Subscribe

Facebook chat has secret chess feature

Lauren Kate Rawlins
By Lauren Kate Rawlins, ITWeb digital and innovation contributor.
Johannesburg, 08 Feb 2016
A screenshot of what the secret chess game within Facebook Messenger looks like on desktop.
A screenshot of what the secret chess game within Facebook Messenger looks like on desktop.

A secret feature built into Facebook Messenger allows users to play a game of chess with each other.

To activate the game, users need to type @fbchess and send it in a message to the person they wish to challenge. A white and turquoise chess board will then appear within the chat window on Facebook desktop or within the Messenger app.

To make a move, standard algebraic notation is used. The command, @fbchess, needs to be used before each move. For example, "@fbchess Pe4" would move the pawn in column e to the e4 block.

Other commands include:

Claim draw (eg, three-fold repetition): @fbchess draw claim
Offer a draw in the current position: @fbchess draw offer
Offer an undo of the last move: @fbchess undo
Resign: @fbchess resign
Show current position: @fbchess show
Show stats between current players: @fbchess stats
Continue a game from another conversation: @fbchess continue

Reddit users discovered the feature in December. It is unknown how long the secret feature has been around. Facebook has not commented on whether there are any more hidden games.

Share