Anichess is taking the world’s oldest strategy game into uncharted territory. Here’s how it works, what makes it different, and why it’s not just for chess players anymore.

Chess Meets Web3

Chess has been played for over a thousand years, but now, it’s evolving. Built by Animoca Brands in collaboration with Chess.com (founded by five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen), Anichess is a new Web3-native chess game that fuses classic gameplay with magic-infused strategy, customizable pieces, and onchain progression. It introduces a “play-and-earn” format where players climb leaderboards, unlock rewards, and control digital collectibles, all while preserving the intellectual depth that makes chess timeless.

But Anichess isn’t just traditional chess with a Web3 skin, it’s a full reinvention.

Core Gameplay: Like Chess, But With a Twist

At its foundation, Anichess plays like the chess you know: castling, en passant, and promotion are all here.

But the win condition is different: there’s no check or checkmate. You win by capturing the opponent’s king, a move called a Kingslay. That means the king can walk into danger, and you won’t get a warning. Stalemates don’t apply. The game rewards boldness, calculation, and creativity.

Then there’s spells, the layer that makes Anichess truly unique.

Each player chooses spells before the match—one in Lite Mode, or three in Classic. You gain 1 mana each turn you don’t cast, up to a max of 8. Spells cost mana and replace your move for the turn. Some reposition your pieces. Others break the rules. Some steal mana, others destroy enemy pieces outright.

Your starting deck includes spells like:

• Slip – Move a piece diagonally one space
• Bis-Hop 2.0 – Leap your bishop twice in one move
• Imposter – Swap pieces of the same type with your opponent

More spells are unlocked by completing quests and playing ranked matches.

Game Modes: Play at Your Own Pace

Anichess is designed to welcome all types of players, from competitive ladder grinders to casual experimenters. You can choose from four game modes:

• Quick Match
  Fast games with no impact on your rating, ideal for learning and experimenting.
• Ranked Match
  Play five Quick Matches to qualify, then climb the leaderboard based on skill and consistency.
• Friend Match
  Invite a friend to a custom game. Private, no rating change.
• Train with Bot
  Practice against AI opponents across four difficulty levels (Beginner to Master).

Time formats include Flash (3+2), Blitz (5+2), and Rapid (10|0).

Ranks and Ratings: Climb from Pawn to Legend

Once you’re eligible for ranked play, you’ll be assigned a rating that places you into one of seven tiers:

• Legend (2000+)
• King (1900–1999)
• Queen (1700–1899)
• Rook (1500–1699)
• Bishop (1300–1499)
• Knight (1100–1299)
• Pawn (0–1099)

The ranking system adapts to your performance across all game modes, giving you a clear sense of progression as you sharpen your skills.

M8 Points: Play, Earn, Progress

Anichess includes its own onchain points layer called M8, built on Abstract. M8 points reward consistent gameplay, not purchases or token speculation.

Key facts about M8:

• Earned winning 3 Ranked matches everyday
• Claimable daily at  04:00 ET / 08:00 UTC / 10:00 CET / 16:00 HKT
• Non-transferable—M8 is not a token, it’s onchain in-game points. But it can be used to unlock PenguBoards during this Pudgy Penguin Takeover.
• Additional uses of M8 will include in-game perks and tournament buy-ins.

This makes the reward layer more inclusive and less intimidating for non-crypto-native players.

Customize Everything: Skins, Boards, and Spells

Your Anichess experience is highly customizable. You can collect and equip unique chess piece skins, themed boards and backgrounds, and powerful spell cards. New players start with a base inventory, but more can be unlocked through progression and missions, seasonal campaigns, in-game achievements, and event participation. The game plans to integrate full digital ownership in future updates, allowing players to trade or showcase their earned items.

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