Chess.com - Play and Learn: How to Play Online with Friends

To play with a friend on Chess.com - Play and Learn for free, select the Play button from the main navigation menu and choose Play a Friend. From this menu, you can challenge an opponent directly using their registered username or email, select them from your active friends list, or generate a shareable challenge link to paste into external messaging apps.

Choosing an Invite Method

The setup screen offers multiple ways to connect depending on whether your opponent has an existing account or is already on your friends list.

Direct Account and Roster Invites

If you know your opponent's handle, type it into the recipient search bar. The platform auto-completes registered usernames as you type. Once sent, your friend receives an on-screen alert and an audible notification in their active session. Accepting the prompt automatically loads both players into the match.

If you are already connected as friends on the platform, your roster displays their status indicators:

• Green dot: Currently online and active on the platform.
• Orange or gray dot: Idle or offline.

Clicking directly on an online friend automatically fills their name into the challenge setup window.

Shareable Challenge Links

If you are organizing a match through an external chat application, select the option to create a challenge link. This generates a unique web address configured with your selected game settings. The first player to click the link claims the open seat, allowing you to start a match without manually searching for each other's accounts.

Configuring Custom Match Rules

Before issuing the invite, configure the match parameters to ensure both players agree on the board rules and time limits.

Time Controls

Click the time preset selector to choose your format:

• Blitz: Fast-paced clocks, commonly set to 3-minute or 5-minute flat durations (such as 3\|0 or 5\|0).
• Rapid: Standard timing, such as 10-minute or 15-minute games with a 10-second increment (10\|0 or 15\|10).
• Daily: Turn-based correspondence chess where players have between 24 hours and 14 days per move.
• Custom Increments: Adding per-move bonus seconds prevents endgame clock scrambles.

Piece Color

Choose how side colors are assigned:

• Random: The system assigns White or Black automatically to prevent side preference.
• White or Black Lock: Manually assigns a specific color to practice designated opening lines.

Rated vs. Unrated Settings

Toggle the match between Rated and Unrated:

• Rated Games: Win, loss, or draw results directly affect each player's public rating in the corresponding format (Blitz, Rapid, or Daily).
• Unrated Games: Results carry no rating consequences. This mode allows players of vastly different skill levels to compete without rating penalties and permits agreed-upon move takebacks during learning sessions.

Troubleshooting Invite Problems

If a friend does not receive your challenge alert, check the following common issues:

• Privacy Filters: Account privacy settings can block challenges from accounts outside a designated rating range or from players not on their friends list. Have your opponent verify their incoming challenge permissions.
• Active Board Conflicts: Players cannot accept a new challenge if they are currently seated in an unfinished game, sitting in a matchmaking queue, or running an active puzzle session.
• Notification Delays: If an in-app pop-up fails to display, check the notification bell icon on the platform header or refresh the browser session to clear stale connection states.