Chess vs Computer
Full legal chess against a built-in engine — three strengths, opening to endgame.
How to Play
The board above is a complete game of chess against an engine that runs entirely in your browser. Click or tap a piece to select it; every legal destination square is highlighted, and a second click or tap completes the move. The full rules of chess are enforced automatically — castling, en passant, pawn promotion, threefold repetition, and the fifty-move rule all work exactly as they do over the board, and the engine will neither allow nor play an illegal move.
Before your first move, pick one of three difficulty levels. The lowest level plays quickly and makes human-scale mistakes, which makes it a comfortable opponent for beginners; the highest level calculates more deeply and punishes loose play. Every move is recorded in the move list in standard algebraic notation (SAN), so you can follow the game the same way chess books and broadcasts write it. Made a mistake? The undo control takes back your last move together with the engine’s reply, so you are always back on your own turn.
Nothing here requires an account. The game runs locally, and your progress is kept in your browser’s storage, so you can close the tab mid-game and pick it up later on the same device.
Why This Game Is Worth Your Time
Playing against an engine is the lowest-friction way to get real games in. There is no waiting for an opponent, no rating anxiety, and no time pressure — you can sit on a position for ten minutes if you want to. Because the move list is written in SAN, every game you play here doubles as notation practice, a skill that pays off the moment you open any chess book. If you are new to the game or want to go deeper into its history and structure, start with our chess discipline page; if you would rather warm up with a short exercise first, the daily challenges rotate a fresh position every day.
Practical Tips
- Use the undo as a teacher, not an eraser. When the engine wins material, take the move back once, find out what you missed, and only then replay. Undoing without understanding teaches nothing.
- Stay on a level until you win consistently. Jumping to the hardest setting early just produces fast losses. Beating the easy level several games in a row is a real signal that you are ready to move up.
- Read the move list after every game. Scroll back through the SAN record and find the single move where things went wrong. One identified mistake per game is faster improvement than ten unexamined games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an account to play?
No. The game runs entirely in your browser with no signup, no login, and no email required. Your in-progress game is stored locally on your device.
How strong is the computer opponent?
It depends on the level you choose. The lowest of the three levels is deliberately beatable for newcomers, while the highest level calculates deeply enough to challenge experienced club players.
Are all the rules of chess supported?
Yes. Castling, en passant, promotion, stalemate, threefold repetition, and the fifty-move rule are all enforced. Only legal moves can be played by either side.
Can I take back a move?
Yes. The undo control reverses your last move and the engine’s reply in one step, returning the game to your turn.
Does the game work on a phone?
Yes. The board is fully tap-driven: tap a piece, then tap a highlighted square. It works the same way on desktop with a mouse.
Is my game saved if I close the tab?
Yes, on the same device and browser. Progress lives in local storage, so clearing your browser data will remove it, and it does not transfer between devices.
Looking for a different challenge? Browse all playable games in the play section.