Ever Wanted to Play Chess Against a Computer Online?
Here is a chance to play chess online against a basic chess computer. This computer chess program was written to run in flash, but it still gives a decent game. This is a free game, uses a 3d chess board and needs no download. Could it be the best free online chess program out there?
If you want a tougher game then try some of the other computer chess engine download links on this site. Almost any UCI chess engine from Jim Ablett’s page will give an incredibly strong game, or you could download the Crafty chess computer which is also available with its own graphical user interface.
ATTENTION
If you are experiencing difficulty loading the game and playing chess online read this.
To play chess you must both install flash and then enable it your browser.
For example, in Chrome, after flash installation click on settings -> “advanced” and scroll down to “content settings” click this and then enable flash there.
You must complete BOTH downloading flash and enabling it in your browser for the chess game to work and be visible!
If after performing both actions the game still does not appear, then hard refresh your browser cache (control-F5 on Chrome).
FlashCHESS3 – Play Chess Online Against Computer
FlashChess can also be downloaded to play on the desktop of your computer.
It is available from http://www.flashchess3.com/download.html
If this easy chess game is too easy for you, or you just fancy a change, why not try our new online computer chess program?
Ria says
Thank you for producing this site and also letting players play for free. My sister & I learnt to play chess at junior school, and she’s been the only person I know outside of school who could play it. She died of leukaemia and so I’ve had no-one to play chess with since and I’ve really missed it. It’s been brilliant finding out I can play on the computer. If you make a gaming level where the computer cheats sometimes and then gets the dog to try to distract me when it’s my turn then it would be just as real as our games were. Thank you. It’s made me really happy xx
Dave says
Happy that you are enjoying yourself. 🙂
Anna says
Hi! Firstly, love playing the chess on every level, however just a couple of issues. When I move the pawn forward two steps, it is always killed by any pawn diagonally from it! Even though there is no pawn in the space the other pawn is killing it! I don’t know if I have described that correctly? I should be allowed to move my pawn up two places where it is not in any danger but it seems the computer pawn does not recognize this and kills an invisible pawn so it’s like I only moved my pawn up one space! I would be very grateful if you could please rectify this fault. Thank you.
Also, sometimes the other side will repeat moves and once it has done this 3 times, it’s called a draw! This is very unfair. It should be modified so the computer cannot make the same move more than twice. Also perhaps 5 repetitive moves should be allowed before calling it a draw.
Thank you.
Dave says
Hi Anna,
The diagonal taking move when a pawn moves two squares is called “en passant” and is a legitimate chess move. You can read about it here.
Similarly, if the same moves are repeated three times then the game is declared a draw. This is standard FIDE chess rules.
Hope this helps.
Vaibhav says
I like it
Dave says
I am glad that you do. 🙂
James says
why this chess doesn’t open on my Laptop? It tells Flash but i didn’t get it. Please, would you give me a link of required to play
Dave says
Some new browsers require you to install and enable flash in their settings after installing it. Some users of the Chrome browser have been having issues as Chrome disables flash by default. You will need to enable flash in your browser settings to see the chess board.
There is no special link to play. This site hosts two chess games. This page hosts one chess game and on a desktop browser you will see a navigation link top right of the page. The navigation links both to this page and the other chess game in a drop down style menu. The other chess game is slightly harder to beat. Both are free to play.
The links near the foot of the page are for anyone that wants to buy a standalone version of the game (hosted by someone else). You do not need to buy the game to play here.
Dave says
Hi all!
Some people have been having problems with the chess board not loading or being invisible on certain browsers. The main culprit appears to be Chrome. In order to play chess on this page you need to have flash installed and HAVE IT ENABLED in your browser settings.
I have now checked all major browsers (Chrome, Edge, Opera, Firefox) and the game loads and plays correctly in all of them on my home Windows 10 PC.
Apple has always had an issue with flash (I have a Macbook Pro) and if you are an Apple user I do not doubt you know how to work around this issue! 🙂
Best wishes.
Dave.
Mikael says
Excellent graphics. But I don’t see how to castle. Sorry poor English.
Regards,
Mikael from Sweden
Dave says
Hi Mikael,
Click the king and and it will show all available moves. If you can move it TWO squares to either side then castling is still available.
Steven House says
This is an excellent site to learn chess
Susweta says
I am interested to play chess online.
I m
Mr.Scotty Williams says
Why cant I play chess on line when I use to play every day now you have this new process which I don’t understand nor do I like it because you are stopping me from playing chess against the computer
Dave says
I am not stopping you. You need a browser that supports Flash, install and enable it. The game still works fine for me on Firefox and Chrome.
carl ambrose says
do not know why it stopped working. I installed every thing it said to but it still will not show up?
Dave says
Make sure you have emptied your browser cache, assuming you are on a PC. If you are using a MAC or are on an iPad I can’t help you as Apple has declared war on Flash. I will set up a new interface that doesn’t use Flash soon ™.
Yumizumi says
I like this game it really helps me a lot, specially now that i have my own competition to come up, i like the way that the computer moves when it’s on advanced level, I hope you can add a chess timer like 5 mins, 10 mins, or whatsoever… really this helps me a lot….