Play Chess Online

A computer opponent, right in your browser

Play chess against the computer with Stockfish 17.1, the engine that powers your opponent. Each game begins from the standard starting position: choose White to make the first move or Black to respond to the computer. This free online chess game runs in your browser without an account or installing an app. Your opponent is the computer; this page does not match you with other players.

Choose a level that gives you room to think

Choose Beginner, Casual, Challenging, or Strongest to adjust your computer opponent. If you are learning the rules, start with Beginner and focus on legal moves and king safety. For a tougher game, try a higher setting. These levels use different Stockfish skill settings and search budgets rather than measured Elo ratings, so even Beginner can find tactics. Engine speed depends on your device.

Practice chess at your own pace

Playing chess against a computer gives you a way to practice when a human opponent is unavailable. There is no clock, so pause before moving and ask what your opponent's last move threatens. Try developing your pieces, protecting your king, or calculating a capture before committing to it. Use one clear goal for each game, then check how your decisions worked out in the review.

Legal moves and clear endings

Drag a piece, tap two squares, or enter algebraic notation with the keyboard. Castling, en passant, and promotion follow standard chess rules. Choose the piece when promoting. You can only move your own pieces on your turn.

The game reports check, checkmate, stalemate, insufficient material, repetition, and the fifty-move rule. In this casual computer mode, threefold repetition and the fifty-move rule end the game automatically instead of requiring a tournament-style claim. Resigning ends the game with a win for the computer.

Play first, review afterward

During your game against the computer, evaluation scores and suggested moves stay hidden so you can make your own decisions. When the game ends, select Review this game to save it on this device and open Game Review. Revisit a position where you felt unsure, compare your move with the engine's alternative, and identify one idea to practice next time. If browser storage is unavailable, download the PGN and upload it into the review tool. Games in progress are not saved across reloads.

New to chess? Read the first-game guide or check the castling rules. Use the separate analysis board for study and engine suggestions.