Define Bughouse Meaning

Crazy, insane, deranged.

n.-A variation on chess, the origin for the name of which no rational person is aware. There are four players broken into two teams, and each player has a partner who plays the opposite color, passing along any pieces (s)he may capture. Pieces may be placed as a turn instead of moving a piece already on the board. Also timed (chess clocks): five minutes.

Bughouse has spawned such brilliant insults as:
"I'll castle your queen-side."
"How about a free king?"
"Oh my fucking God. He played e5."
and
"Ah. The double sit. Classic."

Bughouse Chess is a variant of Chess. It is also known as Siamese Chess, but this term is rarely, if ever, used in the community of Bughouse players. Essentially, you select a partner by request, and play another team comprised of 2 players. You and your partner each play your own board (typically high rated vs high rated and so forth), but both boards are visible to all 4 of the players. Turns still apply, the time control is typically under 3 mins (or 3 minutes 0 increment), priority of check still applies, all of the pieces still move the same, etc.) What non-experienced players will find down-right puzzling is the piece bank (amongst a few other things). When a piece is captured on your partner's board, the piece immediately becomes available for your use (given it is your turn). The piece does not expire, and can be used at any point in the game, so long as it is your turn to move. This works vice versa, and works to create an unparalleled element of creativity, via tactics and strategy, that "regular" chess does not.

This game is predominantly played on major servers such as, ICC (Internet Chess Club and FICS (Free Internet Chess Server); far more so on the latter mentioned server, though. The game is highly addictive, mentally draining, stressful, life and mood altering, and flat-out FUN!

The best way to describe it is for you to come play for yourself!