An interesting variant of 960: start the clock, let the players put the pieces in place, two pieces at a time. Like Na1 + Na8. KRK at the end. Then start playing. If both players cooperate, they could put the pieces in position 518, the normal starting position. In tournaments you often see a common starting point for every round. This is not needed at all. No need for a randomizer!
960 is a variant that never succeeded organically (did you ever see a local 960 tournament??). The odds that forcing this âtop downâ approach on the masses therefore doesnât have much of a guarantee of success. âFreestyleâ is really a way for the very top players to make moneyâŚcourtesy of an entrepreneur and for profit Venture Capital group. I would not put a lot of time into itâŚitâs just hoping âpersonalitiesâ encourage people to play that stuff they havenât been inclinded to. Top downâŚ
Arenât Freestyle and 960 the same thing?
YesâŚ
Why then people that really know about chess push it so much? For starters, Fisher invented it and thought this about it: https://youtu.be/HAOvzj8E2Wc?si=_fV0OqHeD2MuJ-Ct
I think 960 will never replace regular chess but it will definitely open new unexplored opportunities for titled and non titled players.
We arrange two 960 tournaments every year. Blitz, 30 players.
It takes many years to convince chess players. Algebraic notation took 256 years, incremental clock 15 years and 960, 20 years. 960 will be as accepted as the other two. Germany was early with all three. US and France not so much.
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AndâŚ
Right, Iâm referring to the US. Iâve played OTB for over 40 yrsâŚnever even seen anyone interested in putting one on in my surrounding states.
I run a school chess club and the students often play 960 - they say they like the unpredictable openings.
Got it! 
Just bumping this to +1 a 960 mode. I know we can set up the position on board editor, but then castling isnât enabled, so I can play otb with no castling. But itâd be nice for the mode to be officially supported, especially online.
If you are interested, you can use chessconnect browser extension. 960 is supported there.