What is Damachess?

Damachess is a free online strategy board game played on a standard 8×8 chessboard. Each player starts with nine pieces in opposite corners and races to be the first to occupy the opponent's corner. Nothing is ever captured: it's pure racing strategy, decided by clever chain jumps that can carry a piece across the whole board in a single turn.

If you love chess, checkers (draughts), or dama, Damachess gives you the same pattern-spotting thrill in fast 5–15 minute games — easy to learn in one minute, hard to master. Play instantly in your browser: no download, no install, and guest play means no signup either.

How to play in 30 seconds

  1. Each player has 9 pieces in a 3×3 corner of an 8×8 board.
  2. Move one square up, down, left, or right — never diagonally.
  3. Jump over any adjacent piece (yours or theirs) into the empty square beyond — and keep chaining jumps in the same turn. Jumped pieces are never removed.
  4. First to fill the opponent's 3×3 corner with their pieces wins. Camping at home won't save you — leftover pieces count as filled squares for your opponent.

Prefer to learn by doing? The in-app “How to play” button opens an interactive tutorial that walks you through each rule with preset board positions — move, jump, chain-jump, and win — validated by the real rules engine.

Game modes

Classic Damachess

The original race

  • Single player vs AI — four bot levels from Easy (great for learning) to Impossible (reads the whole board).
  • Online multiplayer — Quick Match pairs you with players around the world, or challenge a friend with a shareable invite link. Instant rematches keep the rivalry going.
  • Competitive ladder — Elo ratings (start at 1200), rating tiers from Bronze to Master, global leaderboard, match history, and player profiles.

Warlords Beta

Tactical spin-off

  • Warlords — a tactical mode on a 10×10 board: draft a Commander with an active skill, lead units with distinct roles, fight over a central Shrine, and win by taking the enemy Keep or capturing their Commander. Ranked with its own leaderboard.
  • Warlords (Beta) — grow your army with gold: specialize basic units into four classes, fight over Shrines and Beacons under fog of war, and win four different ways. Play vs bot, local hotseat, or online.
  • Spectate live matches — watch ranked games in progress with moves streaming in real time, and replay any finished game move by move.

Frequently asked questions

Is Damachess free to play?

Yes — completely free, with no download and no ads. Play instantly as a guest in any browser on desktop or mobile; no account needed.

How do you win at Damachess?

Be the first to fill every square of your opponent's 3×3 starting corner. Chaining multiple jumps in a single turn is the key to winning fast.

How is it different from chess or checkers?

Nothing is ever captured — it's a race, not a battle. Both players keep all nine pieces the whole game and compete to cross the board first. Games are faster than chess, typically 5–15 minutes, but reward the same planning and pattern recognition.

Is it the same as Chinese Checkers?

They're cousins. Damachess is played on a regular 8×8 board instead of a six-pointed star. Both belong to the same family of strategy games.

Can I play against the computer?

Yes — four AI difficulty levels, from a relaxed bot for learning the rules to a deep-searching engine that punishes every mistake.

Can I play with friends online?

Yes — create a private room and share the code, or use Quick Match to find an opponent worldwide. Online games are Elo-rated with a global leaderboard.

What is Warlords mode?

Warlords is a separate tactical game mode built on the Damachess board. Draft a Commander Doctrine, grow an army with gold, specialize basic units into four classes, and fight under fog of war for the Shrine, Beacons, Keeps, and the enemy Commander. Win four ways: Conquest, Decapitation, Ascension, or Rout. Play vs bot, local hotseat, or online with Quick Match and private rooms.

Damachess — free online strategy board game · play vs AI or the world at www.damachess.com