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Controls

Use the mouse
Tap the screen
Use the keyboard
Arrow keys to move
Enter to confirm

About the game

Play real chess with Prince Hop, a cheerful frog in a golden crown! Take on eight friendly rivals, from Pip the Chick, who is still learning the moves, to the clever Professor Hoot and the mighty King Ember. Every rival plays a little stronger than the last, so beginners and experienced players both find a fair game. Win without Undo or Hint to collect all three stars and unlock colourful new boards.

Train your eye with checkmate puzzles: Mate in 1, Mate in 2 and Mate in 3, each with a single winning first move. Or play a friend on the same phone or computer. All the rules are here: castling, en passant, promotion, check, checkmate, stalemate, threefold repetition and the 50-move rule. Possible moves light up, hints point to a good idea, and your progress is saved automatically.

How to play

Tap a piece to see where it can go, then tap a glowing spot, or drag the piece there.
Checkmate the other king: attack it so it cannot escape.
Undo takes back your last move and Hint shows a good move (both cost stars against the computer).
In puzzles, find the moves that force checkmate in the number of moves shown.
Keyboard: arrows and Enter to move, U undo, H hint, F turn board, P pause.

Tips and tricks

Start with Pip the Chick and work your way up: each rival unlocks only when you beat the one before, and every new rival plays a little stronger.
Before every move, look at what your opponent's last move attacks. Against the early rivals, most games are decided by a piece left without protection.
For 3 stars against the computer, win without Undo or Hint. Using them up to 3 times still gives 2 stars, so lean on them while you learn and come back later for a perfect win.
In puzzles, check every check first, then captures, then threats. Each puzzle has exactly one winning first move, and every wrong move or hint costs a star.
Solve 8 puzzles in Mate in 1 to open Mate in 2, and 8 in Mate in 2 to open Mate in 3.
Collect stars from rivals and puzzles to unlock new boards: Honey wood at 6 stars, Ocean at 15, Candy at 30, Lavender at 50 and Starry night at 80.

Features

Real chess with every rule: castling, en passant, promotion, stalemate, threefold repetition and the 50-move rule
8 computer rivals, from Pip the Chick to King Ember
160 checkmate puzzles: 60 Mate in 1, 60 Mate in 2 and 40 Mate in 3
2 Players mode on one device, with an option to turn the board for each player
Play as White, Black or Random
6 board themes unlocked with stars
Possible-move dots, coordinates, Undo, Hint and Turn board
Mouse, touch and keyboard controls, in portrait or landscape

Frequently asked questions

Is Crownhop Chess free?

Yes. It is a free online chess game that runs in your browser on computer, Chromebook, tablet and phone, in portrait or landscape. There is nothing to download and no account to create.

Can two people play?

Yes. Choose 2 Players to play a friend on the same phone, tablet or computer, taking turns. There is no online play against other people.

Is it good for beginners and kids?

Yes. Possible moves light up when you tap a piece, How to play explains how every piece moves, and the first rivals play gently. Hint suggests a good move whenever you are stuck.

Is my progress saved?

Stars, unlocked rivals, solved puzzles and boards are saved automatically in your browser on that device. If you leave in the middle of a game, Continue game picks it up where you stopped.

What is stalemate?

Stalemate happens when the player to move has no legal move but their king is not in check. The game ends in a draw, so when you are far ahead, make sure the other king always has somewhere to go until you deliver checkmate.

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