Use the lowest target while you get comfortable with legal moves, check and the clock.
Play chess against Stockfish online
Set a target from 600 to 2500, choose a clock and color, then play from the standard board or paste a FEN or PGN position.
1Strength600 to 2500 in 100-point steps, with seven named presets
2Clock16 time controls, from No clock to 90+30
3PositionStandard board, or paste a FEN or PGN to continue
New game against StockfishReady
Black · Stockfish
Choose the settings, then press Start game.
White · You
Stockfishchess engine
Preparing the board.
Choose the settings beside the board. Start unlocks the position and starts the side-to-move clock.
Set up your game against Stockfish
Stockfish is fixed as the opponent. Choose its target strength, clock, color and starting position.
Playing strength100-point steps
600Preset 4, 1500 target2500
This controls Stockfish skill and thinking time. The displayed number is an approximate target, not a rating conversion.
The first number is each side's starting minutes. The second is the increment added after each completed legal move.
Your colorStart game locks the settings and starts the side-to-move clock. Change setup ends the clock and lets you choose again.
Seven shortcuts on one scale
The buttons do not select seven different engines. They move the same Stockfish control to useful points on the 600 to 2500 scale.
| Shortcut | Name | Target | What it selects | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novice | 600 | Lowest target available on this page | |
| 2 | Beginner | 1000 | Second preset on the shared scale | |
| 3 | Casual | 1300 | Lower middle of the available range | |
| 4 | Club | 1500 | Middle shortcut and default target | |
| 5 | Advanced | 1800 | Upper middle of the available range | |
| 6 | Master | 2300 | High target below the maximum | |
| 7 | Grandmaster | 2500 | Highest target available on this page |
Choose a useful first target
Use one stable target and clock for several games. A single result is too noisy to place your strength.
Round your rapid rating to the nearest available step. If the first game is one-sided, move by 100.
Keep your normal time control and lower only the strength. This makes the next comparison readable.
Use a high target when the goal is calculation pressure rather than rating calibration.
What happens after Start game
The clock lifecycle follows completed legal moves, not page time.
The side-to-move clock starts
White moves first from the standard board. An imported position can put either color on move, and that color's clock starts.
The clock switches after a move
A legal move completes, its increment is added, and the other side's clock becomes active. Selecting a piece does not switch it.
The result unlocks review
Checkmate, stalemate or a flag stops the clock. Review game then opens the contested moves from that finished game.
What this computer opponent is
The route names its technology directly so the game does not promise human-like behavior.
Stockfish only on this page
The computer route sends the current legal position to Stockfish and applies its returned move. It does not call the ChessDoctrine model trained on human games. Use the Human-like bot page when that behavior is the reason you want to play.
- Opponent: Stockfish through the browser engine worker
- Strength: approximate target from skill and thinking-time controls
- Rules: legal moves, castling, en passant, promotion, checkmate and stalemate
- Review: Stockfish inspection of one completed game
Make the result comparable
Change one variable at a time so the next game tells you something.
Keep the clock fixed
Play three games at the same time control. A 3+2 result and an untimed result test different decisions.
Keep your color balanced
Alternate White and Black, or use Random across a longer set. Do not judge a target from one opening and one side.
Move by one step
Raise or lower the target by 100. Large jumps make it harder to tell where the games stopped being competitive.
Questions about playing Stockfish
Rules, clocks, strength and review on this page.
Is Stockfish the opponent on this page?
Yes. Every computer reply on this page comes from Stockfish through the engine worker. This route does not call the ChessDoctrine human-like model.
Are the 600 to 2500 targets exact Elo ratings?
No. They are approximate playing-strength targets created with Stockfish skill controls and thinking-time budgets. They are not FIDE, Chess.com or Lichess rating conversions.
What changes when I move the strength slider?
The page changes Stockfish's skill setting and thinking-time budget. Higher targets generally give the engine more strength and more time, but one game cannot verify an exact rating.
Which strength should I choose first?
If you have an online rapid rating, start at the nearest 100-point setting or 100 points lower. If you are new to rated chess, start at 600 and move up when the games become competitive.
When should I raise the target?
Play several games with the same color and clock. Raise the target by 100 after the games stay competitive and you are no longer relying on frequent takebacks.
What does a time control such as 3+2 mean?
Each side starts with three minutes. Two seconds are added to that side's clock after every completed legal move.
When do the clocks start and switch?
The clocks start only after you press Start game. The side to move runs first, and the active clock switches after each completed legal move.
Can I play without a clock?
Yes. Choose No clock. The game still records moves, but no countdown runs and time cannot decide the result.
Can I play as White, Black or a random color?
Yes. Choose the side you control before starting. If the other side is on move in the starting position, Stockfish moves first. Random chooses one side when Start game is pressed.
What does Undo do to the clocks?
Undo restores the board and the stored clock snapshot for that position. When both moves are present, it removes your last move and the computer reply.
Can I change color after the game starts?
The chosen color is locked during the game so the clock labels remain correct. Use Change setup, select another color and start a new game.
What do New game, Change setup and Reset settings do?
New game reuses the current setup. Change setup stops the clock and unlocks the strength, time control, color and position. Reset settings ends the current game after confirmation and restores this page's defaults.
What does Review game analyze?
After the game ends, Review game uses Stockfish to inspect contested moves and show stronger continuations. It is a single-game review, not a multi-game player diagnosis.
Does the board work on a phone?
Yes. Tap a piece and a legal destination, or drag the piece. The board stays large, while the mobile dock keeps Setup and Start within reach. Settings open in an in-screen sheet, so you do not have to scroll away from the game.
Do I need an account or download?
No. The game is free and runs in a web browser. The selected target is remembered on the same device so the next game can reuse it.
Can I start from a FEN or PGN?
Yes. Open Starting position to paste a FEN or one PGN. A PGN loads its final mainline position, and the pasted text stays in your browser.
Other ways to play chess
Two more opponent technologies, each on its own page.
Neural net opponent600–2500
Play a human-like bot
The ChessDoctrine model is trained on human games, not engine lines. It plays to a rating target, so its moves and mistakes look like a club player's.
Rating target in 100-point stepsSame clock, color and FEN/PGN setup as here
Play the human-like bot →
Named opponents34 legends
Play a chess legend
Pick one of 34 historical players, from Steinitz and Morphy to Tal and Korchnoi. Every card names the era and the playing style you will face.
34 legends with portrait, era and styleStrength targets from 1500 to 2600
Choose a chess legend →