Play Chess Online for Free

Think deeper. Play on your schedule. Just thoughtful chess with opponents worldwide.

Daily chess, live chess, tournaments and clan team play. Free since 2001.

What is Red Hot Pawn Chess?

The home of online correspondence chess. Play daily turn-based games, enter tournaments, join clans, or play live — all in one place.

Est. 2001 - 25 years of online chess

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Daily Correspondence Chess

Daily Correspondence Chess

Make your move whenever it suits you. Our turn-based correspondence chess lets you think deeply and play at your own pace, with optional move notifications by email. No timers, no pressure.

Chess Community & Clubs

Chess Community & Clubs

Leaderboards, ladders, chess clubs, public forums, blogs and private messaging — a community of players who value thoughtful chess. Improve your game alongside players who have been here for years.

Clan Team Matches

Clan Team Matches

Join a chess clan and challenge rival clans in competitive team matches. Battle for position in the clan leaderboard and represent your team.

Online Chess Tournaments

Online Chess Tournaments

Regularly scheduled correspondence chess tournaments where you compete against chess players worldwide. Or join a chess club for members-only tournaments and league play.

Study & Improve at Chess

Study & Improve at Chess

Learn with guides to chess terms, checkmate patterns, and interactive puzzles at every level. Browse annotated games, explore chess variants, and use tools like the FEN viewer and PGN viewer to deepen your understanding.

Live Chess & Variants

Live Chess & Variants

Want something faster? Play live online chess with real-time opponents and chess variant support. Practice unrated games against an AI, or study chess openings and puzzles to sharpen your skills.

Some features are not available to standard members

Play Chess Anywhere, Anytime

Chess that fits your life

Chess that fits your life

Your opponent moves, you get notified, and you play when it suits you — on the train, on a break, or late at night. Correspondence chess fits around your schedule, not the other way around.

Play on web, iOS or Android. Your games sync across all your devices.

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What People Are Saying

I've used RedHotPawn for 10+ years and this app is a great extension from the website. Controls are easy to use, plenty of different options for customization of appearance, and choices for how long you want to allow on moves so you can partner with a player who plays at a similar pace.
A Google user
Outstanding chess site. Best I've played on. Loaded with players at every level. A chess enthusiasts' dream site.
A Facebook user
Have been playing chess through this app for 12 years now. Very smooth and easy to use. Recommend for chess players.
A Google user
RedHotPawn is one of the very best venues to play correspondence chess with other people throughout the world.
A Google user
Great App. Very intuitive app with a wide range of features and players of all abilities.
An Apple user
Definitely the best chess app for online play. Easily the slickest and best chess app I've used, with lots of regular updates to improve the ui and features.
An Apple user

Frequently Asked Questions

Correspondence chess is a style of chess where players take turns over hours or days rather than in a single sitting. You make a move when you are ready and your opponent is notified. It allows for deeper analysis and fits easily into a busy schedule — no need to sit at a board for an hour.

Daily chess (correspondence chess) gives you hours or days per move, so you can think carefully and play around your schedule. Live chess is played in real time with shorter time controls. Red Hot Pawn Chess offers both — choose whichever suits your style.

Yes. You can sign up and play correspondence chess, live chess, tournaments, and puzzles for free. Optional premium memberships unlock additional features, but the core experience is completely free.

Absolutely. The website works on any device with a browser. We also have apps for iOS and Android with move notifications, so you never miss your turn. You can use the app and website together — your games stay in sync.

No. Chess engines are strictly prohibited. Fair play is expected from all players, and anyone found cheating will be removed. Every game here is human vs human.

Ready to play chess at your own pace?

Sign up in seconds and we'll match you with your first opponents right away. No download required — start playing correspondence chess today.

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