Sometimes games appear that seem to have been played on a different planet. Conventional strategies go out of the window and familiar tactical themes are nowhere to be seen. Pieces appear to be in open rebellion and are steadfastly refusing to do the natural jobs that they were designed for. This is irrational chess.

In this collection of brilliantly unconventional and irrational games, the positions appear almost random. Kings have gone walkabout, pieces are on bizarre squares, huge pawn rollers are sweeping all before them. How can you navigate a path in such a game? Prolific chess author and coach Cyrus Lakdawala shows you how.