New standard boards have been added to combat the f sac problem.

If you have any corrections please write it in the comments or on Discord (@Lavamat#9804).

If you have something to add it's best to discuss it on the Official 5D Chess Discord[discord.com]. Most of the lines were analyzed there first.

This guide assumes you already know the rules of 5D chess. Here's a link[github.com] to the notation used.

Against ANYTHING start with 1. Nf6

Against e3

If white pins the d pawn with Bb5, answer with c6 threatening the bishop. At this point white should retreat the bishop, but if they continue you just take the bishop and get your queen on a square to intervene on the attacking timeline should white travel.
1. e3 Nf6 2. Bb5 c6 3. c3 cxb5 4. Qb3 Qa5/Qb6/Qc7


Against c3

If white brings their queen out to a4 on T2 to pin your d pawn you have to play c6 right away to be able to get your queen into position should they try to travel early from c4.
1. c3 Nf6 2. Qa4 c6 3. Qc4 Qa5/Qb6/Qc7
If white tries to go for the a2 travel by doing a3 you have to block the queen from going to c4 with d5 and answer Qb3 with your queen.
1. c3 Nf6 2. Qa4 c6 3. a3 d5 4. Qb3 Qa5/Qb6/Qc7


Against everything else

If white doesn’t pin your d pawn you can always just play d5 on T2 to block the diagonal from b3, or choose to play c6 on T2 or T3 to get your queen onto a5, b6 or c7 on T4 (which is only needed if white threatens with c3).

First let’s show all the different ways for white to softmate (mate that can only be resolved by time traveling from a different board) after a successful T1f7 sac. This will be called the "attacking timeline" for easier reading.

+ check
* timecheck
… any move

Qb3*
1. Qxf7+ Kxf7 2. Nh3 Nf6 3. Ng5+ Ke8/Kg8 4. c3 … 5. Qb3*

Qf3*
1. Qxf7+ Kxf7 2. Nh3 e6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Ng5+ Ke8/Kg8 5. Qf3*

Qh5*
1. Qxf7+ Kxf7 2. Nh3 e6 3. e3 Qf6 4. Qh5*

1. Qxf7+ Kxf7 2. Nh3 d5 3. e3 Bf5 4. Qh5*

Other moves for black are wasted and will lead to one of the above softmates.

To do this white has to travel onto the f7 square on T1 with a queen or a bishop. This can most easily be done on T5 from b3 (only with the queen) or f3 and on T7 from f1 (which already conveniently has a bishop placed on it).

Traveling from T5f3


Traveling from T5b3


Traveling from T7f1


Traveling from T6a2


Traveling from T4f4


Traveling from T4c4

Preventing the attack in the first place is definitely the safest option for black. If it comes at too high a cost (a piece) without compensation, it’s usually useless though, since white can just play on the original timeline.


Unless specified, all the moves are in the present

1. e3 Nf6 2. … d5 prevented

1. e3 Nf6 2. Bb5 a5 3. c3 a4 4. Qb3 axb3 prevented

1. e3 Nf6 2. Bb5 c5 3. c3 c4 4. Qb3 cxb3 prevented

1. e3 Nf6 2. Bb5 Nc6 3. c3 Na5 4. Qb3 Nxb3 prevented

1. e3 Nf6 2. Bb5 c6 3. c3 Nd5 4. Qb3 Nxe3* prevented, followed by counterattack from black

1. c3 e6 2. ... f5 prevented

1. e3 Nf6 2. Bb5 c6 3. c3 cxb5 4. Qb3 Qa5/Qb6/Qc7
5. (0T5)Qb3>>x(0T1)f7*~ Kxf7 5. Nh3 Nf6 6. Ng5+ Ke8 7. c3 (0T5)Qb6>(1T4)b6 8. (1T5)Qb3* (1T5)Qxb3 defended

1. e3 Nf6 2. Bb5 c6 3. c3 e6 4. Qb3 Bb4
5. (0T5)Qb3>>x(0T1)f7*~ Kxf7 5. Nh3 Nf6 6. Ng5+ Ke8 7. c3 … 8. Qb3* (0T5)Bb4>x(1T5)Qb3 defended

1. c3 Nf6 2. Qa4 c6 3. Qc4 Qa5
4. (0T4)Qc4>>x(0T1)f7*~ Kxf7 5. Nh3 Nf6 6. Ng5+ Ke8 7. c3 (0T4)Qa4,(1T4)... 8. (0T5)...,(1T5)Qb3* (0T5)Qa4>x(1T5)Qb3 defended

Nf6 forces white to travel with the queen from b3.

1. Nf6 2. d5 stop white’s access to T1f7 completely.

White’s answer

White can pin the d pawn with 2. Bb5.

Black could also play Nd5 to block.
But at this point black will be softmated in a different way after Qh5 and a delaying check from the bishop, letting the queen travel to f7 on T3 where there’s no knight on f6.

Black’s answers



Black can contest b3 by pushing the a or c pawn twice, a5 a4 being preferable, since it’s defended by the rook.


This is an easier way to contest b3 and doesn't sacrifice any pieces.

This is the most optimal defense against 2. Bb5, because if white wants to continue the time travel attack after cxb5 they’re down a bishop.
Qa5/Qb6/Qc7 is what defends against the f7 sac here, forcing white to either abort there, or after c6 threatens the bishop.

Black's counterattack

This is a counterattack by black where Nd5 takes e3+ on turn 4, not only preventing the travel, but also threatening softmate after black’s queen travels onto f2 and the knight gives an intermediary check.

White's answer

White has to abandon the f7 sac and play something like g3, Nf3, Qh5 or Qf3 instead of Qb3.

If they try to give an intermediary check with the bishop and then try to kick the queen, black can still just travel from f6.

White’s attack

2. Qa4 pins the d pawn again and 3. Qc4 makes white able to travel from T4.

If black tries to contest that square with b5 white can just travel from T5b3 again.

Black’s defense

Since white opened with c3, Nd5 is an option for black now that's harder to punish.


Black can still go for a defense, instead of preventing the jump.
Since white travels a turn earlier from T4, black can play Qa4 on the original timeline and force white into Qb3.

White’s attempts to weave in checks on the attacking timeline are naught.




Instead of directly capturing the queen, black can also still just get their queen anywhere on the b file.


White’s attack

White can play the sneaky move a3 to be able to jump from a2 on T6, leaving black no defenses since the softmate will be too far away.

Black’s defense

After c6 black is able to play d5 (since it’s no longer pinned) to stop the a2 jump. If white still decides to go to b3 to jump, black will be able to follow with their queen.

White’s attack

This is a different way to travel from T6a2 by pushing the a pawn twice.

Black’s answer

Black can simply play d5. Since Qa5/Qb6/Qc7 isn’t an answer to a T6 travel they have to counter differently if they choose to not play d5 by going 3. b5.

These don’t work anymore! (see White’s attack against anything that’s not 1. … Nf6)

e6 forces white to attack with 4. Qf3 or 4. Bf3.

Here black contests the f3 square with Ne5.

White’s answer

White can play 2. Bb5 to take the knight and black would be forced to ignore the bishop and go Qf6 to trade queens, ending up a piece down.

2. Qf6 can’t prevent it, but forces white to travel with the bishop.

Black’s defenses

By threatening white with (0T5)Qh4>x(0T3)f2*~, black can mate white earlier than white can mate black.

If white kicks the queen away with g6 there will be no time to go 4. Bf3 and black will simply trade queens.

You also have to know how to defend against the T2 sac, if white goes 2. Qh5. This will lead to a queen trade on T4 which white can recapture with the bishop and then travel to T2 instead of T1. This was the most dangerous sacrifice before the Nh3 move got discovered.
This will lead to a game with no queens, an extra bishop for black and a timeline advantage for black.

This is the reason why you can not trade Queens immediately. Just wait until the softmate lines up and then trade them.

These don’t work anymore! (see White’s attack against anything that’s not 1. … Nf6)

Here black can contest the f3 square with Ne5 again.


White’s answer

They can go 3. Qf4 and travel on T4.

black’s answers

To prevent it black can play 2. Qf6

and to prevent the T2 sac you can contest f3 with Ne5 again

or defend it by forcing Qf3* and getting the queen to f4 on the original timeline.

White’s attack

White can jump from T4f4 after moving the d pawn on T2.

Black’s answer

Black has to set up a defense as soon as they see the d pawn moving, the easiest being c6 Qa5/Qb6/Qc7.

This blocks all access to the T1f7 pawn.


White’s answers

These only work by opening e3.

By weaving in a check from the bishop on b5 this is actually mate in 4. Bc4 taking e6 is also a possibility, giving a timecheck.

White can also simply pin the f pawn with the queen.

By simply moving the f pawn to f4 on T4 or T5 or to f3 on T5 the bishop can actually travel from T7f1 to T1f7.


This means that black’s preventions or defenses that start with anything but 1. Nf6 don’t work anymore, since they involved contesting f3 or interacting with the attacking timeline from the original one. That’s not possible here, since the original timeline is on T7 and the softmate is on T5. Playing 1. f6 is technically a possibility to block this as well.
Getting something to f5 on T2 would the black’s only other chance to block this, which is only achievable by 1. d6/5 2. Bf5 or 2. f5. White’s answer to those is 1. e3 2. Qh5, which would threaten the bishop and pins the f pawn. This means black’s single option is 1. e3 g6 2. … f5. Since this leaves the b3 square for white to travel, black then has to either prevent that with a5 a4 or defend it.
So the only way for black to salvage this would be to start an earlier attack (which white can easily defend) or give a check on T6 by sacrificing a piece (which white will try to make as difficult as possible). There are also some time travel counterattack ideas.

These are setups to capture the attacking queen straight from the original timeline or to intervene in other ways. First black has to force white into either Qh5*, Qf3* or Qb3*, depending on what defenses they’ve set up. White’s best option after seeing these defenses is to simply not travel and continue playing on the original timeline.
Black absolutely has to open with Nf6 to be able to execute these, since otherwise white doesn’t have to jump from T5, but can also jump from T7 and nothing can reach the attacking timeline from there.


To force white into Qb3*, black has to play Nf6 in response to Nh3.

By simply opening the c pawn at any point before Qb3, black can play Qa5/Qb6/Qc7 to put their queen onto the b file on the attacking timeline.


By getting the bishop to b4 on the original timeline it will be able to take the attacking queen on b3 after the present has caught up. White can trade their bishop for a bishop and a pawn instead of traveling back.


Jumping onto the diagonal from Qe7 will simply get captured by white’s knight on g5.




This got refuted because of the same reason black needs to play Nf6 on T1 on the main timeline. If the black king is on f7 they need to immediately play Nf6 in this timeline as well or white can simply move their f pawn to f3 on T6 or f4 on T5/T6, softmating on T8.


Black’s defense

By playing h5 on the original timeline at any point the pawn will be able to take the Queen on h5.

White’s answers

By weaving in a check with Ng5+ white can delay Qh5* by 1 turn so the pawn won’t be able to take.

If black retreats the king, Qh5*.

If black takes the knight, Qf3*.

If black advances the King to g3, the Queen will sacrifice itself on h5 and the knight will softmate on h3.

Black’s answer

By getting a pawn on h5 and the queen or bishop on any of the squares surrounding h5 (g5, h4 or h6) white’s delaying strat will lead to the attacking queen being captured by black’s queen or bishop.

These are black’s last resort and get extremely complicated very quickly. The basic idea is to jump from the main timeline to create another timeline in the past, from where you’ll then have to capture the attacking queen 2 dimensions up. There are also ideas where black creates even another timeline to capture the queen 3 turns up. This is easiest to do with a queen, but sometimes there are opportunities with knights. Bishops are just worse versions of queens, but can also be used sometimes.

This is the reason why most of those fail. After black jumps back to T1, white can simply immediately go Qh5* if they opened with e3.
Black has to travel to a board where that’s protected (by Nf6 or the traveling queen most of the time) or blocked on the main timeline with g6 and white won’t be able to set up a check to disrupt black on the move that they want to capture the attacking queen. Boards where white can set up to capture black’s attacking piece will also fail.

This only works if white travels with the Bishop and not the Queen and black opened with their d or e pawn on T1.

White’s answer

While this makes the game a bit more tricky for white, they can just start attacking black’s exposed king from both timelines.

An example

Note that forcing lines are not a thing any more after this point.

Since black is so restricted in their openings there are some ideas for white to punish these.

One general idea is to push the g pawn to g5 to threaten blacks Knight on f6.


1. e3 Nf6 2. g4 d5 3. g5

This is an awkward position for black and the reason 2. d5 is often not the most optimal defense.

Since white didn’t open with Nf3, black can do a T2f2 sac after they successfully defended. For that black has to move the f pawn to f5 on T6/T7 or f6 on T7 and travel from T8. After the sac black checks the king with Nf4+ to keep f file open for timechecks.

White has to defend against T7Qf6*

and T9Bf8* after black moves the f pawn to f5 on T7/T8 or f6 on T8.

White can play Nf3 up to T3 to prevent this.

If white wasted their opening move on something like Nc3 black can also travel to T1f2 and go for the standard f7 sac but mirrored
White can play Nf3 on T1 or T2 to prevent this.

This works even against the T7Bf1 sac.

By mirroring white’s moves (moving the f pawn if white does the T7f1 sac or getting the queen/bishop to b6/f6 if white goes for the T5b3/T5f3 sac) black can do a T1f7 sac on their own after getting their queen to h4 on the bottom timeline.

If done with a bishop white has to escape with the king.


If done with the queen it’s instant checkmate.


This is how the counterattack can look against a T6a2 sac.
Black does not have to jump all the way back, this can line up on any turn from T2 to T5.

White’s answers

By playing g3 on the main timeline on any turn up to T3 it will block black’s counterattack.

By playing g3 on the attacking timeline after seeing black play e6 Qh4 can be prevented. After this white can go for a Bf1 softmate.

With this strategy white can force at least a draw and still have winning chances, while locking black out of time traveling completely. It can even be done if black has set up a defense to the softmate.

Instead of going for a softmate on the attacking timeline, white can set up a softmate on T2 in an inactive timeline. If black would ever time travel, the inactive timeline would become active, resulting in checkmate.

This is done by traveling a Knight to T2f5 in the attacking timeline.

If black does any move in it, the Knight will check the King on f7 one timeline up.

After this white simply has to travel with both Kings (onto where does not matter).

Black's access to past Kings is completely blocked by putting any piece on the square the King was, blocking rook like checks into the past. Since there were no files or diagonals open to the Kings before they traveled, there are also no potential checks from that angle.

Black's defense

Since the softmate is on T2, black has to travel to T1 and immediately capture the Knight. This can be done in many ways, here is one using the Bishop to travel from T4c8 to T1c5 and from there capture f5 3 timelines down.



White's answer

At this point the game becomes very complicated again, but there are still many attacking ideas from white, for example this quadragonal.


If white opened with e3 there's also a far easier way to stop black if they decide to travel to T1, by giving an instant check with the queen on h5.

To stop this black would have to play g6 on the original timeline on move 1 or 2. This is the same as already outlined in "Black's time travel defenses".

Black's counterattack

Black can still go for the Qh4 time travel counterattack.


White's answer

By weaving in a check with the Knight, white can still jump to f5, but black can't get their queen to h4 in time to be able to do the T1f2 counter sac.


Black can't go for a T2f2 sac, since the Knight softmate is earlier.


Black's defense

Black's only winning option after the f7 sac is to retreat his King and try to go for other time travel counterattacks.

If white still goes for the inactive softmate after Ke8, black can go Ke8 there as well to stop it. This is still very much a losing position for black, since they won't be able to stop the standard softmate, but it allows black some time travel counterattacks during the 4-6 turns the softmate takes to line up.

This is the correct defense with e6, should white try and go for an early queen travel from T3h5. You'll be able to stop the exile and all of the softmates.

White can still go for the T7Bf1 travel though.

Black's best option, if they don't want a draw, seems to be preventing white from jumping all together.

Against 1. e3 Nf6 2. Bb5


1. e3 Nf6 2. Bb5 Nc6 3. c3 Na5 4. Qb3 Nxb3

1. e3 Nf6 2. Bb5 c6 3. c3 Nd5 4. Qb3 Nxe3*

Against 1. c3


1. c3 e6 2. ... f5

Against 1. e3 Nf6 2. Bb5

1. e3 Nf6 2. Bb5 c6 3. c3 cxb5 4. Qb3 Qb6

If white doesn’t want to lose a bishop, they have to retreat it, losing a tempo.

Against 1. e3 Nf6 2. g4

1. e3 Nf6 2. g4 g5 3. c3 c6 4. Qb3 Qa5/Qb6/Qc7

(probably suboptimal)
1. e3 Nf6 2. g4 d5 3. g5 Ne4 4. Qf3 Be6

Against 1. c3 Nf6 2. Qa4

1. c3 Nf6 2. Qa4 c6 3. Qc4 Qa5/Qb6/Qc7

1. c3 Nf6 2. Qa4 c6 3. a3 d5 4. Qb3 Qa5/Qb6/Qc7