Four-Player Chess (Free-for-All)
Capture pieces to collect points. All three other players are opponents.
Four-Player Chess (Free-for-All) in 30 seconds
- Set upFour players set 16 chess pieces each on the four arms of a cross-shaped board, 14×14 with the corners cut away. Play goes clockwise.
- Free-for-AllEveryone for themselves, scoring points for captures and checkmates. The highest score wins.
- Scoring pointsFree-for-all: captures score points (pawn 1, knight 3, bishop 5, rook 5, queen 9, promoted piece 1). Checkmate scores 20. A single check scores nothing, but checking two kings with one move scores 5 (1 if the checking piece is a queen) and three kings scores 20 (5 with a queen).
- How it endsIn free-for-all a checkmated player is out, and their pieces turn grey on the board (they never move, and capturing them scores nothing). The game ends when three players are out, or when two are left more than 20 points apart; the highest score wins.
At a glance
| Item | This game |
|---|---|
| Players | 4 players |
| Play time | About 35 min |
| Type | Board |
| Ranked play | No |
| Practice against the CPU | Yes |
| Price | Free (no account needed) |
| Rights holder | A public-domain classic game |
| Last updated | 2026-10-30 |
How to play Four-Player Chess (Free-for-All) online with friends
- Tap "Play with friends"A party is created with a 6-character code. No account is needed.
- Send a link or QR codeShare it on LINE, or just read the code aloud.
- Everyone opens it in a browserOnce 4 players have joined, the host taps "Start".
Rule highlights
Setup, play, winning, and house rules
Setup
- The board is 14×14 with the 3×3 corners removed — a cross of 160 squares. The four players sit at its four arms.
- Each player has a full set of 16 pieces — king, queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights and eight pawns — set up on their own arm as in chess. Your king faces the queen of the player opposite.
- Seats go clockwise from the bottom: Red (●), Blue (▲), Yellow (■) and Green (◆). Every piece carries its owner's mark.
- Moves go clockwise in the order players sat down. Each time you play again, the first player moves on one seat (you can fix it in the settings).
How to play
- Pieces move exactly as in chess. Pawns advance towards the player opposite and capture diagonally forwards; a pawn's first move may be two squares.
- Castling and en passant work as in chess.
- Capture pieces to collect points. All three other players are opponents.
- Promote on your 8th rank, in the middle, to a queen. It is worth 1 point if captured.
- You may never leave your own king in check.
Winning
- Free-for-all: captures score points (pawn 1, knight 3, bishop 5, rook 5, queen 9, promoted piece 1). Checkmate scores 20. A single check scores nothing, but checking two kings with one move scores 5 (1 if the checking piece is a queen) and three kings scores 20 (5 with a queen).
- In free-for-all a checkmated player is out, and their pieces turn grey on the board (they never move, and capturing them scores nothing). The game ends when three players are out, or when two are left more than 20 points apart; the highest score wins.
- A position repeated three times, or fifty moves each with no capture or pawn move, is a draw (in free-for-all, everyone still in scores 10).
House rules
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move limit | At this total number of moves, the game ends with places decided by points. | None | Yes |
| Show legal moves | Mark the squares a selected piece can reach. | On | Yes |
| Rotate the first player | Each time you play again, the first player moves one seat clockwise. | On | Yes |
Related features: Chess and Shogi Around the World: Boards and Pieces
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FAQ
How many players?
Four. If you are short of players, the CPU fills the empty seats — play alone against three CPU players.
How long does a game take?
About 35 minutes.
How is it different from chess?
Capture pieces to collect points. All three other players are opponents. In free-for-all a checkmated player is out, and their pieces turn grey on the board (they never move, and capturing them scores nothing). The game ends when three players are out, or when two are left more than 20 points apart; the highest score wins.
Where can I play Four-Player Chess (Teams)?
Play it on the Four-Player Chess (Teams) game page.
Can I practise alone?
Yes — press Play vs CPU to play against three CPU players. The CPU has two levels, Easy and Normal.
Can I play at school or work (unblocked)?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser, with nothing to download or install, so it works on most school and work networks that block app stores or game downloads.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. No app is needed — just open it in a browser. You can join the same party as people on a PC or tablet.
Can two people play?
Yes. This game supports 2 or more players.
Can I play against the computer (CPU)?
Yes. You can play against computer opponents without inviting anyone.
Can I play online with friends far away?
Yes. Start a party and send its invite link. Friends can join in their browsers without signing up.
Is there an app?
This is a free app that runs in your browser. No installation is needed.
Rights holder and physical edition
This is a public-domain classic game. The rules follow the standard reference rules.
Related games
Same type (Board)
Same player count
Last updated 2026-10-30 · Run by Qdan, Inc.