Courier Chess is a 12x8 board variant of chess probably created in the 12th century, Germany.

The game would have survived until the beginning of the 19th century in Germany and some neighbouring countries.

Some say Courier Chess created the modern bishop moves: unlimited diagonals. Before this the so called Medieval Bishop (Archer in Courier chess) was moving like an Alfil (Elephant): two squares diagonally, leaping the first square.