About Chess 3D
Chess 3D is proper chess with every rule, played on an oak and walnut board with polished white and black marble pieces trimmed in gold and silver, in a grand hall. The pieces are classic tournament shapes, so you know each one at a glance: the king's cross, the queen's crown, the rook's battlements, the bishop's split mitre and the knight's horse head.
But here the pieces are alive! Pawns hop, bishops and queens glide, rooks stomp and knights leap over the board. And when one captures another, it attacks right in front of you: the pawn headbutts, the knight rears up and kicks, the bishop spins and slashes, the rook opens its battlements and fires a cannon, the queen throws lightning from her crown and the king leaps up and slams the ground. The captured piece cracks and shatters into chunks of marble.
Play the computer at four levels, from Beginner for young players to Hard for strong ones, as White or Black, or play a friend on the same device with the board turning to face whoever's move it is. Your game saves itself and you can take back a move. Every rule is in: castling, en passant, promotion, check, checkmate and all the draws.
How to play
- Choose Vs computer and pick a level and a colour, or Two players, one device.
- Tap one of your pieces: the squares it can move to light up with green dots.
- Tap a glowing square to send it there. A red ring means it will capture an enemy piece.
- Watch the fight! Tap the screen if you want it to go faster.
- If your king is in check, you have to protect him on your next move.
- Win by checkmate: the enemy king is attacked and has nowhere to escape.
Controls
| Keyboard | Esc or P to pause, V to turn the board around, Ctrl+Z to undo a move, and Space to speed up a fight. |
|---|---|
| Mouse | Click one of your pieces, then a glowing square. Drag to turn the camera and use the wheel to zoom. |
| Touch | Tap one of your pieces, then a glowing square. Drag with one finger to turn the camera and pinch to zoom. |
Tips to win
- Take the middle of the board with your pawns early, and bring out your knights and bishops.
- Castle early to tuck your king safely behind his pawns.
- Before you move, check whether your piece can be captured on its new square.
- Drag to turn the camera if a square is hidden behind a tall piece.
Chess 3D: questions and answers
Is this chess game free?
Yes, it's completely free and runs right in your browser with no download and no sign-up.
Is it real chess?
Yes. Every official rule is there: castling, en passant, promotion, checkmate and every kind of draw. The only difference is that the pieces move and fight when they capture.
Can I learn chess with it?
Yes. The Beginner level makes lots of mistakes so young players can win and learn, the game lights up the squares each piece can reach, and you can take back a move.
Can I play with a friend?
Yes. Choose Two players, one device, and the board turns to face each player in turn. You can switch that off in Settings.
Do the fights make games slow?
Each fight takes about two seconds. Tap the screen during one to speed it up, set Animation speed to Fast, or turn off the Battle camera in Settings.