Top 20 Elo ratings. Players signed in with Google start at 1200; rows tagged Computer are computer players you can challenge.
#
Player
Rating
Games
Finding an opponent…
Matching you with another player who's waiting for a game.
Taking a little longer than usual. Play the computer while you wait?
Invitation
Couldn't join yet
A friend invited you to a game of chess. No account needed: tap Try again.
Connecting…
Setting up a direct connection with your friend.
Game not found
Choose your opponent
Level 3 · CasualAbout 1000 rating
Checkmate · 1–0
You won!
Level record: 0 W · 0 D · 0 L
You
5:00
Your move
Your opponent is ready. Are you?
Pawnly is a free chess game you play right in your browser. No account, no email, no download: open the page and make your first move. Pick one of 10 levels, from a friendly beginner level that leaves its pieces hanging to a full-strength engine that no human can beat. Your game is saved automatically, so you can stop and come back any time.
Ten levels, from first game to grandmaster
Every level runs the same Stockfish engine with a different strength limit. Ratings are approximate and based on typical online ratings.
Level
Name
Approx. rating
Plays like
Start
1
Beginner
400
Someone who just learned how the pieces move. Often leaves pieces undefended.
Stuck? Ask for a hint and the engine highlights a strong move on the board.
Takebacks
Undo a mistake and try a better idea. Unlimited, no judgment.
Clocks
Play untimed, or practice blitz and rapid with 3|2, 5, 10 or 15|10 clocks.
Game review
Step through every move with the arrow keys and copy the PGN to analyze later.
Keep Pawnly on your home screen
Save Pawnly to your phone's home screen in two taps. It gets its own icon and opens full screen, without the browser's address bar, so it feels like an app. It's still the same website: nothing to download from a store, no account, and it even works without internet because the chess engine runs on your device.
Android
Open pawnlychess.com in Chrome, tap the ⋮ menu, then Add to Home screen.
iPhone and iPad
Open pawnlychess.com in Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen.
Computer
In Chrome or Edge, click the icon at the right end of the address bar to open Pawnly in its own window.
How to play
Choose your opponent. Press New game, pick a level, your color and a clock.
Make your move. Drag a piece, or tap it and tap the square you want. Legal squares are marked with dots.
Win by checkmate. Trap the enemy king so it cannot escape. Beat a level to unlock the next challenge.
New to the game? Read our chess rules for beginners, covering how each piece moves, castling, en passant and checkmate.
Yes. You can play unlimited games against the computer for free, with no account and no download. Pawnly is supported by ads.
How strong is the Pawnly computer?
Pawnly runs the Stockfish chess engine in your browser. Level 1 plays like a beginner of about 400 rating and makes obvious mistakes. Level 10 plays at full strength, far beyond any human player.
Which level should I start with?
If you just learned the rules, start at Level 1 or 2. If you play casually with friends, try Level 3 or 4. Club players usually find a good challenge between Level 5 and Level 7.
Can I take back a move or get a hint?
Yes. Use Takeback to undo your last move and Hint to see the engine's suggestion. Both are unlimited.
Does Pawnly work on my phone?
Yes. The board works on phones, tablets and computers. You can tap a piece and then a square, or drag the piece.
Can I put Pawnly on my home screen?
Yes. On Android open Chrome's menu and choose Add to Home screen. On iPhone use Safari's Share button and choose Add to Home Screen. Pawnly then opens from its own icon, full screen without the address bar, and works offline. It is the website, not a store app, so there is nothing to download.
Is my game saved?
Your current game is saved in your browser automatically. If you close the page and come back, you continue where you left off.
