Chess rules at a glance
White moves first and the players alternate, moving one piece per turn. You win by checkmate: attacking the enemy king so that it has no way to escape. Each piece moves differently, and there are three special moves — castling, en passant and promotion. If a player has no legal move but is not in check, it is stalemate and the game is drawn. Tap a piece on this site and its legal squares light up, so you can start playing right away.
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FAQ
How do I castle?
Tap your king. When castling is legal, a dot appears two squares to the side of the king; tap it and the rook moves across automatically.
Can I promote to something other than a queen?
Yes. When you tap the promotion square, buttons for queen, rook, bishop and knight appear at the bottom. A queen is usually best, but a knight or rook can avoid stalemate or win with a fork.
Can I play without an account?
Yes. Games against the AI and pass-and-play on one device need no sign-in. Online matches and rankings need a GameNow account.
How do I play with a friend?
Tap “Invite a friend” to create a room with a code and link. When your friend opens the link they join instantly, and the game starts as soon as you are both in.
Is there a time limit?
Online games allow 90 seconds per move; if time runs out, that player loses on time. Games against the AI and on one device have no clock.