Chess online — play free chess against the computer or a friend

1. Tap a piece, then tap one of the glowing squares to move it. You can also drag the piece.
2. White moves first, then you take turns. A king in check glows red, and you must get it out of check.
3. To promote a pawn on the last row, pick a queen, rook, bishop or knight.
4. Switch between the 3D view and a clear top-down view at any time. Against the computer you can take a move back.

Chess is the world’s most famous strategy game: two armies of sixteen pieces, one goal, checkmate the enemy king. Neon Chess plays by the full official rules, so everything you learn here works on any chess board in the world.

Pick your opponent. Spark (about 600) is perfect for beginners and sometimes leaves a piece hanging. Pulse (about 1000) plays sensible casual chess, Circuit (about 1400) is a solid club player, Cyber (about 1800) attacks hard and calculates deep, and Singularity (2200+) plays like a grandmaster. The computer runs right in your browser, so it answers instantly, even on a phone.

Online, Quick match finds a real player. If nobody is free within a few seconds, a Bot takes the seat so you can play right away. Or invite a friend with a link: they join with one tap, no account needed. Choose Blitz (3 minutes plus 2 seconds a move), Rapid (10 minutes) or no clock at all. If your connection drops, you get back into the same game with the same clock.

• Checkmate wins: the king is attacked and has no legal way to escape. You also win if your opponent resigns or runs out of time.
• Castling, en passant and pawn promotion all work exactly as in official chess.
• A game is a draw by stalemate, threefold repetition, the 50-move rule, not enough material to checkmate, or agreement.
• Neon Chess does not give Points yet. Play for fun, to learn and to beat the next bot. Ads never give Points.

• Control the center with pawns and knights in the first moves.
• Bring out your knights and bishops before your queen, and castle early.
• Before every move, ask what your opponent is threatening.

Can I play chess against the computer for free?

Yes. Choose one of five levels, from Spark for beginners to Singularity for strong players. It is free, with no account and no download.

How do I play chess online with a friend?

Tap Invite a friend and send the link. Your friend opens it and joins your game with one tap, even without an account.

Who will I play in Quick match?

A real player when one is free. If nobody is free within a few seconds, a Bot clearly marked "Bot" takes the seat so you never have to wait.

Does it follow the official rules?

Yes: castling, en passant, promotion, check and checkmate, and every draw rule, including stalemate, threefold repetition and the 50-move rule.

Can I play chess on my phone?

Yes. Neon Chess works in the browser on phones, tablets and computers. Tap to move, or drag the pieces.