Play Chess Online Free with Friends

How to play Chess

1. White moves first. Tap a piece to see where it can go, then tap the square. Everybody plays from the bottom of the board — your side is nearest you.
2. Pawns move one square forward (two from their starting square), capture one square diagonally forward, and may capture a pawn that has just double-stepped past them — en passant — on the very next move.
3. A pawn reaching the far rank promotes: the table asks which piece you want — queen, rook, bishop or knight.
4. Castling: if neither the king nor that rook has moved, the squares between them are empty, and the king is not in check and does not cross or land on an attacked square, tap the king and then the square two files toward the rook.
5. You may never leave your own king in check. Checkmate — in check with no escape — wins the game.
6. Draws: stalemate (no legal move, not in check), fifty moves by each side without a capture or a pawn move, the same position three times, a position nobody can win from (king against king, or king and one minor piece), or both players agreeing.
7. You may offer a draw or resign at any time from the buttons under the board. Bots accept a draw when they are not ahead.

Chess FAQ

Do I need an account to play chess?

No. Pick a name, make a table, share the link. An account only saves your stats and lets friends find you.

Are all the rules in?

Yes: castling both ways, en passant, promotion to any piece, check, checkmate, stalemate, the fifty-move rule, threefold repetition, dead positions, draw offers and resignation.

How strong is the bot?

A club player on a good day — it looks a few moves ahead and never hangs a piece for nothing, but it is here to give you a game, not to beat an engine.

Is there a clock?

Not yet. Games are untimed; a table nobody moves at is closed by the house after a while.

Do I need an account?

No. Type a name and play — no signup, no download, nothing to install. Making an account is optional and only exists to keep your stats, nickname and preferences across devices.

Is it really free?

Yes, all of it. Every game on Board Game Universe is free to play, with no premium tier holding anything back.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes. It runs in a mobile browser on phones and tablets as well as on a desktop — there is no app to download.

How do I play with my friends?

Start a table and send your friends the link. They open it, type a name, and sit down. Moves and table chat happen in real time.

Can I play against the computer?

Yes. Add a bot to any table and it plays a proper game — useful for filling a seat while you wait for a fourth.