THE LITTLE ARCADE · 02

Your move.

Chess. A timeless game, with room to learn.

A good game is always time well spent.
White to move.
ONE MOVE AT A TIME
Black · Computer
Chess requires a browser with Canvas support.
White · You
Hint: until your moveWarn: attacked piecesOpportunity: ideas to explore
Turn on WARN or OPPORTUNITY to keep learning as you play.

Attacked doesn’t always mean undefended. Opportunities are candidate moves, not guaranteed wins.

Drag a piece to move it, or tap a piece then its destination. Keyboard: arrows + Enter.

Free to play · No sign-up · Board and piece choices save on this browser.Explore the arcade →

Chess on your Home Screen

Add a shortcut to open Chess from your Home Screen.

Computer

In Chrome, open the three-dot menu → Cast, save, and share → Install page as app, then confirm. For a desktop shortcut, open chrome://apps, right-click Chess, and choose Create shortcut.

On a Mac in Safari, choose File → Add to Dock (macOS Sonoma or newer).

If your browser has no install option, bookmark this page or open it in Chrome.

iPhone or iPad

  1. Open this page in Safari.
  2. Tap Share (the square with an up arrow). It may be inside the More menu.
  3. Scroll the actions and tap Add to Home Screen. If missing, use Edit Actions to add it.
  4. Leave Open as Web App on if shown, then tap Add.

Android

  1. Open this page in Chrome.
  2. Tap the three-dot menu, then Add to home screen.
  3. Choose Install or Create shortcut if offered, then confirm Add.

The browser handles the final step. Opening Chess and playing online need an internet connection.

Apple instructions · Android instructions

New game

Choose your pieces. White moves first. Starting a new game replaces the current board.

Leave this game?

How to Play - Chess

The basics

Standard chess rules. Each side gets 16 pieces. Win by checkmating the opposing king: it is attacked and has no legal escape.

Pieces

Special moves

Chess callouts

Tap Callouts to send a chess phrase. Friends see a short speech bubble by your player name. Send one every five seconds; use Mute callouts for a quiet game. Against the computer, callouts stay on your screen.

Draw offers and resignation

The main board has Draw? and Resign buttons. In friend games, Draw? sends an offer: your opponent can accept or decline. A move or withdrawal cancels an unanswered offer. Resign asks for confirmation, ends the game and tells your opponent they won. Draw offers are available in friend games.

Your side and view

New game lets you choose White or Black against the computer. White always moves first. Flip board switches your view at any time, including online games, without changing your pieces or the turn.

Modes on this page

Learn as you play

HINT is a toggle: the blue suggested move stays until you make a move or click HINT again. WARN marks your attacked pieces in red. OPPORTUNITY marks possible material gains, promotions and checks in green. The two overlays stay on independently and update with each move. These are ideas to examine, not promises of winning moves.

Against a friend, both players must agree to Learn mode. Either player can withdraw agreement, which disables assistance for both.

Tips

Your table

Your moves

Online game