Play Computer Chess Online

Computer Chess came out in 1984 as part of the MS-DOS Classic Games series, developed by David Slate. It was one of the early chess programs for personal computers, a time when playing against the machine still felt novel and a little intimidating. The interface was stark, just a simple board and a command line, but it got the job done without any distractions.

You play as yourself, inputting moves in algebraic notation like "E2-E4" and waiting for the computer to respond. The goal is straightforward: checkmate the opponent's king. Key mechanics include setting the computer's skill level, which ranges from forgiving to brutally efficient, and using take-back or hint features when you're stuck. The pacing is slow and thoughtful, demanding real concentration; the difficulty ramps up sharply even on intermediate settings. It feels like facing a patient, merciless tutor who never gets tired.

Each game uses different controls, most DOS games use the keyboard arrows. Some will use the mouse , "Alt" ,"Enter" and "Space bar".