Chess

Chess is a free board game game you can play instantly in your web browser on a phone, tablet or computer, with no download and no sign-up. Play chess against the computer, from Beginner to Expert. Full rules, hints and undo.

Genre

Board game, Strategy

Controls

Tap a piece, then a square

Plays on

Phone, tablet and computer

Price

Free, no account needed

How to play chess here

Choose a computer level and your colour, then tap a piece. Dots show every legal square it can move to, and rings show captures. Tap a square to move. When a pawn reaches the last rank, pick the piece it becomes.

The game follows the full official rules: castling, en passant, promotion, check and checkmate, plus all the draw rules: stalemate, threefold repetition, the 50-move rule and insufficient material.

Controls

Computer levels

• Beginner: looks one move ahead and often picks a loose move. Good for learning.
• Casual: sees simple tactics but still makes mistakes.
• Strong: searches four moves deep and punishes hanging pieces.
• Expert: thinks deeper for up to a few seconds. A real challenge for club players.

Chess tips for beginners

1. Control the centre with your pawns and pieces early.
2. Develop your knights and bishops before moving the same piece twice.
3. Castle early to keep your king safe.
4. Before every move, ask: what is my opponent threatening?
5. Count attackers and defenders before you capture.

Questions

Can I play chess against the computer for free?

Yes. Chess here is free with four computer levels, and there is nothing to download or sign up for.

Can I play as Black?

Yes. Choose White, Black or Random before each game.

Does the computer follow all the rules?

Yes, including castling, en passant, promotion and every draw rule.

Is my game saved?

Yes. An unfinished game is saved in your browser, so you can come back to it later.