About Chess
Full chess in your browser, with every rule included: castling, en passant, promotion and draws. Play the computer at five levels or a friend on the same device. Your game is saved automatically.
Key features
- Play the computer at 5 levels, Beginner to Expert
- Two players on the same device
- All rules: castling, en passant, promotion and draws
- Legal moves shown when you pick a piece
- Hints, undo and a move list you can copy as PGN
- Your game is saved in your browser
How to play chess
Each player starts with 16 pieces, and White moves first. The goal is checkmate: attacking the enemy king so that it can't escape.
| Piece | How it moves | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Pawn | One square forward (two on its first move), captures diagonally | 1 |
| Knight | L-shape, can jump over pieces | 3 |
| Bishop | Any distance diagonally | 3 |
| Rook | Any distance in a straight line | 5 |
| Queen | Any distance, straight or diagonal | 9 |
| King | One square in any direction | Must be protected |
How to move
Click or tap a piece, then a marked square, or drag the piece. Dots show empty squares you can move to, and rings show pieces you can capture.
Tips for beginners
- Control the centre. Open with a pawn to e4 or d4.
- Develop your pieces. Bring out knights and bishops before moving your queen far.
- Castle early to keep your king safe.
- Check before you move. Ask what your opponent's last move attacks, and whether your move leaves a piece undefended.
Related games
Checkers, Sudoku, and tic-tac-toe.
How to play Chess
- Choose a mode or difficulty, or keep the default.
- Press Start (or just click the board) and play with your mouse, finger or keyboard.
- Your score, time and moves are shown as you play.
- Your best score is saved in this browser, so you can try to beat it next time.