Sometimes called the "Royal Game" or the "Game of Kings", Chess remains incredibly popular today, is prized for its simple rules yet endless strategic depth.
The following is a comprehensive collection of web sites where you can play Chess online against the computer or against live players, right from your browser.
Chess Games You Can Play Online
- GameColony Chess
Play free online games at GameColony.com, and enjoy the thrill of competition in one of their daily cash tournaments. Games include Chess, Checkers, Gin Rummy, Cribbage, Dominoes, and Backgammon. The games feature true peer-to-peer and tournament play for fun or for cash with no downloads, full chat and instant message functionality, and no aggravating ads or anything else that gets in the way of what you want to do -- play games! - Caissa's Web
Caissa's Web is a free online chess server offering both live (real-time) and correspondence (turn-based) chess using only a web browser -- no software to download. - Chess.net
Train with Grandmasters; play with friends. Play live chess on the Internet with players from around the world. Use training programs to improve your game. Players at all levels welcome. Play via Telnet, Windows client, or Java client. Requires subscription. - ChessCube
A cutting-edge online chess platform and community where over a million users play live chess. Play in live tournaments, watch chess training videos - and improve your game! - Chessfree.net
Chessfree.net offers live chess games,correspondence chess games or chess games against the computer without registration. - ChessWorld.net
ChessWorld is a relaxed, friendly and vibrant online chess club. It is one of the very few dedicated correspondence style sites, and focuses all of its resources on quality correspondence style chess; it does not offer other styles of play or chess variants. - FICS
The Free Internet Chess Server -- play chess in real time on the Internet for FREE!. You can use a Telnet client to play, or use one of the many graphical front ends available for download from the site. - GameKnot Chess
Play a friendly chess game online, or compete against other chess players - all you need is 10 minutes to enjoy playing chess online every day. You choose when to move or how often - no need to finish your chess games in one sitting, you can return to them whenever you have time to play online. - GeeksWithChess
GeeksWithChess provides a free online chess community that allows you to play chess online against live players! No downloads necessary, just log in and enjoy real time free online chess. Whether you are a beginner, occasional player, or highly skilled, this free online chess game offers something for you. - Grand Master Chess Online
Grand Master Chess is a flash-based version of the familiar game of chess, with slick graphics, sound, and music. It's you against the computer in a one-on-one chess battle. - Internet Chess Club
The Internet Chess Club (ICC) is the premier place to play chess on the internet. It's been around longer, has more features, more tournaments, more learning opportunities, more computerized opponents, more anti-cheating features, more titled players, more customer service, and more fun than anywhere else. Requires subscription. - ItsYourTurn Chess
Play free online games including Backgammon, Battleboats (Battleship), Chess, Checkers, Othello, Pente, and more - over 35 different games and variations. No Java, no downloads. Tournaments and extensive message boards are part of this active community. - Net Chess
Net Chess lets you play chess against computer or live opponents. Have fun playing this ancient game, and so you don't spend too much time planning your next move, you should set time limits for the game. Pieces and board are attractive and digital sound effects add to the fun. Options let you pick from four pieces and squres sets; choose from ten animation speed settings; and much more. Require Windows client. - Playchess.com
Playchess.com is the world's biggest chess server, where you'll find 20,000 chess lovers every day, from all over the world. Requires subscription. - PlayOK Chess
PlayOK offers free online games that you can play right from your browser, with no download required. [Java] - Stan's NetChess
A free internet chess playing service that is geared toward people that don't have time to sit and play a full game all at once. Games are started through Challenges that indicate the pace desired in the game. Some people will want to make one move every day, while others will want to make many moves per day. - Uzuriel Gomoku
Uzuriel Gomoku is a flash-based version of the game of Gomoku (also known as Pente, Renju, and Five-in-a-Row). - WebChess
Welcome to the world of GNU Chess, linked to the Web. - WinBoard/XBoard
A free open-source graphical user interface for chess that displays a chessboard on the screen, accepts moves made with the mouse, and loads and saves games in Portable Game Notation (PGN). It serves as a front-end for many different chess services. For Windows and X-Windows. - World Chess Live
A family-friendly online chess service that provides an online chess community for novice, intermediate, and recreational chess players. - YourTurnMyTurn Chess
At YourTurnMyTurn.com you can play turn-based classic online board games and modern board games against other players. Your opponent doesn't have to be online. Requires free registration.
