Active games

Start new game and compete for FIDE Online and Worldchess rating, or invite a friend and train with no hassle at all!

Notifications

No notifications

0

Game settings

Board & Game

Language

English

Sign in

Register

Chess Politics

'No Russian Teams': FIDE Blocks Russia From 2026 Chess OlympiadRussia will miss a third successive Chess Olympiad after FIDE rejected a last-minute attempt to return its national teams for Samarkand 2026 — even under a neutral flag.August 24, 2026·8 min read

How To Fix FIDE: What Can Be Done To Reform Chess's Governing Body?Timur Turlov's bid to succeed the suspended Arkady Dvorkovich has focused attention on the future of FIDE.August 19, 2026·8 min read

FIDE Election 2026: The Latest Standings (By Our Reckoning)With no obvious winner in sight, World Chess looks at the electoral maths that will decide who controls FIDE for the next four years.August 17, 2026·9 min read

They're All Turning On Each Other: FIDE Election Turns Into Bunfight Between CandidatesTurlov, Buettner and Rosenstein are fighting like rats in a barrel. One of them has to come out on top.August 13, 2026·7 min read

FIDE Hands Russia A Propaganda Victory As Russian University Wins World ChampionshipPresident of the Chess Federation of Russia congratulates winning team and hails "wonderful gift to Russian fans." But FIDE says this isn't a team representing Russia.August 9, 2026·6 min read

FIDE Defends Letting Russian Team Enter World Champs Event (Despite Having Banned Russian Teams)The world chess governing body insists a Russian university team is not a Russian national team. Critics say the distinction is just a loophole.August 6, 2026·5 min read

Tshepiso Lopang Lost the African Chess Presidency by One Vote. She Has Decided to Keep It.Lopang’s four-page refusal to hand over power rests on a bribery complaint — $1,500, according to sources — and one legal precedent. The precedent is about FIDE removing incumbents.July 31, 2026·8 min read

Government by Quote-TweetChess's entire opposition party is one Dane, one phone, and a question nobody answers. A column by Ilya Merenzon.July 26, 2026·6 min read

Timur Turlov, The Accidental CandidateTimur Turlov signed up to be chess's No. 2. Then, on a Thursday in July, Brussels made him the story.July 24, 2026·7 min read

Chess Is Now a Succession EpisodeThe patriarch is out. The reluctant heir doesn't want the job. A disgraced ex-boss is circling with promises, and the board votes in ten weeks — in Samarkand. Somebody please get HBO on the phone (but they will probably not pick up).July 24, 2026·4 min read

21–30 of 83

Popular news

Mr Dodgy Nearly Took Over FIDE. Eighty-Five Federations Thought That Was a Good Idea.

Mr Dodgy Nearly Took Over FIDE. Eighty-Five Federations Thought That Was a Good Idea.

Chess Politics·Sep 29·6 min read

Chess Olympiad 2026: Everything You Need To Know

Chess Olympiad 2026: Everything You Need To Know

Chess Olympiad 2026·Sep 27·20 min read

Bodhana Sivanandan, 11, Becomes WGM And Scores Second IM Norm At Chess Olympiad

Bodhana Sivanandan, 11, Becomes WGM And Scores Second IM Norm At Chess Olympiad

Top players · Chess Olympiad 2026·Sep 27·4 min read

Turlov Backs Russia Suspension—As Former Russian Sports Minister Joins FIDE Leadership

Turlov Backs Russia Suspension—As Former Russian Sports Minister Joins FIDE Leadership

Chess Politics·Sep 27·5 min read

Chess Terms

Term of the day

Chess Fork

One move, two threats: a fork attacks two pieces at once, and only one can be saved.

More terms

A pinned piece cannot move without exposing a more valuable one behind it.

The reverse of a pin: the valuable piece is hit first and the one behind it falls.

Discovered Attack

A piece steps aside and uncovers an attack from the piece it was blocking.

Back Rank Checkmate

Mate on the last rank: the king's own pawns leave it nowhere to run.

All 138 terms →

Games & tests

Game of the day

How much chess do you actually know?

Think you know chess? Eight questions, from easy to unfair. Your score becomes a rating, and we'll tell you how many people you're ahead of.

More games

Puzzle · every day

A fresh tactic each morning, rated against the community.

Play a rated game

Find an opponent of your level in the lobby.

All 3 games →