💻

See You on Desktop!

Gridiron Chess is built for the big stadium experience. Jump on a computer to take the field!

How to Play
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Gridiron Chess

Chess strategy meets football tension. March your King to the end zone, dodge defenders, and score touchdowns.

Play vs AI

Practice against the computer at different difficulty levels.

Play Online

Challenge a friend with a room code.

Create Online Game
⚪
Offense
Score touchdowns
⚫
Defense
Capture the King
Play vs AI
⚪
Offense
Score touchdowns
⚫
Defense
Capture the King
Join Online Game
Room Code
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Share this code with your friend
♚
You
Offense
Ready
♞
Waiting for player...
Defense
🔄
SWITCHING SIDES
Now Playing Offense
♚
🏈
♞
🏆
♜
⚡
♚
You are playing
Offense
Your Mission
March your King to the end zone for a Touchdown!
♚
You
Offense
VS
♞
Opponent
Defense
Offense Tip
Use your receivers for Pass plays - swap positions with the King to make big gains!
Offense You vs Opponent
Opponent's Turn
👤
0
YOU
VS
🤖
0
AI
1ST & 2
PLAY CLOCK 6
BALL ON 35
OFFENSE
🕵️ AMBUSH SET
Drive starting...
CHOOSE YOUR DEFENSE
Move History
Drive starting...
Select a piece to move
🕵️ Defense has an AMBUSH prepared...
⚡ BLITZ: 2 moves remaining
Select a piece to move
🕵️ Defense has an AMBUSH prepared...
⚡ BLITZ: 2 moves remaining
Choose Your Move Type
🤖 AI Defense
🧠 AI Offense
🤖 AI thinking
Drive starting...
  • March King to row 12 for TD
  • 4 downs to advance 3 rows
  • Defender adjacent: -20%
  • Friendly adjacent: +10%
Gridiron Chess

Gridiron Chess

Where Chess Strategy Meets Football Tactics

🏈

American Football

Downs, first downs, touchdowns, turnovers. The drive to advance down the field against a reactive defense.

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♟️

Chess

Piece movement, captures, protection, positioning. Strategic depth with every decision.

You are the Coach Calling the plays
Pieces are your Players Executing on the field
Moves are your Play Design Strategy and positioning
Probability is Execution Can they make the play?
🏆 How to Win
14 Points to Win
🏈
Touchdown = 7 pts
King to end zone
🥅
Field Goal = 3 pts
From row 4+

2 TDs = 14 pts = WIN! Or mix TDs and FGs. FG attempts always swap possession.

⚔️ Offense vs Defense

⚪ Offense Scores By...

🏈
♚

Getting the King to row 12, the end zone. Touchdown!

⚫ Defense Scores By...

♞
♚
♞

Capturing the King or forcing a turnover (stopping offense for 4 downs).

♟️ Your Team

Offense: 11 Pieces

♚ King Quarterback
♟ Pawns ×5 Blockers
♞ Knights ×2 Receivers
♝ Bishops ×2 Receivers
♜ Rook Receiver

Defense: 6 Pieces

♞ Knights ×2 Hunters
♝ Bishops ×2 Coverage
♜ Rooks ×2 Lane Control
📊 The Downs System

You have 4 downs to advance your King 3 rows. Only King moves use a down. All other moves are FREE!

1st
2nd
3rd
4th

⏱️ Play Clock

You get 6 free moves to position your blockers and receivers before you must attempt a King move (run or pass). Use them wisely to set up the perfect play!

✓ First Down!

♚
♚

King crossed the orange line → Fresh 4 downs!

✗ Turnover!

1
2
3
4

Used all 4 downs without gaining 3 rows → Drive resets!

🏃 King Moves

Run Play

100%
100%
100%
100%
♚
100%
100%
100%
100%

King moves 1 square in any direction. Wide open = 100% success!

Pass Play

♞85%
♚

King swaps positions with any Receiver. Big gains, but riskier!

Capture

♞
♚

King captures adjacent defenders without rolling. Always succeeds!

🎲 Probability System
100% base − 20% per adjacent defender + 10% per adjacent friendly
Minimum 15% • Maximum 100%
100%
♚

100% Wide open!

♞
80%
♚

80% One defender nearby

♞
90%
♟
♚

90% Pawn helps!

🛡️ Pawn Protection

How Protection Works

♞
♜
♟

The Rook is protected by the adjacent Pawn. The Knight cannot capture it!

Pawn Movement

♟

3 squares forward, 2 squares diagonal. Great for positioning!

⚔️ Defense Turn

Each turn, defense picks one of two modes:

⚡
Blitz (Storm)

Move 2 different pieces visibly. Can capture unprotected pieces. Maximum pressure!

Aggressive Play
🕵️
Ambush

Move 1 piece secretly. Revealed when offense makes their move. Surprise factor!

Strategic Trap
💡 Quick Tips

For Offense

  • Use your 6 free moves to position before snapping
  • Use Pawns to protect receivers and boost success rates
  • King captures are 100%. Use them to remove threats!
  • Don't waste downs on low-probability moves
  • 🥅 Field Goal: From row 4+, kick for 3 pts!
  • 🏈 Punt: From row 1-6, flip field position

For Defense

  • Control the middle first, then hunt the King
  • Get adjacent to reduce King's success rate by 20%
  • Use Blitz to pressure, Ambush to trap
  • Force turnovers - you don't always need captures
📖 Rules