Halloween Chess: how to play

Halloween Chess is a free Halloween chess game online, hosted by Hatty, a wise old witch's hat who always thinks two moves ahead. You lead the smiling pumpkins against the friendly ghosts, with the full rules of chess: castling, en passant, promotion, check and checkmate. Win five games on five night boards, from the Pumpkin Patch to the Star Castle.

How to play

• To play this Halloween chess game, tap one of your pumpkins, then a glowing square. Dots show where it can go and a ring shows a capture. Arrow keys and Enter work too.
• Every piece keeps its classic shape and its classic move: pawns forward, knights in an L, bishops on diagonals, rooks in straight lines, the queen both ways and the king (with the gold star) one square.
• Checkmate the ghost king to 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. Hatty shares a tip when it's quiet.
• 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. Pumpkin Patch: vs Wisp, who is still learning the moves
2. Candy Lane: vs Boo, who grabs any free piece, even a trap
3. Owl Woods: vs Hoot, who checks every capture
4. Moon Hill: vs Luna, who thinks two moves ahead
5. Star Castle: vs Midnight: the ghosts move first

Clear the Star Castle and the ghosts 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 ghosts want to take next.
• A piece that nothing defends is a target. Keep your pumpkins guarding each other.
• When you're ahead, trade pieces. When you're behind, keep the game tricky.

Questions

Is Halloween Chess free?

Yes. Halloween Chess is free online in your browser, with no download and no sign-up.

Can I play it on my phone?

Yes. Tap a pumpkin, then a glowing square. On an upright phone the board fills the width with Hatty underneath. It works on phones, tablets and computers.

Is it real chess?

Yes. Only the look is Halloween: every piece keeps its classic shape and moves, and every rule is included, from castling to the draw rules.

Is it scary?

No. It is friendly Halloween fun: smiling pumpkins, giggly ghosts with rosy cheeks, a big moon and a wise hat who gives hints.