Play chess online
Sixteen pieces a side and one goal: trap the other king. Pick the computer that suits you, tap a piece to see where it can go, and play the whole game at your own pace.
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Why play chess here
Three computers that play differently. Easy looks only one move ahead and often slips, so a first win is within reach. Hard searches two moves ahead and seldom lets a loose piece go. Master searches five moves ahead and more.
Every rule is in: castling on either side, en passant, a pawn that reaches the far side becoming a queen, and the draws by stalemate, the fifty-move rule, too few pieces and the same position three times. Tap a piece and its moves are marked, so nothing has to be remembered.
Frequently asked questions
How do the chess pieces move?
The king moves one square in any direction. The queen moves any distance in a straight line or along a diagonal, the rook in straight lines and the bishop along diagonals. The knight moves in an L, two squares one way and one to the side, jumping over anything in between. A pawn moves one square forward, or two from its starting square, and captures one square diagonally forward. Tap a piece and the squares it can move to are marked.
Are castling, en passant and promotion included?
Yes. Castling moves the king two squares toward a rook and the rook jumps over it, on either side, when neither piece has moved, the squares between them are empty and the king is not in check and does not cross or land on an attacked square. En passant lets a pawn capture an enemy pawn that has just moved two squares past it. A pawn that reaches the far side becomes a queen.
Which computer should I choose?
Easy looks one move ahead and often slips, so it is the one to learn on and to win a first game against. Hard searches two moves ahead and seldom lets a loose piece go: try it once you beat Easy regularly. Master searches five moves ahead and more, for experienced players.
Can I play black?
Yes. Choose Go second and you play black: the computer, with white, makes the first move, and the board turns so your pieces are at the bottom.
Is my game saved if I leave?
Yes. A game in progress is kept in this browser on this device, so closing the page and coming back later picks it up where you left it. It does not carry over to another device.
Is there a time limit?
No. There is no clock, so take as long as you like over every move. The computer takes a moment over its own, never more than a few seconds.
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