Home

Public games

A public game is a board you post for any signed-in player to join. An invited game is still the one you start by emailing a friend.

Post one

Sign in, then check Create a public game on the create form. You do not enter an opponent email. The game is listed for other players, and you play White.

You can have one public game waiting for an opponent at a time. After someone joins it, you can post another.

Join one

Signed-in players see Public games under Current games. Each row has a Join button. Your own posting is not on that list. It stays in your Current games until someone takes the seat.

Joining makes you Black. The game leaves the public list and shows up in Current games for both of you. The creator gets the usual game email.

How many

You can have up to 5 public games in play at once. That count includes games you created and games you joined, once both players are seated and the game is still unfinished. Posting another and joining another both stop when you are already at 5.

A game that is still waiting for an opponent is separate from those 5. Invited games, the ones you start by email, have no limit and are not part of the count.

I and P

Current games and Public games mark each row with a letter. I means invited. P means the game started as a public game. Hover the letter for the name.

Resign

Once both players are seated, resigning works the same as in any other game. On your turn, Resign asks you to confirm. The game ends immediately as a win for the other player, and the ratings change. The other player is emailed, with the result, their new rating, and a link to their board. A public game that is still waiting for an opponent has no Resign button, and it cannot be resigned.

Ratings

Between the opponent's name and your color, each list shows a rating and a game count, for example 1200 · 3 games. Elo ratings starting at 1200. The game count is the lifetime total already kept for that email.

How to enter a move, offer a draw, resign, and read a rating.