Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Wall Chess — rules, accounts, ratings, and more. Can't find your answer? Contact us.
About the game
What is Wall Chess?
Wall Chess is a two-player browser strategy game. Each player controls one pawn on a 9×9 grid. On your turn you either move your pawn one step closer to the opposite side, or spend a wall from your limited supply to block your opponent's path. The first player to reach the far row wins. No download required — play instantly in your browser.
How do I win?
Move your pawn to any cell on the opposite side of the board before your opponent does the same. SOUTH starts on row 1 and must reach row 9. NORTH starts on row 9 and must reach row 1. You can also win if your opponent runs out of time, resigns, or forfeits due to a disconnect.
How do walls work?
Each player starts with 10 walls. On your turn you can place one wall instead of moving. Walls span two cells and can be horizontal or vertical — they sit on the edges between cells and prevent pawns from crossing that edge. Two walls cannot overlap or cross each other, and you cannot place a wall that completely traps either player with no path to their goal row. Once placed, walls stay for the entire game. See How to Play for complete rules.
Is Wall Chess free?
Yes, Wall Chess is completely free to play. Create an account and start playing immediately — no subscription, no payment required.
Playing online
Can I play online against real players?
Yes. Go to Play Online to enter ranked matchmaking. You will be paired with another player of similar rating. You need a registered account to play ranked games.
Can I play with a friend?
Yes. Choose Play vs Friend from the Play menu to create a private room. You will get a room code or invite link to share. Your friend joins with the code or link. Both players need a Wall Chess account. Private games are not rated.
Can I play against AI?
Yes. Choose Play vs AI from the Play menu for an instant unrated practice match against our AI. A Wall Chess account is required. This is a great way to learn the game or warm up before ranked play. AI matches do not affect your ELO rating.
Do I need an account?
You need an account to play any game mode — ranked matches, private friend games, and AI practice all require a registered account. Creating an account is free and only requires a username, email, and password. Register here.
Game rules & timing
How does the timer work?
Online ranked games use a 10-minute rapid time control. Each player has 10 minutes on their own clock. Your clock counts down only on your turn. If your clock runs out, you lose the game. The timer is enforced by the server so both players see the same state.
What happens if I disconnect?
If you lose connection during a game, your timer continues running. There is a 30-second grace period for reconnection. If you reconnect within that window and time remains, you can continue. If your clock runs out while you are disconnected, the game is resolved as a timeout loss.
Can I resign?
Yes. You can resign at any time during your turn. A resignation counts as a loss for the resigning player and a win for your opponent. If the game is rated, ELO is applied as normal. Resigning is better sportsmanship than disconnecting intentionally.
What if I accidentally make a wrong move?
Moves are final once confirmed. The game board shows legal moves before you commit, so review carefully. There is no undo in live games.
Ratings & leaderboard
How does the rating / ELO system work?
Every new player starts at a rating of 800. After each rated online game, your rating goes up if you win and down if you lose. The amount depends on the rating difference between you and your opponent — beating a higher-rated player gains more points. Only ranked online matches (human vs human, random matchmaking) count toward your rating. AI matches and private friend games are unrated.
How do I appear on the leaderboard?
You need at least 5 rated online matches to appear on the Leaderboard. Your progress toward this threshold is visible in your Settings.
Account & privacy
How do I delete my account?
Sign in and go to Settings. Scroll to the Danger Zone section and click Delete account. You will be asked to type DELETE to confirm. Deletion removes your personal account information. Past game records may be kept in anonymized form for service integrity.
How can I contact support?
Visit the Contact page for support, bug reports, account/privacy requests, and abuse or fair-play reports.
What data does Wall Chess collect?
We collect account information (username, email), gameplay data (matches, moves, outcomes), and technical data (IP address, browser/device info for security and diagnostics). We also use Google Analytics to understand how the site is used. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Will Wall Chess show ads?
Wall Chess does not currently show ads. We may enable third-party advertising (such as Google AdSense) in the future to help support the service. If we do, we will update our Privacy Policy and handle consent as required. Ads will never be placed in ways that interfere with active gameplay.
Still have a question? Check the full How to Play guide or reach out via Contact.