TableChess app icon

Two players.
One screen.

Lay your iPhone or iPad flat on the table and play chess face to face. Each player gets their own side, their own clock and their own buttons.

♟️ Every rule ⏱️ Chess clocks 🆓 Free 📱 iPhone & iPad ✈️ Plays offline
Coming soon to the App Store
A game in progress in face-to-face mode

A chessboard you share

Black's side faces Black, White's side faces White. No turning the phone around.

Face-to-face mode with a piece selected Checkmate: Alex wins Pass the phone: the board turns for Black Check highlighted on the king New game: mode, names and clock Move list in chess notation TableChess on iPad

Pick how you sit

Two modes for two situations

🪑 Face to face · phone flat between you 🔄 Pass the phone · the board turns every move ⏱️ No clock, or 1 to 30 minutes

Real chess, no setup

Everything a game between friends needs

♞

Every rule built in

Only legal moves are allowed. Castling, en passant and promotion just work, and legal squares are highlighted.

🏆

Knows who won

Checkmate ends the game. Stalemate, insufficient material, threefold repetition and the 50-move rule are detected automatically.

⏱️

Chess clocks

Blitz to classical, with increments. The clock pauses when you leave the app.

🏳️

Resign or offer a draw

Each player has their own buttons on their own side of the table.

📜

Move list & PGN

Every move in standard notation. Share the finished game as PGN to study it later.

💾

Always saved

Close the app any time. Your game is waiting where you left it.

Free to play

TableChess is free and supported by ads: a small banner, and full-screen ads only between games, never during one. No account, no sign-up, and your games never leave your device.

Read our privacy policy

Questions & support

Need help? Contact us and we'll get back to you.

How do I move a piece?

Tap a piece, then tap where it should go. Or drag it. Dots show the squares it can reach and rings show captures.

What's the difference between the two modes?

Face to face: the phone lies flat between you and Black's panel is upside down so each player reads their own side. You can also turn Black's pieces to face Black. Pass the phone: the board turns after every move so the player to move is always at the bottom.

How does the game decide who won?

Checkmate, resignation or running out of time wins. A game is drawn by stalemate, insufficient material, threefold repetition, the 50-move rule or when both players agree. If your time runs out but your opponent can't possibly checkmate, it's a draw, as in official rules.

Can I take back a move?

Yes. Tap the take-back button under the board. Time already spent on the move isn't refunded.

Can I play against the computer or online?

No. TableChess is made for two people sitting together with one iPhone.

Does it work on iPad?

Yes. On iPad the board is bigger, and in landscape each player's panel sits on their side of the board. Lay it flat on the table and play.

Will an ad interrupt our game?

No. Full-screen ads only ever appear when you start a new game, never while a game is being played, and not after your first game. A small banner stays at the bottom of the screen.

How do I change my ad privacy choices?

If you're in a region where ad consent applies, open TableChess › Settings (gear button) › Ad privacy choices. You can also control tracking in iOS Settings › Privacy & Security › Tracking. See the privacy policy for details.

How do I offer a draw?

Tap ½ on your side. Your opponent sees Accept and Decline on their side. Making a move instead declines the offer.