
Chess
Play chess against real opponents or the built-in AI right inside Telegram — no app to install, just share a game link in any chat and your opponent taps straight into the board.
Key features
- Play against a built-in AI at adjustable difficulty
- Challenge a friend by sharing a game link in any chat
- Runs as an in-Telegram web app, no download needed
- Real-time move syncing between both players
Chess
Chess (@chess) turns any Telegram chat into a chessboard. Start the bot and it opens a lightweight web app with a full board: challenge the built-in AI at a difficulty you pick, or send a game link into a private chat or group so a friend can join instantly by tapping it, the same way Telegram's own @gamebot shares its HTML5 games. There is no account to create and nothing to download; the match runs inside Telegram's in-app browser, and moves sync in real time between both players.
For a casual game this covers the basics well: a quick match against the computer to kill time, or a private game against someone you already know. What it does not offer is much beyond that — no rating ladder, no tournaments, no way to find a random opponent of similar skill the way a dedicated chess app would. The channel link inside the bot is a private invite rather than an open public community, so support and updates come from a small, largely anonymous team rather than an established chess brand.
If you already use Chess.com or Lichess, this will not replace them. But for settling a quick game with a friend without leaving a Telegram conversation, it does the job with zero friction.
How to start
- Open @chess in Telegram and tap Start
- Choose to play the AI or share a link with a friend
- Make your move on the board that opens in-app
Pricing and limits
Free
Pros / Cons
- No installation or account needed
- Works instantly in any chat via a shared link
- No rating system or matchmaking against strangers
- Run by a small, largely anonymous team, not a known chess brand
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Weight | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functionality | 25 | 6 / 10 | |
| Reliability & speed | 15 | 6 / 10 | |
| Popularity & trust | 15 | 4 / 10 | |
| Price & free tier | 10 | 9 / 10 | |
| Usability | 10 | 8 / 10 | |
| Safety & privacy | 10 | 7 / 10 | |
| Freshness | 5 | 5 / 10 | |
| Localization | 5 | 3 / 10 | |
| No intrusive ads | 5 | 9 / 10 | |
| Score | 100 | 62.0 |
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Do I need to create an account?
No, just open the bot and start playing — there is no sign-up.
Can I play against a random opponent?
Not built in — you challenge the AI or share a link with someone you already know; there is no public matchmaking.
Technical details
- Inline mode
- Mini App
- Works in groups
- Works in channels
- Accepts voice
- Accepts files
- Requires phone number
- Requires registration
- Shows ads
- Works in Russia without VPN