Chess

Play the computer, or a friend device-to-device — no accounts, no server. Clocks, takebacks, puzzles and game review all run in your browser.

Clock

Minutes + seconds added per move. Online, each device keeps its own clock and checks the other's — no server.

Play the computer

Strength

Play as

Play a friend

Host a game and send the link. Colours swap on each rematch.

You play (as host)

Got a game link or code?

Mate puzzles

Mates in one, two and three, plus a daily puzzle. Today's daily is waiting.

Load a game or position

Paste a PGN (a whole game) or a FEN (one position) to review it or play on.

Options

  • 100% Free
  • No Sign-Up
  • No Credit Card
  • No Free Trial
  • No Pro Tier
  • No Watermarks

Nothing is uploaded. Just open it and start.

Play chess online, free

No sign-up, no download, no server. Take on a built-in computer opponent at the level you want, or play a friend by sharing a single link — the two browsers connect directly and every move travels straight between you. Full rules, with music and sound.

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It searches many moves ahead, looks past the end of captures so it doesn't leave pieces hanging, and scores pawn structure, king safety and piece activity. Easy and Normal look a few moves ahead and sometimes slip on purpose; Hard and Expert search much deeper and always pick their best move. It is a strong casual opponent, not a grandmaster engine, and it is far stronger than the previous version.", }, { q: "How do two people play on different devices?", a: "It uses a direct browser-to-browser (WebRTC) connection with a manual handshake. One player taps “Host a game” and gets a link; the other opens that link and their device produces a short answer code; the host pastes that code back in and the two browsers connect directly. There's no game server in the middle — after the handshake, every move travels straight between the two devices.", }, { q: "Do both players have to be on the same Wi-Fi?", a: "Not necessarily. On the same network it always works. Across different networks it works in most cases too, using free public STUN servers purely to help the two browsers find each other — they never see your moves. There is no relay server, so a few strict networks (symmetric NAT) can't connect directly; try both devices on the same Wi-Fi.", }, { q: "Which chess rules are supported?", a: "All of them. Castling (with the usual restrictions), en passant, pawn promotion, and check, checkmate and stalemate are all enforced, and draws are called by stalemate, threefold repetition, the fifty-move rule, and insufficient material. Illegal moves — including ones that would leave your king in check — simply aren't allowed.", }, { q: "How do the clocks work without a server?", a: "Pick 3+2, 5+0 or 10+5 (or no clock). Each device keeps its own clock and sends its remaining time with every move; the other device checks that number against how long it actually waited for the move, allowing a couple of seconds for the network, and cuts back anything that is too good to be true. If a player's time seems to have run out, the other side asks, and the player's own device checks its own clock before agreeing, so both sides verify a flag fall. A slow connection never costs anyone the game. Without a server nobody can referee, though: clocks and flag falls rely on both browsers playing fair, and a modified browser could gain a little time per move. Against the computer the clock runs the same way.", }, { q: "Can I take back a move, offer a draw or rematch?", a: "Yes. Ask for a takeback or offer a draw at any time; your opponent can accept or decline. Against the computer a takeback is instant (and the game then doesn't count in your record). After a game, a rematch swaps colours once both players agree.", }, { q: "What happens if the connection drops?", a: "The game is saved in your browser with its position and clocks. The host makes a new link, the other player pastes it, and both carry on from exactly where they were. You can also close the page and resume later from the start screen. Old and new versions of the page refuse each other cleanly instead of playing out of step.", }, { q: "Can I save, export or import games?", a: "Yes. Copy or download the game as PGN, copy the position as FEN, or paste a PGN or FEN (or open a .pgn file) to step through it, run a review, or play on against the computer from any position. Nothing is uploaded; there is no link to an outside analysis site.", }, { q: "What does the game review do?", a: "The built-in engine looks at every position of a game and marks each move as best, good, an inaccuracy, a mistake or a blunder, showing the better move with an arrow. It runs on your device.", }, { q: "Are there puzzles?", a: "Yes: mates in one, two and three, and a daily puzzle. Each puzzle was found by the site's own engine and proven by an exact checker: the stated mate is the shortest, and its first move is the only move that forces it. Only your first attempt at the daily counts; later tries are practice. Progress is stored in this browser only.", }, { q: "How do I move a piece?", a: "Drag a piece, or tap it and then a highlighted square. You can also type a move like Nf3 or O-O under the board, or use the arrow keys and Enter; moves are announced for screen readers. Right-click and drag draws arrows, and Flip board turns the board around. Tap a different piece to switch your selection. When a pawn reaches the last rank, a small chooser lets you promote to a queen, rook, bishop, or knight.", }, { q: "Is anything uploaded or tracked?", a: "No. There's no account, no server storing your game, and nothing uploaded. Against the computer everything is local; against a friend your moves are exchanged directly between the two browsers over the peer connection. It's free, with no sign-up.", }, { q: "Is there sound?", a: "Yes — a calm background track and effects for moves, captures, castling, check and checkmate, all generated in your browser (no audio downloads). Independent music and sound-effects toggles sit at the top of the game if you'd rather play quietly.", }, { q: "Can we talk over voice or video while playing?", a: "Yes. Tick “Play with voice & video call” before you host, and the game will ask for your camera and mic. Your opponent is prompted too when they open the link, and you'll see each other in small video tiles beside the board, with buttons to mute or turn off your camera. The call rides on the very same peer-to-peer connection as the game — nothing extra to set up, and it never passes through a server. If someone has no camera, it gracefully falls back to voice only.", }, { q: "Can I play on my phone?", a: "Yes. The board is fully responsive and touch-friendly, and the host screen shows a QR code so your opponent can scan the link straight into their phone. One of you can be on a laptop and the other on a phone.", }, { q: "The connection didn't work — what can I do?", a: "Make sure the second player opened the full link (or pasted the whole code), and that the host pasted the answer code back in and pressed Connect. If you're on networks that block peer connections, try putting both devices on the same Wi-Fi. You can always start over from the host screen — or just play the computer instead.", }, ]; const FEATURES = [ { icon: Cpu, title: "Play the computer

Four strengths and your choice of colour: an engine that searches deep in the background, avoids hanging pieces and hunts for mate.

Two-player, peer-to-peer

Play a friend over a direct browser-to-browser link — no game server, and moves never pass through us.

All the real rules

Castling, en passant, promotion, check and mate — plus draws by stalemate, repetition, the fifty-move rule and insufficient material.

Phone or laptop

A responsive, touch-friendly board plus a scannable QR code, so any two devices can face off.

Private by design

No accounts, nothing uploaded, no server storing your game. Free, with no sign-up.

Music & sound

A contemplative background track and crisp move, capture and check effects — all synthesized in your browser, with toggles.

Clocks, takebacks, draws

3+2, 5+0 or 10+5 online with no server, offers and takebacks, rematches with swapped colours, and resume after a dropped link.

Puzzles and game review

Proven mate-in-1/2/3 puzzles and a daily one, PGN and FEN import and export, and a mistake-finding review.

Optional voice & video

Flip on a camera-and-mic call before you connect and chat face-to-face while you play — same connection, still peer-to-peer.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I play against the computer?
Yes — pick “Play vs Computer”, choose a strength (Easy, Normal, Hard or Expert) and whether you play White, Black, or a random side, and start straight away. No connection is needed. The computer places no demands on the network — it runs entirely in your browser.
How strong is the computer?
It is the site's own engine, running in a background thread so the page never freezes. It searches many moves ahead, looks past the end of captures so it doesn't leave pieces hanging, and scores pawn structure, king safety and piece activity. Easy and Normal look a few moves ahead and sometimes slip on purpose; Hard and Expert search much deeper and always pick their best move. It is a strong casual opponent, not a grandmaster engine, and it is far stronger than the previous version.
How do two people play on different devices?
It uses a direct browser-to-browser (WebRTC) connection with a manual handshake. One player taps “Host a game” and gets a link; the other opens that link and their device produces a short answer code; the host pastes that code back in and the two browsers connect directly. There's no game server in the middle — after the handshake, every move travels straight between the two devices.
Do both players have to be on the same Wi-Fi?
Not necessarily. On the same network it always works. Across different networks it works in most cases too, using free public STUN servers purely to help the two browsers find each other — they never see your moves. There is no relay server, so a few strict networks (symmetric NAT) can't connect directly; try both devices on the same Wi-Fi.
Which chess rules are supported?
All of them. Castling (with the usual restrictions), en passant, pawn promotion, and check, checkmate and stalemate are all enforced, and draws are called by stalemate, threefold repetition, the fifty-move rule, and insufficient material. Illegal moves — including ones that would leave your king in check — simply aren't allowed.
How do the clocks work without a server?
Pick 3+2, 5+0 or 10+5 (or no clock). Each device keeps its own clock and sends its remaining time with every move; the other device checks that number against how long it actually waited for the move, allowing a couple of seconds for the network, and cuts back anything that is too good to be true. If a player's time seems to have run out, the other side asks, and the player's own device checks its own clock before agreeing, so both sides verify a flag fall. A slow connection never costs anyone the game. Without a server nobody can referee, though: clocks and flag falls rely on both browsers playing fair, and a modified browser could gain a little time per move. Against the computer the clock runs the same way.
Can I take back a move, offer a draw or rematch?
Yes. Ask for a takeback or offer a draw at any time; your opponent can accept or decline. Against the computer a takeback is instant (and the game then doesn't count in your record). After a game, a rematch swaps colours once both players agree.
What happens if the connection drops?
The game is saved in your browser with its position and clocks. The host makes a new link, the other player pastes it, and both carry on from exactly where they were. You can also close the page and resume later from the start screen. Old and new versions of the page refuse each other cleanly instead of playing out of step.
Can I save, export or import games?
Yes. Copy or download the game as PGN, copy the position as FEN, or paste a PGN or FEN (or open a .pgn file) to step through it, run a review, or play on against the computer from any position. Nothing is uploaded; there is no link to an outside analysis site.
What does the game review do?
The built-in engine looks at every position of a game and marks each move as best, good, an inaccuracy, a mistake or a blunder, showing the better move with an arrow. It runs on your device.
Are there puzzles?
Yes: mates in one, two and three, and a daily puzzle. Each puzzle was found by the site's own engine and proven by an exact checker: the stated mate is the shortest, and its first move is the only move that forces it. Only your first attempt at the daily counts; later tries are practice. Progress is stored in this browser only.
How do I move a piece?
Drag a piece, or tap it and then a highlighted square. You can also type a move like Nf3 or O-O under the board, or use the arrow keys and Enter; moves are announced for screen readers. Right-click and drag draws arrows, and Flip board turns the board around. Tap a different piece to switch your selection. When a pawn reaches the last rank, a small chooser lets you promote to a queen, rook, bishop, or knight.
Is anything uploaded or tracked?
No. There's no account, no server storing your game, and nothing uploaded. Against the computer everything is local; against a friend your moves are exchanged directly between the two browsers over the peer connection. It's free, with no sign-up.
Is there sound?
Yes — a calm background track and effects for moves, captures, castling, check and checkmate, all generated in your browser (no audio downloads). Independent music and sound-effects toggles sit at the top of the game if you'd rather play quietly.
Can we talk over voice or video while playing?
Yes. Tick “Play with voice & video call” before you host, and the game will ask for your camera and mic. Your opponent is prompted too when they open the link, and you'll see each other in small video tiles beside the board, with buttons to mute or turn off your camera. The call rides on the very same peer-to-peer connection as the game — nothing extra to set up, and it never passes through a server. If someone has no camera, it gracefully falls back to voice only.
Can I play on my phone?
Yes. The board is fully responsive and touch-friendly, and the host screen shows a QR code so your opponent can scan the link straight into their phone. One of you can be on a laptop and the other on a phone.
The connection didn't work — what can I do?
Make sure the second player opened the full link (or pasted the whole code), and that the host pasted the answer code back in and pressed Connect. If you're on networks that block peer connections, try putting both devices on the same Wi-Fi. You can always start over from the host screen — or just play the computer instead.

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