2 Player Chess: A Free Two-Player Chess Game on One Device
2 player chess is the game the way it was invented: two people, one board. Chess Pass and Play puts that board on one phone, tablet or computer, free, with no account and no download. Make your move, hand the device over, and the board turns so your friend sees their pieces at the bottom.
Start a 2 Player Chess Game in Under a Minute
- Open Chess Pass and Play. It opens on Setup.
- Pick a time control: 1, 3, 5 or 10 minutes per player, or unlimited, with a 0, 2 or 5 second increment.
- Type both names and choose colors: random, or Player 1 as White or Black.
- Pick a playing style (below) and tap Start Game.
- After each move, the Pass Device screen reads "Pass to [name]" and pauses the clock. Your friend taps "I'm [name], continue" and plays. Tick "Don't show this again" if you would rather skip it.
Two Ways to Sit: Passing Device or Face to Face
Passing Device works on any phone, tablet or computer. The board turns after every move, so the player whose turn it is always sees their own pieces at the bottom.
Face to Face is for phones and tablets. Lay the device flat between you: Player 1 stays at the bottom, and the top player's pieces are turned toward them, so nobody has to pass anything.
Which 2 Player Chess Setup Do You Need?
| Your situation | Use this |
|---|---|
| Two players, one phone, tablet or computer | Chess Pass and Play |
| No internet: a plane, a car, a campsite | The same board, offline after the first visit: Offline Chess Game |
| A real chess set but no clock | Chess Clock Online |
| A school or work network that blocks chess sites | Chess Unblocked |
| You and your friend are in different places | Play by link on SuperChess: Play Chess with a Friend |
| You want to play against AI | Play Chess Against AI on SuperChess |
Everything in This 2 Player Chess Game Is Free
Nothing sits behind a sign-up or a paywall:
- A chess clock with 1, 3, 5 or 10 minutes or unlimited time, plus a 0, 2 or 5 second increment
- Undo (one move), draw offer, resign and board flip
- Move history, move hints, and the pieces each player has captured
- Board themes, coordinates and an optional evaluation bar
- Every move saved on the device, so a game survives closing the tab
- Add to Home Screen to install it like an app, with no store needed
Online 2 Player Chess or Pass and Play?
Online 2 player chess needs two devices and an internet connection. Pass and play needs one device and nothing else. If you are sitting together, pass and play starts faster and works anywhere. If you are apart, play online or send a friend a link on SuperChess.
New to sharing one device? Our pass and play chess guide explains how it works.
Tips for a Fair Game on One Device
- Agree on undo before you start. It takes back one move, so decide whether both players may use it.
- Add a 2 or 5 second increment for newer players, so a fast game isn't decided by the clock alone.
- Choose random colors so the same player doesn't always get White.
- Keep the Pass Device screen on when you play with a clock. The clock pauses while the device changes hands.
- Use unlimited time for children or when you are learning. Brush up on castling and pawn rules first.
2 Player Chess FAQ
Yes. Every feature is free, with no account, no download and no sign-up.
Yes. Make your move and pass the device. The board turns after every move, or on a phone or tablet you can sit face to face with the device flat between you.
Not on this page, which is for one shared device. To play a friend somewhere else, use SuperChess, where you play by link.
Yes. Open the page once while you are online, or install it with Add to Home Screen. After that the board works without internet.
Yes. Every move is saved on the device, so you can pick the game up where you left off.
Chess Pass and Play is for two people. To play against AI, use SuperChess or the chess game on Pass and Play Games.
More Chess Guides
Set Up a 2 Player Game
Two players, one device, no sign-up. Your game saves after every move.