Frequently asked questions
Published
These are the questions people ask most often about this site, followed by rule questions that come up in almost every beginner's first weeks. If your question is not here, the contact page explains how to write in.
About this site
Is it free? Do I need an account?
Yes, it is free, and no, there is no account, sign-up or payment form. You open the page and play. The site is supported by advertising from Google, which is described on the privacy page.
How strong is the computer?
You choose between Easy, Normal and Hard in the AI settings window, which you open with the gear button above the board. Easy is meant for learning the moves: most of the time it simply picks a random legal move. Normal looks two plies ahead (its move and your reply), so it will usually take a piece you leave hanging. Hard looks up to four plies ahead and takes a little over a second per move. We do not publish a rating for these levels, because a rating would only be meaningful if it were measured against rated players, and we have not done that.
Can I play Black?
Yes. In the AI settings window, choose "Black — computer moves first" under "Your pieces". The flip button turns the board whenever you want to see it from the other side.
Can I take back a move?
Against the computer, yes: the Undo button steps back. In online games, no. Once the server has accepted a move it is part of the shared game for both players.
How does online play work?
Press Online, then "Find a random opponent". The server pairs you with whoever else is waiting and checks every move for legality. You will be playing a stranger; there is no friends list and no private room. An invitation link only brings the other person into the same public queue, so it cannot guarantee you will be paired with them. Each turn has a ten-minute limit. If you reload the page, an online game that is still in progress is restored.
Is my game saved?
An unfinished game against the computer, its difficulty and your score against the computer are stored in this browser using local storage. They stay until you clear the site's data. They are not uploaded and do not appear on another device. There are no global rankings.
Why does the board look flat on my device?
The pieces are drawn in 3D using WebGL. If your browser or device cannot run WebGL, the site falls back to a flat 2D board. The rules and the computer are the same either way. The angle button switches between an angled view and a top view, which some players find easier to read.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The board scales to the screen width and you move by tapping a piece and then a highlighted square. On a small screen the top view is often clearer than the angled one.
Who runs the site?
It is an independent site run by one person. The about page says more, and the terms of use describe the ground rules.
About the rules
Is stalemate a win?
No. If the player to move has no legal move and is not in check, the game is a draw. This is the most common way to throw away a won game; the endgame page shows the trap.
Can I castle out of check, or through check?
Neither. You cannot castle while in check, and the king may not pass over or land on an attacked square. The rook's path does not matter, so in queen-side castling the b-file square may be attacked.
Can I have two queens?
Yes. A pawn that reaches the last rank can become a queen even if your original queen is still on the board.
Why did the board refuse my move?
Almost always because it would leave your own king in check. That includes moving a pinned piece, and moving the king next to the enemy king. The second most common reason is trying to castle when the king or rook has already moved.
What is en passant and why did a pawn disappear?
If your pawn moves two squares and lands beside an enemy pawn, the enemy may capture it as if it had moved one square, but only on the very next move. The rules guide walks through an example.
When is a game drawn automatically?
This board ends the game as a draw for stalemate, threefold repetition of the same position, fifty moves by each side with no capture or pawn move, and positions where neither side has enough material to checkmate, such as king against king and bishop.
Does White have an advantage?
Moving first is generally considered a small advantage, and in large collections of master games White scores somewhat better than Black. In casual games between new players the first move matters far less than avoiding blunders.
What should I learn first?
The rules, then the habit of checking every move for checks, captures and threats. After that, simple mates with king and queen and king and rook, and the opening principles. Memorising openings can wait. The full set of articles is listed on the articles page.