Play Chess Against a 400 Elo Computer

This is a free game against Pia, a 400 Elo computer opponent built for people who have just learned the rules. She plays like an absolute beginner and is beatable by anyone. No sign-up, no download — the board loads in your browser, and when the game ends you get a free instant review of your moves.

What a ~400-rated opponent plays like

Pia knows how the pieces move and almost nothing else. She hangs pieces for free, leaves her queen where you can take it, and misses one-move threats against her own king. She has no plan — she just makes legal moves, and a fair share of them are random. If you see a piece you can capture for nothing, it is usually real.

The flip side is that she punishes almost nothing. You can leave a knight hanging and she may not notice. That makes 400 the right rung for learning to look at the whole board without being crushed for every slip. Slow down, count what is defended, and take the free material she keeps handing you.

Who should play Pia

Pia is for people rated roughly 100–500, absolute beginners, kids, and anyone returning to chess after years away. If you are stronger than that she will feel trivial — move up to Ben (700) for a real fight. To beat her, develop your knights and bishops, castle early, and scan every move for a piece you can grab safely. Do not rush; her blunders are not going anywhere, so take the time to make sure your own pieces are protected first.

After the game: a free review

Every game against Pia ends with a one-click free game review— accuracy, move classifications from Brilliant to Blunder, and the moment the game turned. That's how you actually improve from playing bots: see the mistake, then drill the fix.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 400 chess bot as weak as a real 400-rated beginner?

Roughly, but not identically. Pia mixes a small chance of a fully random move into a very shallow search, so she blunders in a blunter, more scattered way than a human beginner who at least has a rough plan. The overall difficulty is beginner level; the flavour of the mistakes is a bit more erratic.

What rating do I need to beat a 400 bot?

None in particular. If you know the rules, castle, and avoid hanging pieces, you can beat Pia. She hands out free material, so even a first-week player can win.

Is it free, and do I need an account?

Yes, free, and no account. The engine runs entirely in your browser, so there is nothing to sign up for and no limit on games.

Too easy? Move up to Ben (700). Or see all chess bots.