Classic Mens Gifts

Four-Player Chess  is often credited to Capt Charles Verney, who was the first known to have documented the game in England in 1881.

For the most part, four player chess follows (or can follow) all the normal rules of two-player chess.  Verney had special rules for partnership playing, disallowed castling, and pawns had to make it to the enemies last rank in order to be exchanged for another piece.  Pawns could also march up and back down the board.  Verney also had checkmate as the ultimate move.

In modern variations of four-player chess, partnering may not be required, but allowable, castling can be allowed, and actual capturing a king a required move to eliminate a player.  The Chess Federation does not recognize four -player chess in any form, and there are no official rules.  So players are free to experiment with variations and make their own rules.