Chess Online: how to play

Chess against the computer, with the full rules: castling, en passant, promotion, check and checkmate. Mogi leads the gold pieces and takes on a new bot in every level, each one sharper than the last. Beginners get a hint and an undo every game; strong players can push on to the Glitch Bot, who plays White and moves first.

How to play

• Tap one of your pieces, then a glowing square. Dots show where it can go and a ring shows a capture. Arrow keys and Enter work too.
• Each piece moves its own way: pawns forward, knights in an L, bishops on diagonals, rooks in straight lines, the queen both ways and the king one square.
• Put the other king in check so it can't escape: that's checkmate, and you win the level. A lost game costs one of your three hearts and you get a rematch.
• Castling, en passant and promotion all work. When a pawn reaches the far side, pick a queen, rook, bishop or knight.
• Stuck? Tap HINT (or press H) once per game to see a strong move. UNDO (or U) takes back your last move once per game.
• Stalemate, 50 moves with no capture or pawn move, the same position three times, or too few pieces to mate are draws: you play again with no heart lost.

The five levels

1. Neon City: vs Byte, who is still learning the moves
2. Rooftops: vs Kip, who grabs any free piece, even a trap
3. Sewer: vs Sewer Bot, who checks its captures
4. Robot Factory: vs Factory Bot, who thinks two moves ahead
5. Glitch Zone: Glitch Bot plays White and moves first

Clear the Glitch Zone and the bots loop again: each one thinks a move further ahead and slips up half as often. You have three hearts for the whole run, and the game is the same for everyone each day, so you can compare scores. Press M to turn the sound off or on.

Tips

• Get your knights and bishops out early and castle your king to safety.
• Before every move, ask what the computer wants to take next.
• A piece that nothing defends is a target. Keep your pieces guarding each other.
• When you're ahead, trade pieces. When you're behind, keep the game complicated.

Questions

Can I play chess against the computer for free?

Yes. Play chess free in your browser on phones, tablets and computers, against five computer opponents, with no download and no sign-up.

Is it good for beginners?

Yes. The first bot makes plenty of mistakes, dots show every legal move, and you get a hint and an undo every game.

Does it have castling and en passant?

Yes. Castling, en passant, promotion and every draw rule are included.

What happens in a draw?

Stalemate and the other draws mean you play the same bot again, with no heart lost.