Against Étienne: keep your pieces safe
Before each move, check what the opponent attacks. After choosing your move, check whether the moved piece can be captured for free. Your target is fewer undefended pieces, even if you lose.
Play chess bot
Play chess against a human-like bot
Pick one of three characters and play a full game in your browser. No sign-up, no install, and the bots play like real people at their rating, not like a cold engine. Create a free account when you want stronger opponents and to save and review your games.
Beat all three?
Create a free account to face stronger bots at any rating, save every game, and have it reviewed.
Meet the bots
Three characters, three levels
Each bot is a friendly face at a fixed strength, so you always know what you are up against and can climb one rung at a time.
Étienne 723 Elo
Here for the café and a friendly game. A gentle first opponent.
Chuck 945 Elo
Big grin, bold moves. A solid step up once Étienne feels easy.
Katya 1086 Elo
Cool head, sharp play. The toughest of the three free bots.
How it works
Start a game in seconds
- Choose a character by their rating.
- Play a full game right on the board, in your browser.
- Beat one, move up to the next. Create a free account for stronger bots and game review.
A plan for your next game
Choose one skill to practise
The displayed strengths help you choose an opponent. They are approximate bot settings, not a prediction of your rating on Chess.com, Lichess or in over-the-board chess. Start where you can explain most of your decisions.
Against Chuck: develop with a purpose
Bring your minor pieces into play and look for a safe chance to castle. Before developing, check for an immediate threat. Do not follow an opening rule blindly when a piece or your king is in danger.
Against Katya: calculate the reply
Before a capture or a forcing move, name the opponent’s strongest reply. Follow the line one move further and check what remains on the board. Your target is to reduce surprises.
A check you can use on every turn
- What changed with the last move?
- Are there checks, captures or direct threats for either side?
- What will my opponent probably do after my chosen move?
After the game: a two-minute self-review
Find the first moment you could not explain your plan. Write what you expected and what happened instead. If you have a saved PGN, load it into the free game review. Otherwise, try its example game to learn how to inspect a missed threat. Change one habit for the next game.
When games become consistently easy, choose a stronger opponent. Also practise against people: bot mistakes and timing do not reproduce every part of human play.
Why it helps
Practice against the right level
The fastest way to improve is to play someone close to your own strength. A bot never gets tired, never rage-quits, and is always there for one more game. Because these opponents play like real humans at their rating, the mistakes you learn to punish are the same ones you will meet in your real games. When a level stops challenging you, step up to the next character, and when even the toughest free bot feels easy, a free account opens up stronger opponents at any rating you choose.
FAQ
Common questions
Is playing chess against a bot free?
Yes. You can play all three character bots in your browser with no account and no sign-up. Create a free account only if you want stronger opponents at any rating and to save and review your games.
Do I need to install anything?
No. The bot runs entirely in your browser. Just pick an opponent and start playing on any modern computer or phone.
Are the bots human-like?
Yes. Instead of a raw engine, the bots play like real players at their rating, so their moves and mistakes feel human rather than robotic.
How strong are the bots?
The three free characters range from about 723 Elo (a gentle beginner) to 1086 Elo (a solid intermediate). Signing up unlocks stronger bots at the exact level you want.
Which bot should I start with?
Start with Étienne at 723 Elo. When his games feel easy, move up to Chuck at 945, then Katya at 1086. When you beat all three, create a free account for a tougher challenge.
Ready for a tougher game?
Create a free account