Play the complete game of chess with every rule handled for you: castling, en passant, pawn promotion, check, checkmate, stalemate, the fifty-move rule, threefold repetition and insufficient material. Tap a piece to see its legal moves, take back a move when you slip, and switch colours every game. The computer ranges from a forgiving beginner to a search engine that looks several moves ahead. Prefer a human opponent? Play a friend on the same device.
How to play Chess
Goal: Checkmate the opposing king: attack it so that it has no way to escape.
Keyboard & mouse
- Click a piece to see its legal moves, then click a destination
- Arrow keys move between squares, Enter or Space selects, Escape deselects
- Take back undoes your last move against the computer
- P or Escape to pause
Phone & tablet
- Tap a piece, then one of its green dots
- Choose the new piece when a pawn promotes
Rules
- Each piece moves its own way: pawns forward (capturing diagonally), knights in an L, bishops diagonally, rooks straight, the queen both, and the king one square.
- Tap a piece to see its legal moves. You may never leave your own king in check.
- Special moves are supported: castling, en passant and promotion (choose the new piece).
- Checkmate wins. Stalemate, threefold repetition, the fifty-move rule and insufficient material are draws.
- Against the computer you alternate colours each game; quick wins score more, multiplied by the level.
Tips and strategy
- Control the centre early with pawns and knights.
- Develop your knights and bishops before moving the queen out.
- Castle early to tuck your king away safely.
- Before every move, check what your opponent’s last move threatens.
