How many players can play Chess?

2 players. If you're short of players, the host can add CPU players, so you can start a table on your own.

What age is Chess suitable for?

We suggest 8+. There's no age check, so treat it as a guide.

Does it cost anything?

Nothing at all. No account and no app to install: enter a name and you're straight in.

Can I play on a smartphone?

Yes. It runs in the browser, so the same URL opens on iPhone and Android alike.

How do I invite friends?

Open a table and press "Invite link" to get its URL. Anyone you send it to comes straight to your table.

Board games

How to play Chess

Play the best move
and lead the way to victory.

What's lost never comes back. The classic two-player game woven from six kinds of pieces, from pawn to king.

Play Chess free Play vs CPU

No sign-up, nothing to install. Enter a name and you're at the table. No opponent? Play the CPU right away.

Count: 2
Play time: 20-40 min
Ages: 8+
Equipment: An 8×8 chessboard and pieces

What is Chess?

Up is forward (toward your opponent). A piece can move to each red dot. Along an arrow it can go any number of squares until another piece blocks it (only the knight can jump over pieces). A pawn moves one square forward, two on its very first move, and goes diagonally forward only when capturing.

Each side commands 16 pieces; checkmate the opponent's king first to win. A proper two-player game with the standard international rules, including pawn promotion, castling and en passant.

Playing Chess at Kirakuken

Castling (kingside and queenside)
En passant captures
Promote pawns to a queen, rook, bishop or knight
Three CPU strengths. Undo is available against the CPU

Rules of Chess

These rules always apply at our tables.

Winning: checkmate the opponent's king to win. You may not make a move that leaves your own king open to capture.
Stalemate: if a player is not in check but has no legal move, the game is a draw.
Automatic draws: the game is drawn at once when the same position (side to move, castling rights and en passant included) appears three times, when fifty moves pass on each side with no capture and no pawn move, or when neither side has enough material to mate (king against king, king and a single bishop or knight, and so on).
Castling: if the king and that rook have never moved, the squares between them are empty, and none of the squares the king crosses is attacked, you may castle on either the kingside or the queenside.
En passant: when an opponent's pawn advances two squares and lands right beside your pawn, on the very next move only you may capture it by moving to the square it passed over.
Pawn promotion: a pawn that reaches the last rank becomes a queen, rook, bishop or knight of your choice.
Pawn moves: one square forward, or two on its first move. It moves diagonally forward only to capture.

FAQ

How many players can play Chess?: 2 players. If you're short of players, the host can add CPU players, so you can start a table on your own.
What age is Chess suitable for?: We suggest 8+. There's no age check, so treat it as a guide.
Does it cost anything?: Nothing at all. No account and no app to install: enter a name and you're straight in.
How long does a game take?: About 20-40 min.
Can I play on a smartphone?: Yes. It runs in the browser, so the same URL opens on iPhone and Android alike.
How do I invite friends?: Open a table and press "Invite link" to get its URL. Anyone you send it to comes straight to your table.

Done reading? Take a seat.

Open a Chess table Play vs CPU

Last updated: 2026-11-03