How to Play
- Choose a mode. Against the computer you always command the white army and make the first move.
- Tap one of your pieces. Small dots appear on every square it can legally reach, and rings mark pieces you can capture.
- Tap a highlighted square to make the move.
- When a pawn reaches the far rank, a picker pops up so you can choose a queen, rook, bishop or knight.
- Keep going until one king is checkmated or the game ends in a draw. The last move stays shaded in yellow.
Rules
Each side starts with sixteen pieces, and White moves first. A piece captures by landing on an enemy piece, which then appears in the captured strip.
When a king is attacked it is in check, and its square glows red. You must get out of check straight away by moving the king, blocking the attack or capturing the attacker. If there is no way out, that is checkmate and the game is over.
All the special moves are included: castling on either side, the two-square pawn start, capturing en passant and pawn promotion. The board also spots every kind of draw for you — stalemate (no legal move but not in check), threefold repetition of the same position, the 50-move rule (fifty moves each with no capture or pawn move) and positions where neither side has enough material left to force mate.
Tips & Strategy
- Fight for the four middle squares. Pawns and knights near the centre control more of the board and can swing to either side quickly.
- Develop before you attack. Bring out your knights and bishops, castle your king to safety, and only then launch an attack.
- Count attackers and defenders before a capture. If a square is guarded twice and you attack it only once, taking there loses material.
- Look for checks, captures and threats — in that order. Before every move, ask what forcing moves you and your opponent have. It is the quickest way to spot forks and pins.
- Trade pieces when you are ahead. Swapping down to a simple endgame makes an extra piece count for even more.
- In the endgame, activate your king. Once the queens are gone, the king becomes a strong fighting piece. March it towards the centre and help your pawns promote.
Game Modes
Play vs Computer offers three levels. Easy looks only one move ahead and often leaves pieces hanging, so it is perfect for learners and children. Medium thinks two moves ahead and checks capture sequences, so free pieces are rarer. Hard searches three moves deep with a careful look at trades, and it will punish loose play.
Play with Friend is pass-and-play on one device. White stays at the bottom of the screen, and the banner shows whose move it is.
Play Online puts the room host on white and the friend who joins on black, with each person’s board turned so their own army is at the bottom.
Play with Friends Online
Pick Play Online and create a room. The site gives you a short room code and an invite link; share the link in any chat app or read the code out on a call. Your friend opens it in a browser and lands in your lobby with no download or login. Once both names appear, the host starts the game. Every move reaches the other screen almost instantly, and reopening the link after a dropped connection brings you straight back into the same position.
Chess FAQ
Does the computer ever cheat or take back moves?
No. Every computer move is checked by the same rule engine that checks yours.
Why can’t I castle?
Castling is only allowed if the king and that rook have never moved, the squares between them are empty, and the king is not in check, does not pass through an attacked square and does not land on one.
What is en passant?
If an enemy pawn moves two squares forward and lands right beside your pawn, you may capture it as if it had moved only one square. You must do it on the very next move or the chance is gone.
How do I promote to a knight instead of a queen?
Move your pawn to the last rank and choose the knight in the picker. Now and then a knight is better because it gives check at once or avoids a stalemate.
Is this the same game as shatranj?
Shatranj is the old Persian and Indian ancestor of modern chess. The version here uses today’s international rules, where the queen and bishop are far stronger than their ancient cousins.
Last updated: 2026-09-30
