Play chess with friends on voice chat
Micup (micup.gg) lets two people play chess at a table in its 3D rooms; you move the pieces on a 3D board and talk by voice with your opponent and anyone watching. Each player has their own clock, set to 3, 10 or 30 minutes when the table is set up.
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How do you play chess on Micup?
The rules are standard chess, with one difference: a player whose clock runs out loses in every case. The server checks every move and refuses illegal ones.
- Join a voice channel that has a 3D room and click a free seat at a table.
- If the table is free, choose Chess, pick the time and press "Set up table".
- The game starts when your friend takes the seat opposite. Colours are assigned at random and White moves first.
- Drag a piece on the 3D board, or click it and then its target square. When a pawn reaches the last rank, you choose what it promotes to.
What time controls are there?
The clock is each player's total time for the whole game, with no increment per move. A player whose clock runs out loses, whatever is left on the board.
| Speed | Total time per player |
|---|---|
| Fast | 3 minutes |
| Normal | 10 minutes |
| Slow | 30 minutes |
How does a game end?
There is no separate draw offer or resign button. If your connection drops, you have 30 seconds to come back before the game is lost.
| Result | When it happens |
|---|---|
| Checkmate | The king cannot escape check; the player who gave mate wins. |
| On time | A player whose clock runs out loses. |
| Stalemate | The player to move has no legal move and is not in check: draw. |
| Insufficient material | Neither side has enough pieces to mate: draw. |
| Threefold repetition | The same position occurs three times: draw. |
| Fifty-move rule | Fifty moves pass without a capture or a pawn move: draw. |
| Leaving the table | A player who leaves before the end loses. |
Can friends watch the game?
Yes. Anyone in the same voice channel can press "Watch" on the table panel or sit in a spectator seat next to the table. Up to 50 people watch a table live, and since everyone is in the same voice channel, spectators can talk with the players.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to play chess with friends online?
A computer and a Micup account. Chess tables are in 3D rooms, which open in the browser or in the desktop app. Phones and the Android app do not show the 3D room.
Is there an increment?
No. Each player gets a total of 3, 10 or 30 minutes, and no time is added per move.
Who plays White?
Colours are assigned at random when the game starts. White moves first.
Get Micup
3D rooms and table games open on computers, in the browser and the desktop app.