- Players
- 2
- Time
- 10 min each
- Stakes
- Set at launch
- Status
- Coming soon
How to play Chess
The classic game of checkmate, and the anchor game of Ariplex.
An 8×8 board with a light square at each player's bottom-right. Each side has a king, a queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights and eight pawns. White moves first; each queen starts on her own colour.
- King: one square in any direction.
- Queen: any distance in a straight or diagonal line.
- Rook: any distance along ranks and files.
- Bishop: any distance diagonally.
- Knight: an L shape — two then one — and may jump over pieces.
- Pawn: one square forward (two from its start square), capturing one square diagonally forward.
Rules summary
- Castling: the king moves two squares toward a rook and the rook jumps over. Neither may have moved, nothing may stand between them, and the king may not be in, pass through or land in check.
- En passant: a pawn that has just moved two squares can be captured as if it had moved one, by an enemy pawn beside it, on the very next move only.
- Promotion: a pawn reaching the far rank becomes a queen, rook, bishop or knight. Auto-queen is an option.
- Checkmate wins: the king is attacked and cannot escape.
- Draws — stalemate, threefold repetition, the 50-move rule, insufficient material or agreement — refund both stakes.
- Resigning loses. Running out of time loses, unless the opponent cannot possibly checkmate; then it is a draw.
Fair play and verification
Strong anti-cheat; stakes capped until it is proven
The game runs on the server, not on your device: your device sends moves and the server applies the published rules, keeps the clock and records every move, so either player can have a disputed game reviewed move by move.
- 10 minutes each by default; repeated draw offers are limited.
- Every move is recorded for disputes and engine checks.
- Move timing, focus signals and post-game engine comparison on flagged games guard against engine use.
- Every game runs on a server clock: running out of time loses.
- A disconnected player has 60 seconds to return before forfeiting.
Chess: questions and answers
What is Chess?
The classic game of checkmate, and the anchor game of Ariplex. On Ariplex it is played online by 2 players in a web browser, on a phone or a computer.
Can I play Chess on Ariplex yet?
Not yet. Chess is in development and has no announced opening date. This page describes the rules it will use, and it will change to a play button when the game opens.
How do you win at Chess?
Checkmate wins: the king is attacked and cannot escape. Draws — stalemate, threefold repetition, the 50-move rule, insufficient material or agreement — refund both stakes. Resigning loses. Running out of time loses, unless the opponent cannot possibly checkmate; then it is a draw.
How long does a game of Chess take?
Time control on Ariplex: 10 min each. A player who disconnects has 60 seconds to come back before forfeiting.
Will I play against a bot in Chess?
Not in a staked match. Staked matches pair real people by a hidden skill rating. Computer opponents appear only in free practice.
How do I know a Chess result is fair?
The game runs on the server, not on your device: your device sends moves and the server applies the published rules, keeps the clock and records every move, so either player can have a disputed game reviewed move by move.
How will Ariplex stop engine use in chess?
Move timing, focus signals and engine comparison on flagged games, with every move recorded for review. Stakes for chess are capped until those checks have proven themselves.