Chess Free is an online puzzle chess game where you can compete against players worldwide in exciting one-on-one matches. Challenge yourself by outsmarting opponents of various skill levels to strengthen yours. If you prefer to play solo, level up your abilities against the computer, choosing from a range of difficulty settings—from beginner to World Champion. Whether you're just learning the game or aiming for grandmaster status, interactive hints help refine your moves to get you there.

How to Play Chess Free

Chess Free follows the classic rules of chess. The objective is to checkmate your opponent's king, meaning it is in a position to be captured and cannot escape.

You can play against the computer, compete online with real players, or share the same screen with a friend. With 18 difficulty levels ranging from Beginner to World Champion, you can play based on your level.

Depending on your level, you can choose a "handicap," so you have a bit of an advantage. You can also enable hints and interactive tips to help guide you throughout.

The rules are basic—players take turns moving their pieces. Pawns move forward but capture diagonally, knights move in an L-shape, and other pieces have unique movement patterns. Strategy is key in chess. Protect your pieces, control the center of the board, and anticipate your opponent's moves. The game ends when one player's king is checkmated, resulting in a win or if a draw occurs under certain conditions.

In chess, a draw is a result where neither player wins, and the game ends in a tie. This can happen for several reasons, such as stalemate (where a player has no legal moves but is not in check), repetition of the same position three times, 50 moves without a capture or pawn move, insufficient material to checkmate, or mutual agreement between the players.

Made a mistake?

No problem—use the move cancel feature to undo and rethink your strategy. After each match, detailed analysis highlights errors and suggests better moves, while the option to replay specific moments helps reinforce learning.

You can save your rating and pick different time control modes like bullet, blitz, and rapid. Customize the board and pieces to your liking, review your move history, and even express yourself with playful cartoon emotions as you interact with your opponent.

Special Chess Moves to Know

Castling

Castling is a special chess move involving the king and a rook. It’s only allowed if neither the king nor the rook have moved previously, and there are no pieces between them. Additionally, the king cannot be in check, and it must not move through or land on any square that is under attack. This move helps protect the king and connect the rooks for better defense.

Taking the pass

Taking the pass, or en passant, is a special pawn capture in chess. If your opponent moves a pawn two squares forward and lands next to your pawn, you can capture it on your next move as if it had only moved one square. Your pawn will take its place, but this capture must be done immediately.

More Games Like This

If you are a board game fiend, we have you covered! Play more chess games or browse our puzzle game category for popular titles like Backgammon Online, Yahtzee Online, Rummikub, and Ludo—board games gone digital!

Release Date

March 2024

Platform

Web browser (desktop and mobile)

FAQ

Is Chess Free good for beginners?

If you are just learning how to play chess, Chess Free can be a great way to learn as it has handicaps and hint features to help you along the way.

Can I play Chess Free with friends?

Chess Free can be played against the computer or against a friend.