Chess, the ancient wargame, has endured the test of time due to its deep, strategic elements that enable creative play. Even if you aren't a master tactician, you might know the game from watching advice-dispensing chess hustlers relieve overconfident people of their money in city parks, the many Bobby Fischer films, or, recently, the popular Netflix joint The Queen's Gambit.
The thinker's game has evolved a lot over the years, morphing from traditional analog chess to computerized chess. In fact, the latter has been around for so long that you'll spot Kurt Russell playing a version in John Carpenter's The Thing. However, today's chess lets you leverage wireless technology and netplay to challenge friends (and strangers) from across the globe.
If you're curious about how to get into 21st century chess, read on to learn about the apps and boards that let you battle other enthusiasts remotely.
Chess.com
If you're a chess novice, or returning to the game after an extended lapse, Chess.com should be your first stop. The free, ad-supported service (available via a web browser or mobile app) features more than 60 million players from across the globe, so you'll alway find a match. In addition, you can learn from the many tutorials, battle the CPU, undertake tactics challenges, view streamed matches, and check out your stats and global rating. Chess.com's three premium services (starting at $4.99 per month or $28.99 per year) include an ad-free experience, 67 AI challengers, gameplay analysis, video lessons created by chess experts, and the ability to play multiple games at once.
Chess Ultra
Chess Ultra (for PC)
Chess has been part of video gaming since the industry's early days, but few titles have given the classic strategy game as much care as Chess Ultra. Developed by Rispstone, Chess Ultra is packed with goodness, including tutorials, 10 Grandmaster-approved CPU levels, online play (featuring Classical, Blitz, and Marathon-style contents), the Elo rating system, Twitch integration, the ability to replay classic matches, and VR compatibility with Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. On top of all that, Chess Ultra is simply gorgeous, with its lovingly rendered 4K boards, pieces, and environments that give the game a relaxed vibe. It's available for PC and console.
DGT Bluetooth E-Board
Measuring 0.78 by 21.25 by 21.25 inches, DGT's flagship, sensor-laden chess board combines a premium, wood build (either Rosewood or Walnut) with high-tech guts. The Fritz software that's bundled with the set lets you play games vs. human opponents via playchess.com, train, and import Portable Game Notation (PGN) files of previously played matches for studying at your convenience. Connect the tournament-ready board to a PC via Bluetooth to have the AI detect your moves and announce countermoves. In addition, you can download the free LiveChess Cloud beta software to watch live matches on your PC.
Square Off Grand Kingdom Set
Square Off produces many chess sets, but its top model—the 11.9-pound Grand Kingdom—best showcases how contemporary tech has influenced the game. Measuring 1.9 by 23.7 by 19.0 inches, and featuring a premium Rosewood finish, the Grand Kingdom Set uses Bluetooth to connect to the Square Off mobile app for playing online competitors via Chess.com. The magic, however, lies in the automated chess pieces. As you play the AI or remote humans, the opposing pieces on your board attack and defend based on their inputs. An adaptive AI, and the ability to live stream matches round out this cool chess package.
Square Off Pro
If you want a wireless, tournament-ready chess board, this is your set. The 0.7-by-20.4-by-18.0-inch Square Off Pro features an adaptive AI, interactive lights that guide you though moves and errors, magnetic board sensors that detect piece placement (no need to press down on squares!), and a rollable design for easy transport. You can connect the Square Off Pro to the Square Off app via Bluetooth to analyze your game or challenge people using Chess.com or Lichess. It weighs a lightweight 2.2 pounds, and has roughly five hours of battery life—perfect for playing chess from any location.