ChessBid
How to play
Play ChessBid now: free, in your browser, no download. Play as a guest or against the computer.
The idea
ChessBid is chess with one change: there are no turns. Before every move, both players secretly bid points. Whoever bids more makes the next move.
Bidding
- Each player starts with 100 points. Before every move, both of you secretly bid from 0 up to all your points.
- The higher bid moves and pays its bid to the opponent, so the total always stays 200 points.
- Win the next bid too and you move again: two moves in a row are possible.
- No bid in time? Your default bid (7 unless you changed it) is placed for you, or all your points if you have fewer.
Ties and the star
One player holds the ★ tiebreak star. When both bids are equal, a player who attached ★ to the bid wins it; if nobody attached it, the player without ★ wins. Attaching ★ and winning hands the star to your opponent.
Moves, check and winning
- Pieces move as in normal chess, including castling, en passant and promotion.
- Checkmate does not end the game: you win by capturing the king.
- If you are in check, you must win the next bid and get out of check, or your king can be captured.
- In check with no way out: there is no bidding, and the attacker moves for free. No legal move but not in check: the opponent moves for free.
Draws
A game is drawn by agreement, when only the two kings are left, after 100 moves without a capture or a pawn move, or when the same position appears three times.
Playing online
- Quick match pairs you with the next player; Invite a friend gives you a 6-letter code to share.
- Play the computer for practice; bot games are never rated.
- Games between two accounts are rated (Glicko-2). Guests can play right away and create an account later.
- The board works with a mouse, touch or the keyboard, and you can type moves like
e2e4,Nf3orO-O.