Chess.com Game Play
ChessUp 2 is the only board officially supported by Chess.com.
The following Chess.com game types are supported on your ChessUp 2:
- Random Play - Rated or unrated. Rapid, Blitz, and Bullet time format are available.
- Play Bots - Paid Chess.com accounts have access to more bots, but your free account will work as well.
- Play a Friend - You must be "Friends" on Chess.com to create a game.
Note: First, you must have a Chess.com account. This account can be a free account or a paid account - however, the paid account will give you access to more bots. Make sure your board is signed into to your account before trying to start a game. See the article Chess.com Login if you are unfamiliar with the login process.
Note: It is important that you do not turn off you board in the middle of a game. This is considered an abandoned game and if you do this too much Chess.com may put you in the poor sport pool. This will slow down game creation and may result in your account being suspended.
Let's get started setting up your chosen Chess.com game on your ChessUp 2!
- Random Play
If you would like to set up a Random Play game, first access the Chess.com setup page by pressing the Chess.com button on the main screen. When you have done this, you will see the screen below.
Pressing the "Play" button will create a random game using the settings selected in the time control drop down menu above the "Play" button. The timer control menu is where you can select your time control and choose between a rated or unrated game. Games are rated by default.
If you press the "Play" button and the pieces are not properly setup on the board, a pop-up will appear telling you to "Get Ready" and setup the pieces. A game cannot be started unless the pieces are setup correctly. On game creation, Chess.com will search to find an opponent that has a similar rating. Once an opponent has been found, your game will start.
- Play Bots
If you would like to Play Bots, first access the Chess.com setup page by pressing the Chess.com button on the main screen. Then, press the "Play Bots" button to enter setup for bot play. On the "Play vs..." screen you will find a list of available bots. Bots you have already played and beaten are marked with crowns. Chess.com also releases monthly special bots.
When you select a bot a page, it will provide you with more information about those bots. Here you can see the ELO rating of the bot, background, and country flag. If you wish to choose a different bot, you can hit the back arrow at the top of the screen. Otherwise, you can press "Choose" to continue game setup.
The last setup page allows you to select what color you want to play. You can choose white, black, or random, which allows the computer to select your color. Once you have made your selection. press the "Play" button to start the game. The bots will have a fun dialogue with you during the game, which will be shown on the screen while playing.
- Play a Friend
If you would like to Play a Friend, first access the Chess.com setup page by pressing the Chess.com button on the main screen. Then, press the "Play a Friend" button. This will take you to a list of your friends who are currently online. Select a friend from the list and press "Next."
On the setup page, you can select the time format, rated or unrated game (found in the timer down menu), and what color you want to play. You can also have the color be randomly chosen by selecting the question mark icon.
When you have finished with the game setup, press the "Play" button. If the pieces are not set up correctly, the screen will pop-up a message with a warning. You cannot start a game until the pieces are properly set up. At this point, a game invite will be sent to your friend. Once they accept the invite, the screen will transition to play screen.