HDC Handbook

Last updated: June 1, 2026

HyperDimension Chess is chess in three-dimensional space. Instead of a single board, HDC is played on an 8×8×8 cube with 8 layers and 512 squares. The familiar pieces remain. In addition, HDC introduces the Duke as a new major piece.

This handbook is more detailed than the in-app help. It is meant for curious newcomers as well as players who want to read the rules, movement patterns, and controls in a calmer setting.

Remember Moves are made only on the 2D board. The 3D cube is the spatial overview. If a target lies on another layer, switch to that layer and tap the marked target square there.

Start here

Who this handbook is for

This handbook helps if you:

are seeing HDC for the first time
want to understand the 3D idea quickly
want to look up a piece or a special rule
want to understand how the app is controlled
want to work with example files later on

What makes HDC special

HDC stays close to classical chess while extending the game by the additional Z dimension. This creates new lines of attack, new defensive duties, and new ways of thinking. Especially important are:

eight layers instead of one board
attacks from above and below
the Duke as a new control piece
pawn captures with layer changes
a second castling direction along the layers

Easy to expand later

This handbook is intentionally structured so that it can later grow with:

diagrams and illustrations
short explainer videos
example positions
example games
downloadable HDC files
deeper strategy and analysis chapters

HDC as a stack of layers

The overview shows the core idea: HDC consists of eight layers stacked into one position. Layer IV remains the familiar reference point, but all eight layers belong to the same game state.