GUIDE #263
How to Play Chess Online
Chess is the classic two-player duel of king and country. Every piece has its own walk, and the game ends in checkmate, stalemate, or an agreed / claimed draw.
01 // CONTROLS
Controls
- Click a piece, then a highlighted square — or drag it (pointer events, touch-friendly)
- Promotion picker: Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight
- Clocks: 1+0, 3+2, 5+0, 10+0, 15+10, or none. Online clocks are server-stamped
02 // STEPS
Step by step
- 01
Set up
Online with a room code, Local vs (pass-and-play, optional auto-flip), or vs Computer (Beginner → Expert). Pick White, Black, or Random vs the CPU.
- 02
Move legally
The engine only allows legal moves: pins, checks, castling rights, and en passant are enforced on the server.
- 03
Special moves
Castling (king and rook unmoved, empty path, not out of / through / into check). En passant only on the reply to a double pawn push. Promote a pawn to Q/R/B/N.
- 04
Notation
The move list uses SAN — Nf3, exd5, O-O, e8=Q+, Qxf7#. + is check, # is mate.
- 05
End the game
Checkmate, stalemate, threefold repetition, fifty-move rule, insufficient material, resign, draw offer/accept, or timeout.
03 // EDGE
Pro tips
- Develop toward the center and castle before the files open.
- On Expert the CPU thinks in a Web Worker for ~2 seconds — the board stays live.
- King of the Hill: escort your king to d4, d5, e4, or e5.