Chess
International chess
Two players on an 8×8 board. Each side has sixteen pieces, and the goal is to checkmate the opposing king.
Play. Learn. Think Better.
Play Chess & Strategy Board Games Online
17 board games in one place. Play real people or the computer, invite a friend, and learn each game with rules and puzzles. Free, and you can start without an account.
- Free to play
- No account needed
- 17 games
Games you can play
Each game has its own page, rules and ways to play. Pick one to learn how it works or start a match.
Xiangqi
Chinese chess
Play on a 9×10 board divided by a river. Each general stays inside its palace; use chariots, horses and cannons to win.
Go
Weiqi · Baduk
Take turns placing black and white stones on the grid. Surround territory and capture stones using Chinese area scoring.
Shogi
Japanese chess
A 9×9 board where most pieces can promote. Captured pieces change sides and can be dropped back onto the board.
Gomoku
Five in a row
Place marks on a grid and connect five to win. Choose Caro, Standard or Freestyle, each with its own winning-line rules.
All games
Plus Janggi, hidden chess and more
Explore all 17 games on ChessPlayX, from familiar classics to games for three or more players.
Open the lobbyPlay your way
Play while signed in to earn points and join the leaderboard.
Play online
Play while signed in to earn points and join the leaderboard.
Leaderboard pointsOn one device
Two players, one screen. Take turns and save your game in this browser. Load the game first for offline play.
On one deviceWith a friend
Create a private room from a game page and share the invitation link with a friend.
Leaderboard pointsStart as a guest
Try a game without signing up. Create an account when you want to keep your online progress together.
No sign-upAgainst the computer
AI games earn ranking points with a lower reward coefficient than human opponents. Sign in to earn leaderboard points.
Leaderboard pointsBuilt for playing
A clean board, clear controls and a look you can make your own.
Clear, intuitive interface
See legal moves, follow the last move and find the controls beside the board.
Room to think
A calm layout keeps the board in focus, whether you are learning or deep into a match.
Board and piece themes
Explore board and piece sets in supported games, including traditional styles.
Phone, tablet and desktop
The same games on any screen size, right in your browser.
9 languages
Choose your language from the account menu. Game links stay the same when you switch.
Sound and move settings
Adjust sound, flip the board and choose how moves are displayed.
Happening now
Learn & practise
New to a game? Read the rules, then try it on the board. Already play? Sharpen your reading with puzzles and replays.
Rules for every game
Setup, piece moves, special rules and how a game ends — written for first-time players.
Read the rulesPuzzles
Work through positions with verified solutions. Choose a game, theme and difficulty to practise.
Solve a puzzleGame records
Continue a saved game or replay your moves to understand what happened on the board.
Browse game recordsPlay against the computer
Explore the chess opponent ladder from beginner to master, or choose your own strength. Computer games let you practise without changing your skill rating. Available difficulties vary by game.
Play vs AI- 1Beginner
- 2Amateur
- 3Intermediate
- 4Advanced
- 5Expert
- 6Challenge
Questions
Short answers about accounts, cost and ratings.
What is ChessPlayX?
ChessPlayX is a place to play and learn strategy board games in your browser. Play online, challenge the computer, invite a friend, follow public games and practise with puzzles.
Is ChessPlayX free?
Yes. The games, rules and practice modes on ChessPlayX are free to use.
Do I need an account to play?
You can start as a guest or play locally without signing in. An account keeps your online results, rating and progress together. Local games are saved in the browser where you play.
Which games can I play?
The current collection has 17 games, including chess, Xiangqi, Go, Shogi, Janggi, Caro and multiplayer variants. Open the lobby to see every game and its available modes.
Do computer games affect my rating?
Skill rating and competition points are separate. AI games earn ranking points with a lower reward coefficient than human opponents. Sign in to earn leaderboard points.
How do I play with a friend?
Choose the friend option on a game page, create a private room and share its invitation. You can also play together on one device using local mode.
Ready for a game?
Pick a game and make your first move. There is always something new to learn.