The hard level is the Lord of the Sands, the fifth and strongest ruler of the desert kingdom. At this level the computer always plays its best move and searches deeper, so every mistake is punished. It may think up to four seconds on a phone. A clean win over the Lord of the Sands without undo or hints earns the most glory and a trophy, Flawless victory, in the Hall of Trophies.
The goal is to checkmate the enemy king: attack it so that it has no safe square, no piece can block the attack and nothing can capture the attacker. White moves first, then the sides take turns. Tap a piece and then its square, or drag it; possible moves glow on the board. Castling, en passant and promotion are all in, every kind of draw counts, and the game says in words why a move is not allowed. Undo is free, and three hints a game show a good move.
It searches deeper than the other levels and may think up to about four seconds on a phone.
A clean win over the Lord of the Sands without undo or hints earns the most glory and the trophy Flawless victory in the Hall of Trophies.
Play classic chess with the full rules, free in your browser: castling, en passant, promotion and every kind of draw. Five computer rulers of the desert kingdom wait for you, from a gentle Novice to a Grandmaster, or play two players on one screen. The board is a 3D diorama of two kingdoms, snow and desert, and one tap turns it into a flat view. A short tour shows the controls, the rules are always under the question mark, and the game says in words why a move is not allowed. Chess runs on a phone, tablet or computer with no download.
Chess is about the safety of your king as much as attack: one careless pawn move can end the game.
New to chess? Each side starts with sixteen pieces. White moves first, then the sides take turns. You win by checkmate: the enemy king is attacked and cannot escape, block or capture the attacker.
Play in your browser. No app download is needed.
The king is attacked, it cannot step to a safe square, no piece can block the attack and the attacker cannot be captured. The game ends at once.
Two moves for Black, as in this example: 1. f3 e5 2. g4 Qh4 checkmate. It only happens when White weakens the king's side.
Yes. Choose Two players and pass the phone or share the computer; the board turns to the side whose turn it is.
Original ManyPlay game. Controls and examples were checked against the browser edition; cover illustrations are labelled separately from gameplay captures. Report a changed rule or control.
