Chess is the world's best-known two-player strategy game, with roots in the Indian chaturanga and the Persian shatranj; even "checkmate" comes from the Persian "shah mat". Each player has sixteen pieces on an 8×8 board, and the goal is to trap the opponent's king with no way out. There is no luck at all: only thinking, patience and experience.
In Hamdor you can play ranked chess online against real players, set up a private room and send the code to a friend, practise offline against bots at several levels, or play someone sitting next to you on one phone. Every ranked game moves your chess rating.
How to play Chess
- Castling, en passant and promotion (to any piece) are supported.
- Checkmate wins; stalemate, threefold repetition, the 50-move rule and insufficient material are draws.
These are the exact rules Hamdor plays by; the app shows them too, under each game's How to play tab.
Chess in Hamdor
- Full international rules: castling, en passant and promotion to any piece are all supported.
- Every draw rule: stalemate, threefold repetition, the 50-move rule and insufficient material.
- Bots at several levels: from an easy bot that makes mistakes to a hard one that calculates several moves ahead.
- Two on one phone: play a friend offline on a single phone.
- Your own board and pieces: the Hamdor shop has chess boards and piece sets you can buy with coins; they change only the look.
Tips to win at chess
- Take the centre. Push your central pawns early and develop knights and bishops to squares that aim at the middle of the board.
- Develop, don't repeat. In the opening, use each move to bring a new piece out. Don't bring the queen out too early; your opponent gains time by chasing it.
- Castle early. A king left in the centre is an easy target. Castling makes it safe and brings a rook into play.
- Check threats every move. Ask what your opponent's last move threatens: checks, captures and attacks. Most games are lost to an undefended piece.
- Trade when ahead. With extra material, exchanging pieces makes the win simpler.
- Activate your king in the endgame. Once the queens are gone the king is a strong piece; bring it to the centre to support your pawns.
- Beware of stalemate. When you are far ahead, a king with no legal move that is not in check means a draw. Leave it a square until you can mate.
Chess in Hamdor
- Online, ranked: play real opponents and earn a rating. If nobody turns up within a few seconds, a bot takes the seat and is labelled as a bot.
- Private rooms: create a room, send the code to your friends and chat with stickers and reactions while you play.
- Bots: play offline against bots, to practise or when nobody is online.
- Two on one phone: pass the phone and play face to face.
- Stats and streaks: your win rate, best winning streak and this game's leaderboard.
- Your own look: change how the table and pieces look in the Hamdor shop. It is cosmetic only and never affects who wins.
Chess FAQ
Can I play chess online against real people?
Yes. Hamdor's online ranked mode pairs you with real players. If nobody is found after a few seconds, a bot takes the seat and is always labelled as a bot.
How do I play chess with a friend?
Create a private room and send your friend the code. If you are together, you can also play on one phone.
Can I play chess offline?
Yes. Play bots at several levels or a friend on one phone, with no connection needed.
Which rules does Hamdor's chess use?
Full international rules: castling, en passant, promotion to any piece, and draws by stalemate, threefold repetition, the 50-move rule or insufficient material.