About Chess
Play Chess online for free against a friend on the same device or challenge the CPU. Move from the standard starting position with legal move guidance, castling, en passant, pawn promotion, check, checkmate, stalemate, and standard draw rules.
How to play Chess
- White moves first, then players alternate moving one piece at a time.
- Pawns move forward and capture diagonally; knights jump in an L; bishops move diagonally; rooks move straight; queens combine rook and bishop movement; kings move one square.
- You may not make a move that leaves your king in check.
- Castle to protect your king when the king and rook have not moved, the path is clear, and no crossed square is attacked.
- Checkmate the opposing king to win. Stalemate and standard repetition, material, and 50-move conditions are draws.
Tips & strategy
- Develop knights and bishops early instead of moving the same piece repeatedly.
- Control the center so your pieces have more useful squares.
- Castle before opening the center and exposing your king.
- Before every move, check for threats, captures, and checks for both players.
Chess FAQ
Can I play Chess against the computer?
Yes. Choose Easy, Medium, or Hard CPU difficulty, or play local two-player Chess on one device.
Does this Chess game support castling and pawn promotion?
Yes. It supports castling, en passant, promotion to queen, rook, bishop, or knight, checkmate, stalemate, and standard automatic draws.
Is Chess free to play?
Yes. Chess is free to play in your browser with no account or download required.