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A little time. A better move.

Kingside Chess

A quiet game of chess, entirely on your own computer. A built-in opponent with four levels - Beginner, Club, Advanced and Expert - so there's always a game at your strength. Play on a classic board or a 3D board you can orbit, with every rule handled and explained, takebacks when you change your mind, the whole game copied as PGN when you want it, and your game saved as you play. No clock, no adverts. Free in your browser or as a Windows app, no sign-in needed.

Play in your browser - free, no sign-up Get the Windows app
Kingside Chess's 2D board mid-game against the Club level, with the last move highlighted, the move record and the level cards on the right

Kingside Chess, in practice

The 3D board orbited down to table level during a Club game, and the same game seen from above against Expert.

Kingside Chess's 3D board orbited to a low angle, sculpted pieces with soft shadows, the last move highlighted

3D board - drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, click to move

Kingside Chess's 3D board from above with the Expert level selected and the move record alongside

Expert selected - four levels, changeable mid-game

A real opponent, four levels

Beginner, Club, Advanced, Expert. Not a random-move generator: a built-in engine with a proper tactical search, tuned so that each level plays like a person of that strength. Expert looks eight to twelve moves ahead.

A classic 2D board

Clear pieces, coordinates, highlighted legal moves, last-move and check markers. Click a piece, click where it goes - or use the arrow keys. Flip it to play from black's side.

Or a 3D board you can orbit

Switch to a three-dimensional board with sculpted pieces and soft shadows. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, click to move - the same game, a different view.

Every rule, explained

Castling, en passant, promotion with a choice of piece, check, checkmate, stalemate, threefold repetition, the fifty-move rule and insufficient material - and a plain-English status telling you what just happened.

Take back, flip, choose your colour

Changed your mind? Take back a move. Play as white or black, flip the board any time, and change the level mid-game if you want a harder or easier opponent.

Saved as you play

Close the app mid-game and it's back on the board next time you open it - with the computer taking its turn if it was due one.

Copy the game as PGN

One click copies the whole game in standard notation, with headers, to paste into any chess app, database or website.

See it think

After each move, a line shows how many positions the computer considered, how deep it looked and how long it took.

Offline, private, unhurried

No clock, no adverts, no account needed to play. The rules, the engine and the 3D board all ship inside the app - in your browser or on Windows.

How it compares to a chess website or a free chess app

Most chess apps either need a live connection to an engine or an opponent, or make their money from adverts and in-app purchases. Here's how Kingside Chess compares.

Feature Kingside Chess A chess website A free chess app
Pricing model Free - no adverts, no in-app purchases Free tier plus subscription Free, ad-supported, in-app purchases
Works fully offline ✓ ✕ ✓ (often with adverts)
Built-in engine opponent with levels ✓ four levels ✓ (online) ✓ (varies)
3D board ✓ ✕ (usually) Sometimes
Game saved automatically, PGN export ✓ ✓ Varies
No adverts, no account needed to play ✓ ✕ ✕

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to install anything to use Kingside Chess?

No - play it straight from your browser, on a phone, tablet or PC, with no sign-up. It works offline once it has loaded, and you can add it to your home screen or desktop like an app. There is also a free Windows desktop version in the Microsoft Store if you prefer an installed app.

Does the browser edition need a Metre2 account?

No. The browser edition needs no account at all. The Windows app doesn't need one to play either - a Metre2 account only comes in if you want the optional Metre2 Sync to keep your saved game in step across PCs.

How strong is the computer?

It's a real chess engine, built into the app. Beginner and Club play like improving players - mostly sensible, with the occasional misjudgement. Advanced is a solid club-level opponent. Expert looks eight to twelve moves ahead, with a proper tactical search, and will punish loose pieces. A line under the status shows how many positions it considered and how deep it looked after every move.

Does it need an internet connection?

No. The rules, the engine and the 3D board all ship inside the app. Nothing is fetched from the internet to play a game.

Does it know all the rules?

Yes - castling, en passant, promotion (you choose the piece), check, checkmate, stalemate, threefold repetition, the fifty-move rule and draws by insufficient material, with a plain-English explanation of what just happened.

What happens if I close the app mid-game?

The game is saved after every move. Open the app again and the same position is back on the board - and if it was the computer's turn, it takes it.

Can I get the game out of the app?

Yes. Copy PGN puts the whole game on the clipboard in standard notation, with headers, ready to paste into any chess app, database or website.

Where does my data go?

Your saved game stays on your device by default, and the app works fully offline - nothing is fetched or sent over the internet to play.

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Ready for a game?

Play in your browser - free, no sign-up Get the Windows app

Free in your browser or from the Microsoft Store. No sign-in needed to play.