Classic board game
Chess
Full-rules chess. Every move verified.
Full-rules chess with friends: castling, en passant, promotion, checkmate and stalemate detection, the 50-move rule and insufficient material, all verified on the server.
- 2 players
- 10 to 45 min
- Free, no download
Free account. No download. Takes 20 seconds.
Why players keep coming back
Rules enforced for you
Illegal moves are rejected by the server, so nobody argues about the rules.
Your people, one link
Invite friends or followers directly, or drop the room code in any chat.
Instant rematch
One tap after the result and the board resets with the same opponent.
Play for points
Put Bold Points on the line, or keep it friendly and free.
Create a lobby, share the code, and play on your own devices. Each move runs on a 45-second clock, so games stay sharp and nobody can stall a lost position.
How to play Chess
- 1Open a lobbyCreate a chess room and share the link with your opponent.
- 2White moves firstThe first seat plays White. Tap a piece, then its destination.
- 3Hunt the kingAttack, defend and maneuver toward checkmate.
- 4Win, draw, rematchCheckmate, resignation or a draw ends it. Rematch in one tap.
Chess rules
Objective
Checkmate the opposing king: put it in check with no legal move to escape. You also win if your opponent resigns.
How pieces move
- King: one square in any direction. Queen: any distance in any straight line or diagonal. Rook: any distance in a straight line. Bishop: any distance diagonally. Knight: an L shape, jumping over pieces.
- Pawn: one square forward, or two from its starting square. It captures one square diagonally forward.
Special moves
- Castling: king moves two squares toward a rook, which jumps to the other side of it. Allowed only if neither piece has moved, the squares between are empty, and the king is not in check and does not pass through or land on an attacked square.
- En passant: a pawn that advances two squares can be captured by an enemy pawn beside it, as if it had moved one, on the very next move only.
- Promotion: a pawn reaching the far rank becomes a queen, rook, bishop or knight.
Check, checkmate and draws
- You may never make a move that leaves your own king in check. The server rejects it.
- Checkmate ends the game. Stalemate (no legal move, not in check) is a draw.
- Draws also happen by the 50-move rule, by insufficient material to mate, or when a draw offer is accepted.
Lobbies, turns and timers
- Open a lobby, choose your options, then share the invite link or the 8-character room code. Invite-only lobbies stay closed to anyone you did not invite.
- Every move runs on a 45-second clock. Let it lapse and you forfeit the game, so stay on the board.
- Leave whenever you like. The host can end the match at any point, and a finished lobby reopens with the same seats for a rematch.
Bold Points stakes (optional)
- When you open the lobby you can play free or set a stake from 10 to 1,000 Bold Points per player.
- Stakes are held in escrow when the match starts. The winner takes the pot; a draw or an aborted match returns every stake.
- Stake winnings are capped at 5,000 Bold Points per member per day.
Strategy and tips
- Control the center early with pawns and knights.
- Castle early to tuck your king away and connect your rooks.
- Before every move, check what your opponent's last move attacks.
Recent winners
- 1 ? Oct 20, 2026
- 2 testing901 Oct 19, 2026
- 3 @testing33390 Oct 19, 2026
Chess FAQ
How do I play chess with a friend online?
Open a chess lobby, share the invite link or room code, and the game starts when your friend takes the second seat.
Does it support castling and en passant?
Yes. Castling, en passant, promotion, check, checkmate, stalemate, the 50-move rule and insufficient material are all enforced.
Is there a time limit?
Each move has a 45-second clock. If it runs out, that player forfeits, so nobody can stall a lost position.
Is it free?
Yes. Every game on Bold18 is free to play. A free Bold account is needed to open or join a lobby.
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