Swedish (also Bughouse) on the iqpi.io platform is a team chess format online: two teams, several boards at once, captured pieces go to a reserve, from which they can be dropped onto the board. The team wins by the rules of the selected format. You can play for free or rated with a Buy-in fee (for money in IQPIC).

Below — how to create a Swedish / Bughouse match online, formats 2×2 / 3×3 / 5×5, lobby, reserve and drop, rated fee, and how Swedish differs from regular chess.

The game runs in the personal account (lk).

Related topics: Chess, Capital Chess, Rated games, Balance management.

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What this mode is

When the match win condition is already met, unfinished boards stop (reason “match finished”).

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Where to find things

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How to create a match

1. Open /lk → in the chess block “Create Swedish” (or /game/create/swedish).
2. Step “Lobby settings”: format, access, check/mate by drop, game type and Buy-in if needed → “Next”.
3. Step “Game settings”: timer and board win method (Classic or Capital Chess) → “Create match”.
4. Lobby /game/swedish/{hash} opens.

Creator limits

• You can have only one active waiting lobby or ongoing Swedish match where you are the creator at a time.
• A lobby without a start lives 15 minutes, then closes.

The creator can return to waiting-lobby settings (edit) before the match starts.

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Formats and team win

A draw on a single board by itself does not decide the match — the format condition must be met.

Match draw — when format rules do not determine a winning team (for example, only draws on deciding boards). This is separate from a draw on one board.

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Lobby access

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Check and mate by drop

If an option is off, the server rejects such a drop.

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Game type and Buy-in

• Unrated / regular — no IQPIC fee.
• Rated — requires an active balance; Buy-in in IQPIC is required.

Fee accounting is at the level of the entire match, not a single board:

• pot ≈ Buy-in × number of participants;
• the winning team splits the pot;
• losers lose their fee;
• on a match draw, Buy-in is not redistributed.

At creation and when taking a slot, the balance must cover the fee amount.

More on rated duels and the fee: Rated games. History: Balance management (operations of Swedish game-result type with lobby number).

Skill rating for Swedish / Swedish Capital Chess is separate from IQPIC transfers.

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Board game settings

On the “Game settings” step — the same principles as chess:

• modern or classical timer (classical — when the board is Classic; for Capital Chess — modern only);
• board win method: “Classic” or “Capital Chess” (with piece values).

In the Swedish form, Capital Chess is selected by default. Time handicap in the Swedish form is unavailable.

Board mode details: Chess, Capital Chess.

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Lobby

In the lobby you see: format, access, drop rules, time, game type / Buy-in size, slots by board (team A/B, color), crown for the creator, shared chat, share-link button. While the match is waiting, the rules block shows a lobby lifetime timer (up to 15 minutes from creation).

How to join

1. Open the lobby from the list or by link.
2. Press “Take” on a free slot.
3. Until you press “Ready”, “Take” stays on other free slots — you can switch seats: the previous seat is freed and you move to the chosen one.
4. “Ready” / “Not ready” is at the bottom of the lobby (once you have a seat). After “Ready”, “Take” on free slots is hidden; after “Not ready” it appears again.
5. When all slots are filled and everyone is ready — a short countdown to the boards. At that moment occupied seats for all participants are highlighted as ready (green frame).

Lobby chat can be used by players in slots and the creator.

Creator

• Delete lobby — only while the match is waiting (with confirmation).
• After deletion others get a notification; the creator goes to /lk.

When the lobby closes by itself

If the match does not start within 15 minutes, the lobby closes (cancelled). When the on-screen timer reaches zero, the lobby is removed automatically; participants see an expiry message. The creator can create a new lobby.

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Playing on the boards

After start each player goes to their board.

On screen: a normal game (moves, clocks, resign…), a reserve for drops, in 2×2 — link to the partner’s board; match chat — by team (see below).

On desktop, your reserve is a side panel next to the board (piece buttons with a count); the opponent’s reserve is above the board. On mobile, the reserve is in the player’s side card.

• While the format condition is not met — other boards keep playing.
• When the condition is met — the match ends, other boards close (“match finished”).

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Switching tables and spectating

A match has several boards. Use table navigation (table buttons in the game UI) to open another board of the same match.

If you are watching another table and a move is played on your board — you get a notification and can return quickly.

A match guest (no seat) can also switch tables via guest view links.

You can watch other tables if your board has already ended but the match is still going.

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Team chat and miniature

During play the chat panel is your team chat (not shared with opponents). More about the panel: Chats.

Moves on partner tables keep updating even when another miniature is open: when you switch, the position is current.

Open a partner’s full board from table navigation (not by clicking the miniature).

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Reserve: where captures go

The king does not go to the reserve. You can drop only pieces from the pool visible to your slot.

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Drop

1. Wait for your turn.
2. Select a piece in the reserve (on desktop — the side panel; when hovering the board, the cursor becomes a semi-transparent icon of the selected piece).
3. Click an empty square.
4. A drop is a move instead of moving a piece on the board.

Clicking the same reserve piece again clears the selection. A right-click on the board also clears it (desktop). A piece with zero stock in the panel is unavailable.

Limits:

• a pawn cannot be placed on the 1st or 8th rank;
• check / mate by drop — only if allowed in lobby settings.

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Match result

Final window:

• team win / loss / draw;
• tabs per table with reason (mate, flag, resign, stalemate, draw, “match finished”, “partner resigned”, etc.);
• for a rated game — IQPIC balance change.

Rematch

“Rematch” opens creation of regular chess with a challenge to the opponent of that board, not a new Swedish lobby.

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How it differs from related games

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Typical scenarios

A. Friendly 2×2 by link

1. Format 2×2 → “By link” → unrated.
2. Send the link → slots → everyone “Ready”.
3. A win on any board ends the match immediately; captures feed the partner.

B. Open rated 3×3

1. 3×3 → “Open” → rated + Buy-in.
2. Players from the waiting list.
3. Center decides, or both edges with the same winning team.

C. Lobby expired

15 minutes without start → the timer reaches zero → the lobby closes automatically → you can create a new one.

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FAQ

Why can’t I create a new lobby?

There is already an active Swedish lobby or match as creator. Delete the waiting lobby, wait for the match to end, or auto-expiry (15 minutes).

The lobby is not in the “waiting” list.

“By link” mode does not appear in the public list. Or the lobby expired / was deleted.

Can I change seats after “Take”?

Yes, until you press “Ready”: press “Take” on another free slot — the previous seat is freed. After “Ready”, switching is unavailable until you press “Not ready”.

Why did the match end while I was still playing?

The format condition triggered on other tables; your board closed with “match finished”.

Drop won’t place.

Your turn, piece in your reserve (stock greater than zero), empty square, pawn rules, check/mate-by-drop permissions.

Is an active balance required?

For a regular game — no. For rated with Buy-in — yes, plus enough IQPIC.

Are there Swedish tournaments?

In the platform tournament catalog — no.

Does rematch make Swedish again?

No — regular chess with a challenge opens.

How do I watch a partner’s table without leaving my game?

Use match table navigation: another table opens as a spectator; your own connection stays. Orientation — your team color at the bottom.

What is the miniature above the chat for?

To see a partner’s position without leaving your board. The miniature is not clickable; the full board is via table navigation. In 3×3 / 5×5 switch miniatures with the table numbers to the right of the title.

Who sees chat messages during the game?

Only your team.

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Cheat sheet

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Related help links

• Chess — classic duel.
• Capital Chess — mate and points on the board.
• Rated games — Buy-in and settlement.
• Balance management — IQPIC history.
• Chats — chat panel and match chat.
• Prize tournaments — tournaments in other disciplines.

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This article describes Swedish (Bughouse) on the iqpi.io platform as of publication. See the interface for current button labels.