Rules and tips
How to play team chess
Team chess on Relay Chess is relay chess: two teams share one board, and teammates take turns making their side's moves without talking about them. It plays like normal chess, except your next move might come from a partner who sees the position very differently.
The rules
- 1
Two teams, one board
White and Black are teams of 1 to 4 players each. Two per side is the classic setup, but 2v1, 3v3 and 4v4 all work.
- 2
Teammates take turns
Your team's moves rotate through its players in seat order. If you sit first on White, you play White's first move, your partner plays the next one, and so on. The game shows who is moving now and who is up next.
- 3
No huddles
You never get to discuss a plan with your partner. Room chat is visible to everyone, the other team included. You only learn what your partner is thinking from the moves they make.
- 4
Normal chess otherwise
Every standard chess rule applies: legal moves only, checkmate wins, and stalemate, repetition, insufficient material and the 50-move rule are draws.
- 5
One clock per team
Timed games give each team one clock, like a normal game. The clock starts once both sides have moved, and the increment is added after every move. Untimed games are available too.
- 6
Resigning, draws and leaving
Any player can resign or offer a draw for their team, and any player on the other team can accept. Either side can abort before both have moved. If a player drops out, their turns pass to their teammates. If a whole team leaves mid-game, it forfeits after 3 minutes.
Starting a game
- With friends: create a private room, send the link to your group and pick sides. Choose a clock, and White's first move starts the game.
- With strangers: pick a time control on the home page and you are matched into a 2v2 game when four players are ready. Bring a friend as a party to play on the same team.
- Just watching: open any game link, or browse live games.
Tips for playing with a partner
Play simple, readable moves
Your partner can't ask what you meant. Moves with an obvious idea, like developing a piece or taking a free pawn, are easier to follow up than a deep trap.
Don't set up a combination you can't finish
Remember that your next move is not your own. A sacrifice that needs three precise follow-ups depends on your partner finding them.
Look at what your partner just did
Before moving, ask why your partner played their last move. Supporting their idea usually beats starting your own.
Queue your move when you are next
When you are up next for your team, you can set your move in advance and it plays as soon as it's your turn. It saves time on the clock.
Hold the line under pressure
Defending is easier to coordinate than attacking. When in doubt, fix the weakest square on your side of the board.
Questions
What is team chess?
Team chess is chess played by teams instead of individuals. In relay chess, the version played on Relay Chess, both teams share one board and teammates take turns making their side’s moves without talking about them.
Can I play 2v2 chess online for free?
Yes. Relay Chess is free, has no ads and needs no account. Create a room, share the link with three friends and pick sides, or join the public queue to play with strangers.
How is this different from bughouse?
Bughouse uses two boards: you play your own opponent and pass captured pieces to your partner. Relay chess uses a single board, and you and your partner play the same position by alternating moves.
How is this different from 4-player chess?
Four-player chess uses a larger cross-shaped board where four armies play at once. Relay chess keeps the normal board and normal rules; only the players on each side change.
How many people can play?
Each team can have 1 to 4 players, so a room holds 2 to 8 players. Anyone else who opens the link can watch.
Can my partner and I talk during the game?
Room chat is open to everyone, including the other team, so there is no private team chat. Part of the fun is reading your partner from their moves alone.
Ready to try it?
Free, no ads, no account. Share one link and you are playing.