Jakoz › Chess guide
How to play Chess online
Chess is the world’s favourite game of skill: two players, sixteen pieces each, and one goal, checkmate. Play it free on Jakoz with friends and voice chat, against someone online, or against the computer at three levels.
Updated 4 November 2026 · by Jakoz Gaming
The board and pieces
An 8 × 8 board. Each player has 16 pieces: a king, a queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights and eight pawns. White starts at the bottom and moves first.
How the pieces move
| Piece | Move |
|---|---|
| ♔ King | One square in any direction |
| ♕ Queen | Any number of squares in a straight line or diagonally |
| ♖ Rook | Any number of squares in a straight line |
| ♗ Bishop | Any number of squares diagonally |
| ♘ Knight | Jumps in an L shape, over other pieces |
| ♙ Pawn | Forward one square (two on its first move); captures diagonally |
Special moves
- Castling: the king moves two squares towards a rook, and the rook jumps over to its other side. Only if neither has moved, the squares between are empty, and the king is not in check and doesn’t pass an attacked square.
- En passant: when a pawn moves two squares and lands beside your pawn, you may take it as if it had moved one, but only on the very next move.
- Promotion: a pawn that reaches the far row becomes a queen, rook, bishop or knight: you choose.
Check and checkmate
A king under attack is in check, and you must get it out of check on your turn: move the king, block the attack, or capture the attacker. If there is no way out, it is checkmate and the game is over.
Draws
- Stalemate: the player to move has no legal move but is not in check.
- The same position comes up 3 times.
- 50 moves each with no capture and no pawn move.
- Not enough pieces left to checkmate, or both players agree.
Ways to play on Jakoz
- Random quick match: play someone online right now; if nobody is around, the computer plays you.
- Play with friends: make a board and share the code or link, then talk with voice chat while you play. Each move has 60 seconds.
- Practice: play the computer at easy, medium or hard, or two people on one phone.
- Tap a piece and then a square, or drag the piece with your finger. You can offer a draw or resign at any time.
Tips to win
- Bring out your knights and bishops early and fight for the centre.
- Castle soon to keep your king safe.
- Before every move, ask what your opponent is threatening.
Fair play
Every move is checked on the Jakoz game server, so nobody can make an illegal move.
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