Live chess online: bullet, blitz and rapid
Live chess means both players at the board at once, each with a clock running. Every game on Blitzmate is played that way, and every opponent is a real person. You choose a clock, Blitzmate finds someone who wants the same game at about your strength, usually within seconds, and the board opens for both of you together.
Free account · Browser, iOS and Android · 13+ · Coins have no cash value
Choose your clock
The clock decides what kind of game you get. There are three bands with four clocks each: two without increment and two with it.
Bullet: 1 to 2 minutes
Clocks: 1+0, 2+0, 1+1 and 2+1. A whole game in a minute or two, decided by your hands as much as your ideas. You move on instinct and look for the clean, quick plan rather than the deepest one. Good for players who like fast decisions and short sessions.
Blitz: 3 to 5 minutes
Clocks: 3+0, 5+0, 3+2 and 5+2. Enough time to have a plan, not enough to check every line. Openings and patterns you already know carry you, and the clock still matters in the endgame. A middle ground for players who want speed but also want to think.
Rapid: 10 to 15 minutes
Clocks: 10+0, 15+0, 10+5 and 15+5. Time to actually calculate, so the position matters more than the speed of your hand. A good place to start if fast chess is new to you, or when you want a game that feels closer to one over a board.
What the increment changes
In 3+2, each player starts with three minutes and gets two seconds back after every move. Without increment, a long game can end on the clock alone, however good the position. With it, a player who keeps moving keeps some time, so careful endgames stay playable.
Live, and decided on the server
Both clocks run on our servers, and every move and every coin movement is checked there too. Nothing is decided on your device, so a modified app cannot make an illegal move or add time. A brief network drop does not cost you time you were not using.
A game ends by checkmate, resignation, an agreed draw, a draw the rules define, or a clock reaching zero, and both players see the result at the same moment. Your rating is kept separately for bullet, blitz and rapid.
Coins, briefly
Every game is staked. Both players put in the same number of coins, at least 10 each and never more than their balance. At 10 coins each the pot is 20: the winner takes it, and a draw returns both stakes.
Coins have no cash value and cannot be withdrawn or exchanged for money. Play responsibly. They cannot be transferred between accounts or exchanged for goods or services either.
Running low? The support page explains where new coins come from.
Questions
Are my opponents real people?
Yes, always. Blitzmate has no bots and no engine opponents. Every game is against another person playing live.
Do I need an account?
Yes, a free one. Sign up with an email address in the browser or the app. Blitzmate is 13+, or the minimum age in your country if that is higher. The game screens are in English.
Can I pick my opponent?
Yes. Instead of matchmaking you can challenge someone by username. See play chess with a friend online.
Keep reading
The full picture of how Blitzmate works is on play chess online, and the support page covers the rest.