Chess Online: play chess against 18 difficulty levels

About Chess Online

Chess Online is a classic chess game where you play against the computer and try to checkmate the opposing king. You move your pieces with the mouse, choose how strong your opponent is, and win when the enemy king has no way out.

What stands out is the number of options: 18 difficulty levels from Beginner to World Champion, plus several time controls (unlimited, bullet, blitz, rapid and classic). If you want to play this chess game in your browser with no sign-up and at your own pace, it is a handy way to practice.

The game highlights the possible moves when you pick a piece, lets you take back a move if you slipped, and offers interactive hints that show the best move. After the game, an analysis marks your mistakes and gives advice on how to improve. It runs in a desktop web browser with no downloads.

How to play Chess Online?

The goal in chess is checkmate: attack the opposing king so that it cannot escape or be protected. Here are the basic steps to start a game of Chess Online.

Choose your opponent's difficulty level, from Beginner to World Champion, and the time control you prefer.
Click one of your pieces: the game highlights the squares it can move to.
Click the destination square to move. The computer then replies.
Protect your king, capture enemy pieces and look for checkmate. Ask for a hint or take back a move if you need to.
When the game ends, open the analysis to see your mistakes and replay the game from any point.

Chess Online controls

PC

Mouse: click a piece to select it, then click the destination square to move it.
Possible squares are highlighted when you select a piece.
Use the in-game buttons to ask for a hint, undo a move or open the analysis.

Tips and tricks: Chess Online

Start at a low level and raise the difficulty gradually once you win comfortably.
Use unlimited time to think through each move, and blitz or bullet to train your speed.
Take advantage of the interactive hints to learn which move was best in each position.
Review the post-game analysis: it points out your mistakes and tells you how to improve.
Remember the draw rules: stalemate, threefold repetition, 50 moves without a capture or pawn move, and insufficient material.