ONE BOARD. TWO WAYS OF THINKING.
Chess for 2 players. Your move, then mine.
A quiet challenge across sixty-four squares. Choose your colors, share a screen, and see where the next move takes you.
- White moves firstBlack takes the next turn
- No clockThink at your own pace
- Free to playNo account needed
Both players use the same screen and take turns.
Select a piece to reveal its legal destinations.
Casual chess without a countdown or ratings.
How to start a two-player chess game
- Open the board. The main button starts Same device mode or restores your saved local game.
- Choose White and Black. Player 1 controls White and starts. Player 2 controls Black.
- Select a piece. Tap or click it to see the legal destinations, then choose a highlighted square.
- Pass the turn. The player indicator changes after each move. Keep going until checkmate or a draw.
Use Flip board when handing the device to the other player. Flipping changes your view, not the position or whose turn it is.
A chessboard for the table between you
There are no hidden hands in chess, so both people can study the whole position. Place a tablet between you, pass a phone, or take turns with a mouse. The board stays in its current orientation until you flip it.
For a first game, talk through the moves together. The highlighted destinations explain where a selected piece can go, and a checked king is marked on the board. Illegal moves are rejected.
On a keyboard, use Tab to focus a square and Enter or Space to select it. Focus the destination and activate it to make the move.
When your opponent is somewhere else
Open Chess with a Friend to create a private invitation. The creator plays White and the guest plays Black, with both players connected on their own devices. Only the player whose turn it is can move.
Compare the options in the Chess online guide. Between friendly games, you can also practise against the computer.
Learn from the game you just played
Before each move, ask what the opponent is threatening. Look for checks, captures and pieces left undefended. Developing knights and bishops helps you contest the center; castling can move your king to safety.
Open Moves to read the notation, or copy the game as PGN for later study. A new local round replaces the current local board after confirmation. Read the piece movements and special rules before trying your first castle or pawn promotion.
GOOD TO KNOW
Chess 2 Player FAQ
Can two people play chess on one phone?
Yes. Choose Same device and take turns selecting pieces and destinations. Both players see the whole position.
Does the board rotate after each turn?
No. Use Flip board when you want to change the view. It does not change the game.
Can I move into check?
No. Only legal destinations are accepted. When your king is checked, the next move must remove the check.
Will our game be saved?
Local moves save in this browser when storage is available. A computer game has a separate save. Clearing browser site data removes both.
How are draws handled?
Stalemate and insufficient material end the game. This casual version also automatically draws on the third repetition or after fifty moves by each side without a pawn move or capture.