Bid-Clock Random (BCR) Chess - alternative to Freestyle Chess

I propose a new chess variant - BCR Chess (or Chess1024), which is supposed to be a more interesting, entertaining and fair alternative to Freestyle Chess.

BCR Chess features independently randomized back-rank setups for each side, with the King on e1/e8 and Queen on d1/d8. Players bid time to determine color; the lower bid takes White with that time, the opponent takes Black with the remainder.

Rules:
1. Standard 8×8 board and orthodox pieces.

2. Starting array: King on e-file, Queen on d-file (as in classical chess). The remaining six pieces (RR BB NN) are shuffled independently for each side under three constraints:
- Bishops start on opposite-coloured squares
- Exactly one rook sits to the king’s left and one to his right
- Knights fill the last two vacant squares
- These rules give 32 legal arrays per side, 1024 total pairings

3. Castling - Use the Chess960 protocol

4. Time control & bidding (“Time Auction”):
- Default match clock: 60 minutes total for the game (adjustable)
- Before play, both players get 5 minutes (adjustable) of silent prep with the start position visible
- Each then submits a sealed bid stating the smallest chunk (in minutes) of the 60 min they are willing to play with to take White
- The lower bid wins White and receives exactly that amount of time; the opponent takes Black with the remaining minutes
- Tied bids — coin-flip or re-bid

5. For Armageddon use the same auction.