King Arthur Chess

What is King Arthur Chess? King Arthur Chess is a free-to-play chess variant that blends the classic game you know with mechanics inspired by Arthurian legend. It plays by all the familiar rules of chess — but adds a layer of secrecy, surprise, and bold strategy on top. You can play instantly in your browser at kingarthurchess.com, install it as an app, and play offline against the computer or online against players around the world. No download or sign-up is required to start. What makes it different At the heart of King Arthur Chess is the Secret Heir: before the game begins, you secretly choose one of your pawns to be a hidden heir to the throne. If your opponent captures it, the Excalibur reveal triggers — transforming that pawn into a second king and changing the entire shape of the battle. The result is a game that rewards bravery, creativity, and bold play rather than memorised lines alone. Prefer pure chess? You can also play Classic Mode with standard rules, or mix and match variants like Chess 960 (Fischer Random), Fog of War, and Random Mode for an entirely fresh challenge every time. What you can do here Play the computer — over 20 AI opponents ranging from gentle beginners to grandmaster strength, several powered by the Stockfish engine.Play online — asynchronous, turn-based matches against real players, with ratings and a global leaderboard.Pass & play — share one device with a friend for a face-to-face game.Solve puzzles — a daily puzzle challenge plus hundreds of tactical training positions across 15 categories.Learn the game — interactive tutorials covering chess fundamentals and the unique Arthurian mechanics.Track your progress — achievements, dual Elo ratings, game analysis, and a personal profile.