Featured: ChessFree Blitz Chess Online
Play blitz chess online free with 3, 5 and 10 minute clocks. Train against the computer on five levels or send a friend a link and play blitz in real time. Every rule built in.
How to play chess: how each piece moves
Chess is played by two players on a board of 64 squares. Each side starts with sixteen pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights and eight pawns. White always moves first, then the players take turns moving one piece at a time. The goal is to checkmate the enemy king, which means attacking it so that it has no safe square to escape to.
King Priceless
Moves one square in any direction. It can never move into check. Protect it at all costs, because losing the king loses the game.
Queen 9 points
The strongest piece. Moves any number of squares in a straight line or diagonally, as long as nothing blocks the way.
Rook 5 points
Moves any number of squares along a rank or a file. Rooks are strongest on open files and on the seventh rank.
Bishop 3 points
Moves any number of squares diagonally and always stays on squares of one color. A pair of bishops is a real strength.
Knight 3 points
Jumps in an L shape: two squares one way and one square to the side. It is the only piece that can jump over others.
Pawn 1 point
Moves one square forward, or two from its starting square, and captures one square diagonally forward. It never moves backward.
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Special moves and how a game ends
Castling. Once per game the king can move two squares toward a rook, and that rook jumps to the square the king crossed. You may castle only if neither piece has moved, the squares between them are empty, and the king is not in check and does not pass through or land on an attacked square. Castling on the king side is written O-O and on the queen side O-O-O.
En passant. When a pawn moves two squares and lands right beside an enemy pawn, that enemy pawn may capture it as if it had moved only one square. The capture is only allowed on the very next move.
Promotion. A pawn that reaches the last rank turns into a queen, rook, bishop or knight of your choice. Most players pick a queen, but a knight is sometimes the winning move.
Check and checkmate. A king under attack is in check, and the player must get out of check at once by moving the king, blocking or capturing the attacker. If there is no way out, it is checkmate and the game is over.
Stalemate and draws. If the player to move has no legal move but is not in check, the game is a draw by stalemate. A game is also drawn when the same position appears three times, when fifty moves pass by each side with no capture or pawn move, when neither side has enough pieces left to checkmate, or when both players agree.
Free blitz chess online: time controls explained
Blitz is any game where each player has under ten minutes, and it is the format most people mean when they look for free blitz chess online. Every time control here is free and unlocked, so you can play 3 minute blitz against a friend as easily as a slow rapid game.
A time control tells you how long each player has for the whole game. In a game of 5+0, each player gets five minutes and no extra time per move. Your clock runs only while it is your turn, and if it reaches zero you lose on time, unless your opponent can no longer checkmate, in which case it is a draw.
| Time control | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 3+0 | Blitz | Fast, sharp games |
| 5+0 | Blitz | The most popular online choice |
| 10+0 | Rapid | Time to think and plan |
| 15+0 | Rapid | Calm, careful chess |
| No clock | Casual | Learning and friendly games |
Blitz chess rewards quick pattern spotting and good instincts, while rapid chess gives you time to calculate. If you are new, start with 10 or 15 minutes. When fewer than ten seconds remain, the clock shows tenths of a second so you always know exactly where you stand.
Beginner tips and opening principles
Fight for the center. Start with a central pawn move such as e4 or d4. Pieces in the center control more squares and can quickly go to either side.
Develop your pieces. Bring out knights and bishops before moving the same piece twice, and do not bring the queen out too early where it can be chased.
Castle early. Castling tucks the king away behind pawns and connects your rooks. Most strong players castle within the first ten moves.
Check every move. Before you move, ask what your opponent is threatening and which of your pieces are unprotected. Most games between beginners are decided by a piece left hanging.
Trade when you are ahead. If you have more material, swapping pieces makes your advantage bigger and the endgame easier to win.
Play chess against the computer
The computer runs in the background of your browser, so the board stays smooth while it thinks. Pick the level that matches you and move up when you start winning.
| Level | Plays like |
|---|---|
| 1 Beginner | Mostly random moves, likes to capture |
| 2 Casual | Looks one or two moves ahead |
| 3 Club | Solid tactics, thinks for a moment |
| 4 Strong | Deeper search, punishes mistakes |
| 5 Expert | Thinks for about two seconds a move |
Stuck? Tap Hint and the engine highlights a good move for you. Made a blunder? Undo takes back your move and the computer reply. Close the page in the middle of a game and it will be waiting for you under Continue your game.
Play chess with friends online
Want to play chess online with a friend? Choose Play a friend and create a private room. Send the six letter code or the invite link to your friend, who joins from any phone or computer. As the host you choose the time control and whether you play White, Black or a random color. Moves appear instantly on both screens, the clocks are kept by the host to the millisecond, and you can offer a draw, resign or ask for a rematch with colors swapped. When the game is over, review it move by move together and see where it was won or lost.
Chess FAQ
Where can I play free blitz chess online?
Right here. Choose Play a friend, pick the 3 minute or 5 minute blitz clock and share the room link, or play the computer and set your own pace. Blitz chess is free on this page with no download and no account.
Can I play chess online for free here?
Yes. This chess game is completely free and runs in your browser on any phone, tablet or computer. There is no download, no account and no sign up. Pick a mode and the board is ready in a second.
How do I play chess against the computer?
Choose vs Computer, pick one of the five levels and choose to play White, Black or a random color. Level 1 is a gentle beginner opponent, while level 5 thinks for about two seconds per move and plays a strong, tactical game. You can use Undo and Hint at any time, and your game is saved if you close the page.
How do I play chess with a friend online?
Choose Play a friend and tap Create a room. Share the six letter room code or the invite link. Your friend opens the link on their own device, enters a name and joins. The host picks the time control and which color to play, then starts the game.
Which time controls can I choose?
For games with a friend you can play 3 minute or 5 minute blitz, 10 minute or 15 minute rapid, or a relaxed game with no clock. Each player has their own clock, it only runs on your turn, and it shows tenths of a second when you have less than ten seconds left.
What happens if my time runs out?
If your clock reaches zero you lose on time. There is one exception from the official rules: if your opponent no longer has enough pieces to checkmate, for example only a king or a king and one knight, the game is a draw instead.
Does this chess game know every rule?
Yes. Castling on both sides, en passant, pawn promotion to any piece, check, checkmate and stalemate all work exactly as in tournament chess. Draws by threefold repetition, the fifty move rule, insufficient material and agreement are detected automatically.
Can I offer a draw, resign or ask for a rematch?
Yes. In a game with a friend you can offer a draw, which your opponent can accept or decline, and you can resign at any time after a quick confirmation. When the game ends, either player can ask for a rematch and the colors swap automatically.
Can I go over my game after it ends?
Yes. Tap Review the game on the result screen and step through every move with the first, back, forward and last buttons. Reviewing your own games, especially the losses, is one of the fastest ways to improve at chess.
More board games to play online
Looking for more strategy guides? Visit the OnlineGames2Play blog.
Chess piece graphics by Cburnett, from Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.