Chess is the classic board game of strategy, and this version is free to play right in your browser. Play against the computer as white or black, or pass the screen to a friend. There is no download or sign up, it works on phones and computers, and it keeps working offline once the page has loaded.
Inspired by: Traditional chess, played for over a thousand years.
How to play Chess
- Pick Play white, Play black or 2 players on the start screen.
- Click or tap one of your pieces. Green dots show where it can move and green rings show captures.
- Click or tap a glowing square to move there, or drag the piece across the board.
- Protect your king, win pieces and try to checkmate the other king so it can not escape.
- Castling, en passant and pawn promotion all work. When a pawn reaches the far side, choose what it becomes.
Controls
- Keyboard: Arrow keys move the cursor and Space picks or drops a piece. U undoes a move and F flips the board.
- Mouse: Click a piece then a square, or drag and drop. Use the Undo and Flip buttons under the board.
- Touch screen: Tap a piece then a glowing square, or drag it. Undo and Flip are under the board.
Tips to score higher
- Fight for the centre squares early with your e and d pawns.
- Bring out your knights and bishops before you move the queen again and again.
- Castle early to tuck your king away and wake up a rook.
- Before every move, check what the computer is threatening. Look at its last move first.
- Trade pieces when you are ahead. Fewer pieces make a lead easier to win.
The story behind Chess
Chess grew out of an Indian game called chaturanga, played around the 6th century. It travelled through Persia and the Arab world into Europe, where the modern rules with the powerful queen and bishop took shape around the end of the 15th century. Computers joined the story in 1997 when IBM Deep Blue beat world champion Garry Kasparov in a match. For many of us in India, chess began on a folding board at home, with a grandparent or cousin patiently explaining how the knight moves. Those slow afternoon games are the same ones this page brings back.
Questions players ask
Is this chess game free?
Yes. It is free to play with no sign up, no download and no ads inside the game.
Can I play chess against the computer?
Yes. Choose Play white or Play black to face the computer, which thinks a few moves ahead. Choose 2 players to play with a friend on the same screen.
Does it follow all the rules of chess?
Yes. It includes castling, en passant, pawn promotion, check, checkmate, stalemate and draws by repetition, the fifty move rule and not enough pieces.
Can I undo a move?
Yes. Press the Undo button or the U key. Against the computer it takes back your move and its reply.
Does chess work offline?
Yes. Open the page once while online and the game will load and play without internet afterwards.