Chess

How to play Chess

Chess is played on an 8×8 board by two sides, White and Black, with sixteen pieces each. White moves first and the players alternate. The aim is checkmate: attacking the enemy king so that it cannot escape.

Select a piece to see where it can go, then choose a square. All the standard rules are here: castling, en passant, pawn promotion with a choice of piece, and draws by stalemate, repetition, the fifty-move rule or too few pieces. Play the computer on Easy, Medium or Hard, or pick 2 players to share one device. Your game is saved in your browser.

• Players 1 or 2
• Mode Against the computer, or two players on one device
• Plays on Phone, tablet and desktop
• Price Free, no sign-up

Chess rules

• White moves first and players alternate, one move per turn.
• Each piece moves in its own way; only the knight can jump over others.
• You may not make a move that leaves your own king in check.
• Checkmate, a king in check with no legal escape, wins the game.
• The game is drawn by stalemate, threefold repetition, the fifty-move rule or insufficient material.
• A pawn that reaches the last rank is promoted to a queen, rook, bishop or knight.

Controls

Click / tap a piece

Show its legal moves

Click / tap a marked square

Move there

Arrow keys + Enter

Move around the board and pick up or drop

U

Undo your last move

N

Start a new game

You play

Choose White or Black

Chess questions