How to play
Help while you play
Checkme can point things out as you play: a hint, a threat, a second look before a costly move. It all comes with Help and teaching, which you turn on when you want it.
All articlesAsk for a hint
On your turn, choose Hint: the board names the engine's best move, such as Nf3, and outlines its two squares. It doesn't play the move for you. Choose Hide hint to put it away.
The hint is the same against every opponent: Stockfish's best move. To hear the idea behind a move, ask your opponent in the message box.
Threat warning
On your turn, two squares are striped in red: the move your opponent would like to play next, which the line under the board names. The warning is hidden while a hint shows, and when you're in check.
All together
The hint, the threat warning, the blunder check, takebacks and “Why that move?” come on and off together, with Help and teaching in Settings. It's off when a game starts, unless you asked for it.
The blunder check
If your move would lose about two pawns' worth of material or more, the board takes it back before your opponent sees it, and names a better move. Choose Cancel to think again, or Play anyway to keep your move.
It counts material
The blunder check compares your move with the engine's best, and speaks up when you'd lose about two pawns or more. A smaller slip gets through.
What each opponent offers
With Help and teaching on:
| Help | The assistant | With engine help | Stockfish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hints | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Threat warning | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Blunder check | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Comments on each move | Yes | Yes | No |
| “Why that move?” | Yes | Yes | No |
| Takebacks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ask in your own words
The message box on the board goes straight to your opponent. Ask what you'd ask a friend across the table:
Why did you play Bc5? Is my knight on f3 safe? What should I be thinking about here?
Stockfish doesn't chat, so against it the message box is hidden.
From the keyboard
Turn on Accessibility in Settings to play from the keyboard: Tab to the board, then the arrow keys and Enter, or type a move below it. The rest is in Keyboard and screen reader.