X-Chess has the same pieces and directions of movement as in traditional Chess, but on a unique board tilted 45 degrees from the horizontal and vertical axes. This turns the squares into diamonds, but the 8 possible directions of piece movement remain the same as in regular Chess!

Because the diamond faces touch diagonally, the Bishop's diagonal movement gives it the strength of a conventional Rook, while the Rook's horizontal and vertical movements limit it to diamonds of one color like a conventional Bishop. The other pieces have movements and relative strengths similar to their counterparts in conventional Chess.