A calm first move
Learn chess without the lecture.
You only need three ideas to begin: protect your king, develop your pieces, and look at what your opponent changed. The interface handles legal moves while you build the rest.
Public beta, built with care
New to chess? Start with Play Nova for free coached hints. Every completed game includes a free Nova Review with full-game coaching. Local hotseat stays hint-free for two people sharing one board.
From home screen to handshake
Choose a mode
Play Online, enter the Nova League, share a local board, or send a private invite. Local and Nova League play do not need an account.
Set the pace
Pick a clock, choose rated or casual where available, and decide your color. Try 10+0 rapid if you are new.
Make a legal move
Select a piece, then a highlighted square. Dragging, tapping, keyboard input, promotion, castling, and en passant are supported.
Finish well
Win by checkmate or time, agree a draw, or resign when the position is settled. Review the game to find one useful lesson.
The board
Six pieces, one purpose
White moves first. Each side tries to checkmate the opposing king: attack it so no legal reply escapes the attack.
King
One square in any direction. Keep it out of check.
Queen
Any distance along a rank, file, or diagonal.
Rook
Any distance horizontally or vertically.
Bishop
Any distance diagonally; it stays on one color.
Knight
An L-shape: two squares, then one. It can jump.
Pawn
Moves forward, captures diagonally, and promotes on the last rank.
Board orientation: your pieces normally begin closest to you. The lower-right corner is a light square: “light on right.”
Game choices
Pick the room that fits
Check is a warning
If your king is attacked, your next move must remove the attack. You cannot move into check.
Draws happen
Stalemate, repetition, insufficient material, the fifty-move rule, or an accepted offer can end level.
Clocks are decisive
Online time is authoritative on the server. Your display counts locally between moves for a smooth clock.
Before every move, ask three questions.
What did my opponent’s last move attack?
Are either king, queen, or an undefended piece in danger?
Do I have a check, capture, or threat that is actually safe?