Your colour
Your opponent — every game against the computer is rated.
The board — two people passing one device usually want their own pieces nearest them.
Clock — optional. Fischer increment adds seconds back after every move.
Two devices, one board. Hold them up to each other and they'll find one another — no accounts, no server, nothing leaves the room.
Read these four letters to your friend. On their device: Play together → Join a board.
The four letters only carry the handshake. The game itself goes straight between the two devices.
Ask your friend to tap Start a board — they'll read you four letters.
Boards waiting nearby show up here on their own.
Have them tap Join their board and point their camera here.
The camera stays on this device and stops the moment it sees a code.
Two devices, one board.
It becomes any piece you like — nearly everyone chooses the queen.
Tap any opening and the board will play it for you, one thought at a time. Then take over and play on, if you like.
The Chess Room is part of The Solving Room — free things that teach, built plainly.
Everything runs in your browser: the rules engine (checked against millions of known-good positions), the 3D board (raw WebGL, no libraries — the pieces are carved by the browser at start-up, not downloaded), the coach, and the clock. Nearby play links two devices directly with WebRTC — the invite code is the connection; there is no server, no account, no tracking of any kind.
Install it (Add to Home Screen) and it works offline, and quietly tells you when a new version is ready.
MIT licensed. Be kind to your opponent — especially when you're winning.
The room hit an unexpected error. Your game is saved after every move, so nothing is lost. Pick a way back in: