Play chess with a friend
The fastest way to play someone you know: create a private game, and the server hands you a five-character room code with a ready link. Your friend opens the link and the game begins — no account needed for either side.
How it works
One player creates the game, the other follows the link:
- Create a game and copy the link — or just the five-character code.
- Send it any way you like: messenger, e-mail, a call.
- The first player takes White; whoever follows the link takes Black.
- A rematch offer swaps the colors automatically.
Clocks and rules
Private games support the same controls as the lobby — bullet 1+0, blitz 5+3, rapid 10+0 or unlimited — plus draw offers, resignation and a 30-second reconnect window if a connection drops.
When both have accounts
If both players are logged in, the game can be rated and counts toward the Glicko-2 rating. Otherwise it stays a casual game between friends — exactly as it should be.
Related ways to play
- Play chess online — quick match and rated games
- Play chess vs computer — Stockfish in your browser, five levels