StrategyChess
How to play chess with a friend online, free and without an account
A step-by-step guide to playing a real game of chess with a friend who is somewhere else, or sitting right next to you, using nothing but a browser.
4 min readUpdated By PlayNest team
What you need
A phone, tablet or computer with a modern browser for each player, an internet connection, and a way to send a link, such as WhatsApp, a text message or email. That is all. Our chess game runs in the browser, so neither of you installs anything, and there is no sign-up.
If you are sitting together with only one device, skip ahead to playing on one device.
Step 1: create a room
Open the chess game and tap Play a friend, then create a room. You get a room screen with a six-letter room code and buttons to share the invite link on WhatsApp, copy it, or open your phone's share sheet.
The room shows both seats, which colour each player has, and whether they are online. You are the host.
Step 2: send the link
Tap the WhatsApp button and pick your friend's chat, or copy the link and paste it anywhere. When your friend opens the link, they land straight in your room. If the link will not open for some reason, they can open the chess game and type the six-letter code instead.
Tip
On a phone call? Read the six-letter code out loud. It is quicker than switching apps to send a link.
Step 3: choose colours and a clock
As host you can swap colours and choose the time control. The options are no clock, 1+0, 3+2, 5+0, 10+0 and 15+10. The first number is the minutes each player starts with; the second is the seconds added after every move.
- No clock: relaxed games, learning, or playing with a child.
- 10+0 or 15+10: a proper game with time to think.
- 3+2 or 5+0: quick games where the clock matters.
- 1+0: bullet chess. Fun, chaotic, not for beginners.
Step 4: ready, start, play
Your friend taps Ready, and you press Start. Moves appear on both boards instantly. If a direct connection between your two devices is not possible, the game routes moves through a relay instead, so it still works on most networks.
Move by dragging a piece, or by tapping the piece and then the square. Legal moves show as dots and captures as rings. When the clock drops below twenty seconds it turns red and starts ticking.
Chatting during the game
Open the chat to send typed messages, quick phrases or reactions. It is a nice way to say good game, or to talk through a position in a friendly match. There is no takeback in online games, so think before you let go of the piece.
If the connection drops
If either of you refreshes the page, the game reconnects and resumes where it was. If your friend disappears, the game waits a minute for them to come back. After that you may claim the win.
When the game ends, a result card shows the reason, with buttons for Rematch, New game, Review game and Copy PGN. A rematch swaps colours, so you each get a turn with White.
Tips for a good game with a friend
A few small habits make online games with friends more fun:
- Agree on the clock before you start. A beginner against a stronger friend is happier with no clock or 15+10.
- If one of you is much stronger, the stronger player can take Black every game, or play fast while the other plays slowly.
- After the game, use Review game to step back through the moves together and find the turning point.
- Copy the PGN if you want to keep a game or look at it later in another chess program.
Playing on one device
Sitting together with one phone or tablet? Choose two players on one device. Turn on auto-flip and the board turns to face whoever is about to move, so you can pass the phone across the table. Takeback works in this mode too, which is handy for teaching.
New to the game, or teaching someone? Share chess rules for beginners first, and when you both know the moves, try the opening principles together.
Questions people ask
- Do we need accounts to play chess online together?
- No. Create a room, send the link or the six-letter code, and your friend joins by opening it. Nobody signs up.
- Can my friend join from a different country?
- Yes. As long as both of you have an internet connection and a browser, the room works across any distance.
- Can we take back moves in an online game?
- No, online games have no takeback. Takeback is available against the computer and in two-player games on one device.
- What happens if my friend leaves mid-game?
- The game waits about a minute for them to reconnect. If they do not come back, you can claim the win.
