How to play Plaza Chess

Plaza Chess game key art — No chess skills needed! Your first checkmate in a travel plaza

No chess skills needed! Your first checkmate in a travel plaza

Illustrated how-to

  1. How to play Plaza Chess, step 1 — Tap a piece, then a dot
    Step 1

    Tap a piece, then a dot

    Tap a piece and dots show where it can go. Tap a dot or drag the piece there

  2. How to play Plaza Chess, step 2 — Each piece moves its own way
    Step 2

    Each piece moves its own way

    Rooks go straight, bishops diagonally, queens both ways, and knights jump in an L. You can move to any dotted square

  3. How to play Plaza Chess, step 3 — One goal per round
    Step 3

    One goal per round

    Collect stars, capture them all or checkmate — the chip at the top shows this round’s goal

  4. How to play Plaza Chess, step 4 — Win with checkmate
    Step 4

    Win with checkmate

    Attacking the king is check. When the king has nowhere left to go, it’s checkmate. Mate puzzles give you a set number of moves

  5. How to play Plaza Chess, step 5 — Play a match with a travel buddy
    Step 5

    Play a match with a travel buddy

    In match rounds, your rival moves in turn. Checkmate within the moves left to win — every city has a master waiting

  6. How to play Plaza Chess, step 6 — A wrong move costs a heart
    Step 6

    A wrong move costs a heart

    A wrong move bounces back and costs a heart. Use up all 3 hearts and the round ends

Full rules

  • Tap one of your pieces (cream) and dots show where it can go. Tap a dot or drag the piece there.
  • Collect Stars: pick up every star with one piece. Red squares are guarded by black pieces — don’t stop there.
  • Capture All: only capturing moves are allowed. Take every black piece to win; if you get stuck, it starts over.
  • Mate Puzzle: within the given moves, leave the enemy king no escape (checkmate).
  • Match: take turns with your rival and checkmate them within the move limit.
  • A wrong move bounces back and costs a heart. Use up all 3 hearts and the round ends.
  • A pawn that reaches the far row becomes a queen. There is no castling.
  • Regret a move? Watch an ad to undo it.

↩️ Help you get from ads

Take back a bad move

Watch an ad to undo your last move (and your rival’s reply in a match). If you just ran out of hearts, you get one back

FAQ

Is Plaza Chess free to play?
Yes. You can play for free in your web browser with no install. When you win, data (MB) is added to your wallet.
Can I play Plaza Chess on my phone?
Yes. You can play in the web browser on a phone, tablet or PC.
Does Plaza Chess have a time limit?
No, there is no time limit — take your time.
How long does a round of Plaza Chess take?
About About 1 min on average.

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