codex · nerf

Quarantine

You can't move a piece into your own first two ranks from outside them (pieces already on those ranks may still move within them). Separately, while your king is in , only your king may move.

At a glance

Type
Nerf
Tier
IV. SevereSevere: a strong swing, offered as games open up.
Focus
King, Movement, Check, Positioning
Collection
Core
Appears in
Nerf mode
How it works
Passive and secret: it is always on, and your opponent cannot see it.

How it works

Quarantineis one of Nerf Chess's secret handicaps. In Nerf mode you choose one of two nerfs before the first move, in secret, and carry it for the whole game.

The board quietly enforces it: any move it forbids is simply never offered, so you cannot break it by accident. Your opponent never sees which nerf you took until the game ends, so every move you make is also a clue they are trying to read.

Lock down.

History

  1. May 14, 2026Part of the original nerf library Nerf Chess launched with.

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