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Chess.com

Play chess against AI or other players worldwide

⏱ 10-60 min👥 1-2⚡ Hard📱 Mobile-friendly🌐 Plays in browser
🎮 Play Chess.com Now

Opens in a new tab · No downloads required

Our Verdict

The definitive place to play chess online. The free account covers everything a casual player needs, and the AI scales to any skill level.

What We Like

  • ✓10+ AI difficulty levels from total beginner to 2800+ ELO
  • ✓Free daily puzzles and structured lessons
  • ✓Instant matchmaking against real players at any time control
  • ✓Full Stockfish engine analysis on completed games

Watch Out For

  • ✗Unlimited puzzles and detailed analysis require a paid Diamond membership
  • ✗The mobile app is more polished than the browser version for touch play

How to Play Chess.com

  1. 1Click a piece to select it — legal moves highlight on the board
  2. 2Click the destination square (or drag the piece) to move
  3. 3Capture opponent pieces by moving to their square
  4. 4Win by checkmating the king — threatening it with no escape
  5. 5In timed games, manage your clock — running out of time is a loss

Controls

mouse
Click or drag pieces to move
keyboard
Arrow keys browse move history in analysis mode

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an account to play chess on Chess.com?▾

You can play the computer without an account, but a free account is required for matchmaking against real players, puzzles, and saving game history.

What ELO rating does the Chess.com AI play at?▾

The AI levels range from about 250 ELO (complete beginner) to 3200+ ELO (maximum Stockfish strength).

Is Chess.com free?▾

Core features — computer play, live games, daily puzzles, and basic lessons — are free. Premium tiers unlock unlimited puzzles, detailed analysis, and video lessons.

Game Details

Developer
Chess.com
Released
2007
Players
1-2
Session
session
Difficulty
Hard
Mobile
Yes
Embeddable
No — links to game site