Below, you can find the rules for mole chess:

• A game is played between two teams of three players.
• In each team, there is a “mole” whose goal is to help the opposing team win.
  • The mole is selected by drawing pieces of paper, and their identity is unknown to both teams.
• Each player on a team plays a move consecutively, one after another.
  • No communication about specific moves is allowed. However, players can discuss general strategies. For example, “you should play e4” is not allowed, but saying “let’s play fast” is.
• A player on a team (hopefully the mole) can be voted out if both of the other teammates agree to vote them out.
  • A verbal agreement between these players is sufficient to vote a player out.
  • Only one player can be voted out. If the voted-out player is not the mole, the mole is free to act as they wish for the rest of the game (when it is their turn). This includes: just waiting on their turn until the clock runs out.
  • If a player is voted out during their turn, they can finish their move if they were touching a piece when the vote occurred. Otherwise, the next player must make the move.
  • Once a team is reduced to two players, full communication about all moves is allowed. However, the players must still play consecutively.

Tips & Tricks

• Play with a longer time control or without time control.
• For moles:
  • Be subtle. Don’t make an obvious blunder, such as losing your queen immediately. If your blunder is too obvious, you’ll be voted out, and losing a queen might not be enough to secure the game. Worst-case scenario: You blunder your queen, get voted out, and the opposite team’s mole (with a 1/3 chance) intentionally fails to take the queen and counter-blunders theirs, resulting in both moles being out, but your team down a queen!
  • Losing on time is a good strategy for the mole.
  • Capitalize on your teammates’ bad moves and try to get them voted out. Once that happens, you’ll be free to do whatever you want!
  • Look for opportunities to blunder a mate in 1. If there’s any time to not be subtle, it’s when you can blunder a mate in 1. There’s a 2/3 chance the opposing team’s mole can’t prevent the mate. Even if they do, they’ll also be removed from the game!
• For normal players:
  • Be careful with your vote. A small blunder, such as losing a pawn, may not be enough to warrant voting someone out.
  • Watch the clock carefully. Your mole wants you to run out of time.
  • Avoid positions where a mate in 1 is possible if the next player is the mole. Always keep an eye on the worst possible moves that the mole on your side could play to prevent being mated.
  • Create opportunities for the opposing team’s mole to blunder a mate in 1. Even trying for an early queen attack, like a scholar’s mate, might work to your advantage.