Drag a piece to move it — or click it, then click a highlighted square. Dots show legal moves; rings show captures. The computer plays the other color.
Chess is the definitive two-player strategy game: two armies of sixteen pieces, one goal — checkmate the enemy king. This free browser version plays against the computer at three strength levels, with a choice of board and piece styles and optional coordinates. No account, no downloads, no ads in the way.
White moves first, then players alternate. Each piece travels its own way:
Three special moves round out the rules: castling (the king and a rook move together to tuck the king into safety), en passant (a pawn capturing a pawn that just slid past it), and promotion.
Easy is a forgiving introduction for new players, Medium punishes loose moves, and Hard calculates several moves deep — it will pounce on a hanging piece or an exposed king. Switch the board color, piece set, and coordinates to taste; your choices are remembered between visits.
How do I play Chess? Move one piece per turn according to how it travels, working to checkmate the opponent's king — trapping it so it can't avoid capture.
How do I get better at Chess? Control the center, develop your pieces, castle early, and check for threats before each move. Then play often — pattern recognition comes from games, not theory.
Is Chess free to play here? Yes — no signup, no downloads, no installs.
Does my record save? Yes — your results are stored locally in your browser.