Nether Checkerboard

An uncommon Nether zone where chunks are sunk or raised by 16 blocks in a pattern.

The Nether Checkerboard is a zone type in the Nether. It is the Checkerboard of the Overworld, in the Nether.

What it looks like

• Chunks picked by a pattern are sunk or raised by 16 blocks, as whole columns. Some zones sink them, some raise them, some do both in turn.
• The bedrock floor and the bedrock roof stay where they are. Only the land between them moves.
• The lava sea stays at its level. Where a chunk moves, the lava is cut or filled to match.
• Basalt seals the edges where new lava would meet open space. Look for basalt seams low in the walls.
• Sheer walls at the chunk borders show the rock and caves inside.

Dangers

Walls are sheer, and the lava sea is below.

How rare it is

The Nether Checkerboard is an uncommon zone. About 2 percent of Nether zones are Nether Checkerboards, about one zone in 48. It exists in the Nether only, and only in land generated after 1.7.0. The land around spawn never gets it, so go far.

See Chunk errors for every zone type, and Exploring for how finds are logged.