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Chess

Classic · two players

2 players20–60 minCompetitiveMeaty

The one everyone already knows.

PlayPlayable

Ready to play now.

A demonstration of Chess, played by the computer against itself.

Chess — playing itself

Ways to play

  • Alone, against the computer

    Your own pace, no arranging anything. Take a move back whenever you like.

    5 opponents, weakest first
    • Learning the movesOne ply, no book, and it hangs pieces — but it takes a mate in one.
    • CasualSees a two-move tactic, and misses the third move.
    • ClubTwo plies as a rule, four once the board empties, with quiescence. Punishes a loose piece.
    • StrongSearches as deep as the position allows.
    • PunishingSearches deeper than Strong — a ply more, measured — and it will not miss the endgame.
    Play alone

  • Together, in the same room

    2 players. One device goes round the table, or everybody plays off the same screen.

    Play in the same room

  • Online, at a table

    A room code, joinable from anywhere. Pause tonight and pick it up next week from your device.

    Play online

About

The standard game, kept plain. Full rules — castling, en passant, promotion, the fifty-move rule — with five opponents and a tutorial that teaches by playing.

How it feels

  • Familiar
  • Unforgiving
  • Endless

What the design is for

  • The whole rulebook

    Castling, en passant, underpromotion, stalemate, threefold, fifty moves.

  • Five opponents

    From one that hangs pieces to one that will not.

  • Taught by playing

    Twelve steps, including the three rules people quietly give up on.

Best at
—
Kind
Classic
Table
Competitive
Studio
Classics

The opponents

  1. Learning the moves

    One ply, no book, and it hangs pieces — but it takes a mate in one.

  2. Casual

    Sees a two-move tactic, and misses the third move.

  3. Club

    Two plies as a rule, four once the board empties, with quiescence. Punishes a loose piece.

  4. Strong

    Searches as deep as the position allows.

  5. Punishing

    Searches deeper than Strong — a ply more, measured — and it will not miss the endgame.

Achievements

0 of 6 earned

  • Mate

    Win a game of chess.

  • Against the Machine

    Beat the top two opponents.

  • Tucked Away

    Castle in a game you play through.

  • It Is a Real Rule

    Capture en passant.

  • Not the Queen

    Promote a pawn to something else on purpose.

  • She Never Left Home

    Win with your queen still on her starting square.

Key art

Concept plate — Board.game art system

Chess — key still
Chess — key cover
Chess — key backdrop

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