Chessmate

Live chess. Real connection.

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Chessmate .ly

Play chess with a friend.
Face to face.

Create a private room, share the link, and play with optional live camera. Or practice against Duff Engine. Always free, no tracking.

Play a friend vs. Duff Engine
No trackingNo analytics, no ads, no data collection.
Always freeNo subscriptions. No paywalls. Ever.
Camera is yoursNever requested automatically. Always under your control.
Made for playersBuilt by a chess lover. Independent and personal.

What you get

Everything a chess table needs

Duff Engine

Practice against a local Stockfish-powered bot. Auto-adjusts difficulty to your level. No account needed.

Friend Rooms

Create a private room, share a link, and play with anyone. A free account keeps your room private — that's the only signup on the site.

Optional Camera

See your friend while you play. Camera and microphone stay off until you choose to turn them on.

Game Analysis

Walk through your moves after the game. Turn on the engine for a second opinion on any position.

Simple to start

Three steps to play

1

Create a room

Sign in and tap "Play with a friend." Your private room is ready in a second.

2

Share the link

Send the room link to your friend by message, email, or any app. They open it and join.

3

Play

Choose a time control, start the game, and play. Toggle camera on if you want to see each other.

See it in action

Watch the board come alive

Let the most beautiful game ever played — Morphy's Opera Game, Paris 1858 — replay itself on the live board.

Go CrazyWatch the Opera Game play itself

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is Chessmate Live really free?

Yes — completely. Practice against Duff Engine, create private rooms, play over video, and analyze your games without paying anything. No subscriptions, no paywalls, no ads.

Can I play chess online with a friend without downloading an app?

Yes. Chessmate Live runs entirely in the browser on phones, tablets, and computers. One player creates a private room and shares the link; the other opens it and the game starts. Nothing to install on either side.

How does video chess work?

When you play in a friend room, each player can optionally turn on their camera and microphone to see and talk to each other while playing — like sitting at the same table. Video connects directly between the two of you using WebRTC.

Is my camera on by default?

No. Camera and microphone stay off until you turn them on yourself, they are never requested automatically, and clear controls let you mute or stop them at any moment. Board-only games are always an option.

Can I practice against a computer?

Yes — Duff Engine is a Stockfish-powered practice bot with difficulty levels from friendly beginner to full strength, and it can auto-match your level as you play. No account needed. After the game you can analyze your moves with the engine.

Ready to play?

No download. No signup required for practice mode.

Start playing