Junior Chess is a browser-based classics game that runs instantly, with nothing to install. It leans on chess & checkers, so expect something that rewards a bit of practice. Everything runs client-side, so it starts fast even on a modest connection.
About Junior Chess
In Junior Chess you can play on a nice chess board and prove your skills! Use the mouse or your fingers to control the figures. Every figure has special moving abilities. Game on!
How to play Junior Chess
There is very little to learn before your first run. On desktop the arrow keys / WASD do the moving; the full mapping is in the table below. Portrait layout: hold the phone the way you normally do, or play it centred in the page on desktop. Expect the first attempt to be a write-off; that is normal here.
Controls
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Mouse | Navigate menus and interact |
| Arrow keys / WASD | Move |
| Spacebar | Primary action |
On mobile: Tap and swipe directly on the screen. The game is built for portrait, so you can play one-handed without rotating your phone.
Why it is worth playing
What makes Junior Chess stick is that failure is informative. You can usually name the mistake, and that is what makes another attempt tempting. It works as well on a phone on a bus as it does on a desktop.
At a glance
- Free to play with no account required
- Runs in the browser — nothing to download or install
- Portrait layout, comfortable one-handed on mobile
- Keyboard and mouse on desktop, full touch support on mobile.
- Chess & Checkers gameplay — The oldest strategy games there are
- Added to our catalogue from a 2017 release
Frequently asked questions
Is Junior Chess free to play?
It is free. There is no trial, no unlock and no sign-up wall on Junior Chess — the page you are on is the whole thing.
Do I need to download or install anything?
No. Junior Chess is an HTML5 game that runs inside the page itself. There is nothing to install, no plugin and no launcher — it loads like any other web page.
Can I play Junior Chess on my phone?
Yes — mobile is fully supported. Tap and swipe directly on the screen. The game is built for portrait, so you can play one-handed without rotating your phone.
What are the controls for Junior Chess?
Keyboard and mouse on desktop, full touch support on mobile. Mouse — navigate menus and interact; Arrow keys / WASD — move; Spacebar — primary action.
Can I play Junior Chess fullscreen?
Yes. Use the fullscreen button in the top-right of the game player to expand it to the whole screen, and press Escape to come back out.
What kind of game is Junior Chess?
Junior Chess is a classics game built around chess & checkers. If that is the sort of thing you enjoy, the related games further down the page are picked using the same tags.
