’s aesthetic to them that is sure to appeal to any fan of the Original Series.

At $145, the Noble Collection’s tridimensional chess set is not a small investment. However, it’s a great set that closely matches the set as it appears in the Original Series and should appeal to fans of classic Trek , budding tridimensional chess players, and prop replica collectors alike.

And next time you have board game night, who is ever going to expect you to whip out a game of 3D chess? If you’re up for the challenge, you can get your own set at The Noble Collection’s website.

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Welcome to TriD-Chess!

Rules for tridimensional chess.

These rules and more can be found at Jens Meder's website

Article 1: The nature and objectives of three-dimensional chess

1.1 Three-dimensional chess is played between two opponents who move pieces or attack boards alternately on a game set called a '3D-Chessboard'. The player with the white pieces commences the game. A player is said to 'have the move', when his opponent's move has been completed.

1.2 The objective of each player is to place the opponent's king 'under attack' in such a way that the opponent has no legal move which would avoid the 'capture' of the king on the following move. The player who achieves this is said to have 'checkmated' the opponent and to have won the game. The opponent who has been checkmated has lost the game.

1.3 If the position is such that neither player can possibly checkmate, the game is drawn.

Article 2: The initial position of the pieces on the 3D-Chessboard

2.1 The 3D-Chessboard is composed of 3 main boards and 4 movable attack boards.

2.2 A main board is composed of a 4x4 grid of 16 equal squares alternately clear (the 'white' squares) and coloured (the 'black' squares).

2.3 An attack board is composed of a 2x2 grid of 4 squares.

2.4 By looking at the 3D-Chessboard from the top, the 3 main boards form one board, 8 squares long and 4 squares wide. The lower-most board is termed "White's Board (W)", the middle board is the "Neutral Board (N)" and the top board is "Black's Board (B)".

2.5 The attack boards start the game on the rear pins of the White and Black Boards, and are referred to as "Queen's Level (QL)" and "King's Level (KL)" depending on which side of the board they are located.

2.6 At the beginning of the game one player has 16 light-coloured pieces (the 'white' pieces) and 2 'white' attack boards; the other has 16 dark-coloured pieces (the 'black' pieces) and 2 marked ('black') attack boards. The pieces are as follows: a white king, a white queen, two white rooks, two white bishops, two white knights, eight white pawns; a black king, a black queen, two black rooks, two black bishops, two black knights, eight black pawns.

2.8 By looking from the top: The vertical columns of squares are called 'files' (z, a, b, c, d, e). The ten horizontal rows of squares are called 'ranks'. A straight line of squares of the same colour, touching corner to corner, is called a 'diagonal'. Due to the attack boards a 3D-Chessboard has a very individual shape, which may vary. Consequently, there are squares which are part-time or permanently (e.g. b0) non-existent. Also, non-existent squares are part of 'files', 'ranks' and 'diagonals'.

Article 3: The moves of the pieces and of the attack boards

When making these moves the queen, rook or bishop cannot move over any intervening pieces. (See Article 3.1(c))

3.3 The knight moves to one of the squares nearest to that on which it stands but not on the same rank, file or diagonal. It does not pass directly over any intervening square.

(b) The king is said to be 'in check', if it is under attack by one or more of the opponent's pieces, even if such pieces cannot themselves move. Declaring a check is not obligatory. A player must not make a move which places or leaves his own king in check.

Article 4: The act of moving the pieces

4.1 Players should feel free to use more than one hand when executing moves (such as when moving attack boards) due to the special nature of the 3D-Chess-Set.

4.2 Provided that he first expresses his intention (e.g. by saying "j'adoube"), the player having the move may adjust one or more pieces on their squares.

4.5 If none of the pieces touched can be moved or captured, the player may make any legal move.

4.6 If the opponent violates Article 4.3 or 4.4 the player cannot claim this after he himself deliberately touches a piece.

4.7 When, as a legal move or part of a legal move, a piece has been released on a square, it cannot then be moved to another square. The move is considered to be made when all the relevant requirements of Article 3 have been fulfilled.

Article 5: The completed game

5.2 The game is drawn when the player to move has no legal move and his king is not in check. The game is said to end in 'stalemate'. This immediately ends the game.

5.3 The game is drawn upon agreement between the two players during the game. This immediately ends the game. (See Article 9.1)

5.4 The game may be drawn if the identical position is about to appear or has appeared on the chessboard three times. (See Article 9.2)

5.5 The game may be drawn if the last 50 consecutive moves have been made by each player without the movement of any pawn and without the capture of any piece. (See Article 9.3)

This is a non-profit fan publication. Use is purely for entertainment and NO infringement is intended! Star Trek; Star Trek: The Next Generation; Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager are registered trademarks of Paramount Pictures Corporation.

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Published Mar 9, 2016

FIRST LOOK: Tridimensional Chess Set from Franklin Mint

If you've been itching to play some tridimensional chess, a la Kirk and Spock in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode " Where No Man Has Gone Before ," your time has just about come. The Franklin Mint has unveiled the first and only authorized re-creation of the iconic chess set, which will be available in April, with an exclusive pre-order window starting today at www.TheFranklinMint.com and wwwShop.StarTrek.com .

The Official 50th Anniversary Star Trek Tridimensional Chess Set will cost $275.00.

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Star Trek: The Next Generation Tridimensional Chess Set

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Basic game setup

Board, pieces and instructions

The Star Trek: The Next Generation Tridimensional Chess Set was an officially-licensed release from The Franklin Mint in 1995 . It is modeled on the 3-D chess games used in the Ten Forward lounge aboard the USS Enterprise -D as seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Like its Star Trek: The Original Series -based counterpart , the TNG set is modeled to about half-scale of its on screen counterpart, features metal pieces plated in 24-karat gold or sterling silver, and has game board surfaces constructed of acrylic. The board's color scheme, however, is black and clear rather than the blue-and-clear scheme on the TOS set. In addition, the board's base is square rather than circular, and completely gold-plated (including the combadge insignias on both sides) save for the inset silver-toned TNG placard. Also, the game comes with six "attack boards" (which also sport gold-plated supports) instead of only the four in the TOS set, and the pieces are also of different, more utilitarian design than those of the older set. All these changes emulate the screen-used sets seen on the show (down to the Kings shaped like the robot from Lost In Space ).

Like the previous set, the TNG set was issued with an authenticity certificate, a storage case for the pieces, and a rulebook for playing the game. The last of these, like the TOS set, was presumably a duplicate of an updated fan-produced rulebook (which included rules for using the six attack boards) out for some time prior to the release of the set, but with no acknowledgment of the fact (nor of the original author).

External links [ ]

• Rules of the game - Federation Standard v5
• Rules of the game - The World Tri Dimensional Chess Federation
• 1 Abdullah bin al-Hussein
• 3 John Paul Lona

3D chess from Star Trek

According to the the World Tri Dimensional Chess Federation's rules , the starting positions illustrated here are quite correct. As they were originally created by a military fighter pilot, to help teach aerial combat tactics, in a three dimensional space, aren't they more pertinent to the original idea of 3D chess in Star Trek?

Franz Joseph admitted he wasn't really a chess player, so the Bartmess starting positions lack any real integrity.

I'd be interested in anyone else's thoughts on this.

Thanks for the information. I looked through the scenes in these two episodes, and I found the Gothic set in "The Naked Time," but I could not find any scene with 3D Chess in "Day of the Dove." Curiously, both episodes had Sulu wielding a sword.

Hi There! Ganine's Gothic chess pieces were indeed used on the original series. You can see them in The Naked Time, and Day of the Dove. I believe there may be other instances. I can tell you that Star Trek Continues would never have use Chess pieces that were not authentic. Loved your article. - Doug Drexler

Just a small update on the post by Jaymes. Taking the picture shown in the article for the starting position, the left hand side is the Queens side and the right hand side is the Kings side. The Kings and Queens should be on the movable levels next to the Rooks (or Castles). The back rank on the top and bottom levels should have the Knights at each side with the two Bishops on the centre ranks. At least, this is the setup shown in the pamphlet I got with my official Star Trek Tridimensional Chess Set almost 30 years ago.

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Star Trek Tridimensional Chess Set for 2 players

Purchase options and add-ons, about this item.

• Enter an intergalactic chess expedition with the Star Trek Tridimensional Chess Set.
• An iconic Tridimensional Chess Set, as seen in the classic TV series Star Trek.
• With three main playing boards and four moveable "attack boards", this unique chess set measures 13 inches tall!
• Featuring translucent acrylic game boards and 32 die cast pieces. Die cast chess pieces measure approximately 1.5 inches tall.
• Authentic recreation from the classic TV series. Ages 14+

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Customers like the quality, ease of use, and value of the chess set. They mention that it's well made, easy to set up, and easy to learn gameplay. Customers appreciate the appearance, and material. However, some customers differ on size.

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Customers like the quality of the chess set. They say it's well-made, sturdy, and has die-cast metal pieces that are nicely painted. They also appreciate the weight and sturdiness of the boards. Overall, customers say it’s a great set that doesn’t disappoint.

"...I liked the weight and sturdiness of the chess boards themselves. The attack boards fit snugly into their slots...." Read more

"...This set is sturdy (within reason) and several friends have gawked adoringly at it because it looks amazing...." Read more

"...It was easily set up. A full chess board with a small footprint." Read more

"...The first delivered set had the upper deck badly cracked at the mounting point . The second delivery had a similar problem...." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the chess set. They mention that it is pretty, exquisite, and a nice display piece. They also appreciate the cast metal pieces that are nicely painted black and white. Overall, customers find the set to be absolutely unique and fabulous.

" Nice looking , full size, playable (you can get the rule book on the Internet), cool conversation piece for Star Trek fans." Read more

"...and several friends have gawked adoringly at it because it looks amazing . The pieces and frame are solid as described, not plastic...." Read more

"I am over the moon to have a really functional, attractive tridimensional chess set ...." Read more

"...One little spike on metal caught his finger. Looks good , good size, color good." Read more

Customers find the item stand easy to use. They mention it's easy to set up, learn gameplay, and affix the battle boards. They also appreciate the good instructions.

"...This set also comes with good instructions ...." Read more

"...He took it home and set it up that day and loves it. It was easily set up . A full chess board with a small footprint." Read more

"...The board arrived well packed in styrofoam. Battle boards were easy to affix ...." Read more

"...I got it for a gift for my husband and it’s perfect!! Easy to use and the color is red not pink. It looks like pink in the picture but it’s red!" Read more

Customers say the item stand is a perfect gift. They also appreciate the beautifully packaged and weighted pieces.

"...love Trek, Then you know this is a nice display piece and an excellent gift for any fan as well...." Read more

" Great for gifts ! I got it for a gift for my husband and it’s perfect!! Easy to use and the color is red not pink...." Read more

"...Easy to learn gameplay if you already play chess. Makes a perfect gift . Overall quality is way better than I expected." Read more

"...It comes beautifully packaged and the pieces are weighted perfectly" Read more

Customers find the item stand well worth the money, affordable, and fun. They also say it provides better quality for the price than expected.

"...My advice: it's well worth the money . "Risk, risk is our business. It's what this [board] was made for. That's why we're [going to play] her."..." Read more

"...look-alike from the original series 66 to 1969 I think this is well worth the money I'm highly satisfied with it it came on time when it was..." Read more

" Far better quality for the price than I expected. I am in no way disappointed!" Read more

"...tile fan than pinkish red but is still the same game and fun, plus affordable ." Read more

Customers like the material of the stand. For example, they mention the pieces are metal and have a good weight to them. The main board is one piece of metal with thick acrylic boards.

"...The pieces and frame are solid as described, not plastic ...." Read more

"...The stand is metal and the boards are a nice thickness plexiglass. The pieces are also metal and have a good weight to them...." Read more

"...The pieces are weighted really nicely and the main board is one piece of metal with thick acrylic boards, and no visible aberrations...." Read more

Customers find the item stand to be a lot of fun, sturdy, and a cool conversation piece for Star Trek fans.

"Nice looking, full size, playable (you can get the rule book on the Internet), cool conversation piece for Star Trek fans." Read more

"...It's really a lot of fun , both to learn and to play.My advice: it's well worth the money. "Risk, risk is our business...." Read more

"More of a blue tile fan than pinkish red but is still the same game and fun , plus affordable." Read more

Customers have mixed opinions about the size of the item stand. Some find the board has a smaller footprint, and it fits in most settings. However, others say that it's a bit small and flimsy, with tiny pieces that fall off the tray. Some customers also mention that it is not as tall as the original.

"Nice looking, full size , playable (you can get the rule book on the Internet), cool conversation piece for Star Trek fans." Read more

"...My only complaint is that this is on the small side - getting my large hands into the space between the boards and attack boards is annoying...." Read more

"...but in my opinion that makes the game more playable as the board has a smaller footprint , fits in most settings, and doesn't take up as much table..." Read more

"...My only complaint is that it is a bit small and flimsy. The pieces are tiny and they fall off the tray when I bump into the table far too easily...." Read more

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Star Trek 3D chess and more out-of-this-world ways to celebrate International Chess Day

July 20 is International Chess Day (also called World Chess Day by the United Nations). In honor of the holiday, the folks at The Noble Collection asked me if I wanted to review the Star Trek chess set . Sometimes my job is really cool.

In the accompanying video, you can see the entire chess set in action. It's actually a lot nicer than I expected. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I guess I figured it would be some kid's toy. It's not. It has much more of a collectable quality. Watch the video. You'll see.

More to the point, though, I got to thinking about what July 20th really means to me. On July 20th in 1969, human beings stepped out onto the moon's surface for the first time. I was a little boy way back then, watching on an old black and white Zenith TV. 

I've often wondered how Michael Collins felt. He stayed in the command module, orbiting the moon, while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin went down to the surface. On the one hand, he was a critical part of the crew of Apollo 11. On the other hand, he got so close but never made it onto the moon's surface.

While I was putting the video together, I thought a lot about the relationship between the original Star Trek series and the real-world space program.

The first episode of Star Trek aired on Sept. 8, 1966. Gene Roddenberry had actually started writing his treatment (basically, a concept document) for Star Trek on March 11, 1964. Think about that date.

The last crewed Mercury flight (which launched just one astronaut into space at a time) launched on May 15, 1963, with Gordon Cooper in the cockpit. Cooper was an aeronautical engineer and an Air Force test pilot. He was also the youngest of the Mercury astronauts.

Roddenberry penned the basic concepts for Star Trek after Mercury but before Gemini (the missions with two astronauts in the cockpit). The Enterprise was originally called the Yorktown in his treatment. The original pilot, "The Cage", was filmed in 1964 as well. That pilot didn't make it into production, but some of the characters we've now come to know and love in Star Trek Discovery were defined back then, including Captain Pike, Number One, and, of course, Mr Spock.

The original Star Trek series was picked up by Desilu Productions, at the time a leading independent TV production firm. 

Fun fact : Desilu was named after its owners and founders, Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. Yep, that Lucy and Desi. As the story goes, Lucy was actually the person who greenlit Star Trek, believing it would have life in this concept she had, called syndication. Back then, reruns and syndication weren't the juggernauts they became. Lucy not only enabled Star Trek  but pioneered the entire concept of second-run TV shows.

As hard as it is to believe now, that first Star Trek show with Kirk, Spock, and McCoy wasn't a huge success. After ratings dropped, it was cancelled. The last episode aired on June 3, 1969 -- about a month and a half before Armstrong and Aldrin walked on the moon.

As I edited the video, my thoughts took me along two paths. The first, of course, was that all that went into the original series — ranging from Klingons to teleporters, from handheld communicators to automatic sliding doors -- preceded the very first moon landing. Contrary to popular legend , the communicator did not inspire the cell phone. Mobile phones were under development before that time. But it was still cool.

My other path of thinking was just how well some of the original plot devices in Star Trek TOS have held up over time. If you've watched the subsequent series, whether The Next Generation or Discovery , it's interesting to see just how much of the basic foundational mythos of Star Trek was put into practice in that original series.

Get your space, chess, and Trek binge on

Next, I want to loop in some space and chess-related TV recommendations, in no particular order. The next season of the animated  Star Trek  series  Lower Decks  premieres in three weeks, on August 12.

I've been watching the Apple TV+ series  For All Mankind . It's an alternate history version of the space program where Armstrong and Aldrin landed after the Russians. I got Apple TV+ for free  when I bought an inexpensive iPad , but I'd pay the $4.99 a month just to watch this series. It's tight and can be very suspenseful in places.

It also spotlights some of the unsung roles women played in America's early space program, including the Mercury 13. Most people don't know that 13 exceptional female pilots were trained to be astronauts along with the men for that mission. A character in the show, Molly Cobb, is based largely on Jerrie Cobb , a truly amazing woman who never made it into space but was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for her very dangerous work flying supplies to indigenous tribes in South America.

Be forewarned,  For All Mankind  is kind of like  Game of Thrones  in space, where  bad  things always happen.  For All Mankind  gets very, very dark. But it's still a very cool series.

Let's loop back to chess. If you haven't watched  The Queen's Gambit  on Netflix, you're missing a great show. I avoided it for the longest time because the idea of a series around chess seemed like it might be pretty tedious, but some of my friends raved about it. So, my wife and I watched it together, and I must admit, it was riveting. Well worth your time.

And with that, I'll sign out for now. Have a happy International Chess Day/ Moon Landing Anniversary. If you've watched any of these shows or have any cool Star Trek props or stories, please feel free to share in the comments below. 

And what about the 3D chess set I reviewed? Do you plan on getting one? What about giving one as a holiday gift? The comments are there for you to let us know.

You can follow my day-to-day project updates on social media. Be sure to follow me on Twitter at @DavidGewirtz , on Facebook at Facebook.com/DavidGewirtz , on Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz , and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV .

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Star Trek Chess Set Review & Playing Guide

Chess: The Final Frontier. If you’re ready to boldly go where no one has gone before, this Star Trek chess set may be the perfect thing for you!

Star Trek is a beloved series that has sparked several different television shows and movies based off of its original run. There has also been tons of Star Trek merchandise produced over the years, ranging from collectible figurines of the characters to a Barbie and Ken gift set that featured the two popular dolls dressed up in Starfleet uniforms. Over the half decade that Star Trek has been around and popular, there have been quite a few odd pieces of merchandise available, like:

Star Trek Chess Set by Franklin Mint (297$)

This Star Trek chess set may seem intimidating to those unfamiliar with the show, but fellow Star Trek fans will recognize it immediately. With its many movable platforms positioned at different heights, this board could easily be confused for a decorative item rather than a functional chess set. If you learn the rules of Star Trek chess though, you can enjoy many hours of play!

The set was released by Franklin Mint in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Star Trek’s original airing

Star Trek chess is a variant of modern chess that is played in the fictional future world depicted in the Star Trek TV shows and movies. There is a collectible rule book included with this Star Trek 3D chess set that will teach you how to play it and explain all the rules. It may look scary at first, but it’s actually quite simple.

The Star Trek Chess Set makes for a very unique playing experience because it is the only chess set with board pieces that move during the course of the game. It has 3 stationary base pieces and 4 attack boards that move around during play. The strategy and gameplay are similar to traditional chess, but different enough to offer a new challenge.

Product Details [Read More] :

The Star Trek Chess Set

Final Thoughts

Chess in the Star Trek universe is a bit different than our modern version of chess. Fans of the show may remember characters playing a chess-like game with each other at various times over the course of the franchise’s long run. It was played not on the flat chess set we’re accustomed to today, but on a 3D board with multiple platforms at different heights. Star Trek chess or Star Trek tridimesional chess, as it was called in the show, was a favorite pastime of Captain Kirk and Spock, and it was later also enjoyed by the android Data and others.

Development of Star Trek Chess Rules

When the game was played on screen during Star Trek’s original run, it was just a prop with no gameplay rules behind it. The rules were actually later developed by a Star Trek fan named Andrew Bartmess who recognized the interest people had in playing Star Trek chess. He also developed different variations of these rules to represent how Klingons, Cardassians, and Ferengi may play the game differently. We assume the Ferengi would just cheat!

Star Trek Chess Gameplay

To start the game, pieces are placed in position like this:

On each player’s turn, they may either move a movable level, or move a piece. Movable levels must always be positioned above or below any corner of the 3 main boards. One square will be overlapping with the main board, with three more overhanging. A player may move a movable level only if it is empty or if it contains one of that player’s own pawns and no other pieces of any kind.

If the player chooses to move a piece rather than an attack board, the usual rules apply. You may go up or down levels as part of your move. It’s helpful, when you’re first starting, to picture the Star Trek chess board as flat, like in the diagram above, to determine where your piece can move. The rule book included with The Star Trek 3D Chess Set has a more complete set of rules for you to follow. Stick to those instructions and you’ll master Star Trek chess in no time!

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• The Legend of Zelda Chess Set : Our Review of The Legend of Zelda Chess Set
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10 comments

This game needs app form I’m dieing to play it on my tab

There is an app on Google Play that you can download its call TRI D Chess and its free. There is also an older Windows program called Parmen even though the graphics are dated its still a good program the will play a good game.

Yes I lost my book for my chess set which is the Original tri-dimensional chess set can You please get back to me with a way I can get another one or where I can purchase one or can you send me one please thank you

Timothy, Please contact the chess store you ordered your set from (probably Chess House or House of Staunton). Our website includes recommendations and information, but the actual purchase is from the stores and not from us. Good luck, let us know how you do.

The rule book accompanying the Franklin Mint board is fairly unplayable. There’s a good set of 3D chess rules here: http://w3dcf.com/information/laws

This is a very interesting article as it shows the pieces in more traditional classic chess starting positions, something most rule sets don’t do. This is due to Franz Schnaubelt, the author of the original Starfleet technical manual, not being a particularly big fan of chess. The official rules of the World Tri Dimensional Chess Federation however, do use the same starting positions as they have adopted the rule set written by an RAF pilot, Flying Officer John Hawkins, who was a chess enthusiast and developed the rules to better teach fighter tactics.

http://w3dcf.com/information/laws

The pieces are not set up correctly as seen in the Star Trek Technical Manual by Franz Joseph. Also Nobel Collections had come out with a beautiful 3D chess set based on the TV series prop and even thought the price is $145.00 its worth it!!

The noble collection main boards aren’t aligned properly, Anthony. It makes playing a decent game more hard work.

No it doesn’t. I have played many games on it and never had any issues.

No it doesn’t. I have played many games with it and I have never had any issues besides its based on the original prop with some minor differences and the original prop was not aligned as in the Star Trek Technical Manual by Franz Joseph as the Franklin Mints chess set is.

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Tri Dimensional Chess

• View history

Sheldon and Leonard playing tri dimensional chess

"Tri Dimensional Chess" is a 3D chess variant game first appearing in the original and subsequent Star Trek television shows. Fans of the television show often refer to it as 'Three Dimensional Chess', whereas actual players of the game call it 'Tri Dimensional Chess'. The game is played similarly to classical chess but the pieces may end their moves on different levels.

• 2 How to play Tri Dimensional Chess
• 4 Appearances
• 5 References

History [ ]

The rules for the game were originally described by Franz Joseph Schnaubelt in the first Star Fleet Technical Manual but they were far from comprehensive.

A Star Trek fan and chess player, Andrew Bartmess, adapted these rules to create the Federation Standard rules.

Flying Officer John Hawkins, of the RAF, rewrote the rules to help teach modern fighter jet combat ideas.

These days, tri dimensional chess tournaments also use Jens Meder's rules for tournament play.

The World Tri Dimensional Chess Federation adopted the John Hawkins rules as their official set.

How to play Tri Dimensional Chess [ ]

How to set up a tri dimensional chess game

Set up The three main boards, each measuring four squares by four squares, are positioned in a step like arrangement and the players place their pieces at the very top and very bottom of the steps respectively. Along the edge are placed two bishops either side of the king and queen, with the queen being placed on a square of matching colour. On the squares in front of these pieces is placed a pawn. Overlapping each bishop's square is suspended a smaller attack board, measuring two squares by two squares, on each of which is placed a knight on the inside, a rook on the outside and two pawns in front.

Movement Each of the three main boards overlaps exactly half of any adjacent board and the overlapping squares are deemed the same position. As in standard chess, a piece moves along its path until it is blocked by a piece of the same colour or captures an opponent's piece however, if the next square along the path is on a different level, the piece may continue moving along the path on the new level, bypassing any blocking pieces. A knight may still move even if both paths are blocked. If a piece continues its move on a different level, it may not return to a previously occupied level in the same move. A piece, leaving an attack board, must use at least one square of the attack board's host main board before occupying another attack board in a single move. A player may elect to move an attack board instead of a piece on their move to either an adjacent corner on the same main board or onto any corner on an adjacent main board a maximum of two squares horizontally distant. The board may be rotated 180° around its vertical axis during the move. To move an attack board, it must be occupied only by a single pawn of the moving player's colour. The movement or rotation of an attack board may never cause its occupying pawn to move backwards.

Other rules A pawn may move two squares on its very first move and an opposing pawn may capture it ‘en passent’ only by moving to an unoccupied square behind the pawn to be captured.

A pawn is promoted when reaching the opponent's starting edge. If a pawn reaches an opponent's bishop's starting square, it may only be promoted if an attack board is not overlapping the square. In this situation, the attack board may not be moved whilst the pawn remains unpromoted.

A pawn reaching the rear squares of an attack board occupying either of the opponent's bishop's starting squares is immediately promoted.

The king may castle by moving either to the outside rear corner of the king's side attack board and moving the displaced pawn to the king's bishop's starting square or to the inside rear corner of the queen's side attack board and placing the queen's rook on the queen's starting square.

• The tri dimensional chess board used in the show was an oversized replica of the Franklin Mint commemorative tri dimensional chess board.
• Leonard and Sheldon played tri dimensional chess using the official rules of the World Tri Dimensional Chess Federation [1] , of which some of the production team are members.

Appearances [ ]

• The Pancake Batter Anomaly (S1E11)
• The Launch Acceleration (S5E23)
• The Hofstadter Insufficiency (S7E1)

References [ ]

• ↑ The World Tri Dimensional Chess Federation
• 1 George Cooper Jr.
• 2 Amanda McAllister
• 3 Missy Cooper

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You Can Now Experience The 'Star Trek' Tridimensional Chess Set Online Before You Buy It

Paramount Global PARA PARAA ’s Paramount Consumer Products has partnered with future-forward web3 enabler droppLabs , to release an industry-first, interactive “shopatainment” experience for The Noble Collection’s original series “Star Trek” Tridimensional Chess Set.

Thanks to dropp's patent-protected XR and e-commerce technology, “Star Trek” fans can now experience and interact with the 3D chess set before making a purchase of the physical product, bringing a whole new meaning to “try before you buy.”

“Providing fans, a compelling interactive digital experience in advance of purchasing and receiving a physical product is the essence of shopatainment and the future of e-commerce," said Gurps Rai, CEO and co-founder of dropp group. "We’re completely aligned with Paramount’s and the ‘Star Trek’ franchise’s vision to boldly go where no one has gone before. Our partnership represents a meaningful first step for the entertainment industry’s Web3 adoption journey."

A New Frontier For e-Commerce

This is the first time Paramount’s vast e-commerce offerings is integrating droppLab’s technology, with a focus on providing fans value-add interactive experiences that bridge the digital world and physical products. By providing “Star Trek” fans unique, XR-driven and gamified experiences, Paramount will tap into a new frontier of e-commerce industry metrics that will define success going forward. 

“Through droppLabs, Paramount is able to provide our fans with an immersive experience during their shopping journey,” said Jose Castro, executive vice president of global collaborations for EMEA licensing and US softlines, consumer products and experiences at Paramount Consumer Products. “Paramount is excited to offer ‘Star Trek’ fans the ability to interact with the 3D chess set through dropp’s AR technology before purchase to create an out-of-this-world shopping experience.”

Fans can view and order the “Star Trek” 3D Chess Set https://shop.startrek.com/

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Enter an intergalactic chess expedition with the official Star Trek Tridimensional Chess Set. The authentic prop replica of the iconic Tridimensional Chess Set, as seen on Star Trek : The Original Series, includes 32 die-cast pieces that measure approximately 3.8 cm tall. The officially authorized recreation of the iconic game measures approximately 33 cm tall and features translucent acrylic game boards

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