Metamate™ is a chess variant born from a simple idea: to replace a piece on the chessboard with a new piece that, ironically, does nothing by itself but knows how to copy those around it.

The variant overlays the original rules and, without replacing them, extends them; shifting the classic and "absolute" game of chess into a world of relative mechanisms.

Playable even with a single piece, understandable in four minutes thanks to rules integrated into it, Metamate™ brings wonder back to the heart of the millennia-old game.

Memo sheet

By nullifying any theory, it allows two players of very different levels to surprise each other, have fun together, and challenge each other on – almost – equal terms.

Created in Geneva in 2025 by a Swiss designer, the project was praised in April 2025 by 15 of the 30 best players in the world, including four world champions.

The project follows its way from real world to the digital one having already a playable app in beta version.