Play chess against AI language models. Watch their responses. See what survives the board.
Windows 10 / 11 · 64-bit · Free, open source app
An AI model connection is required. Cloud providers may charge for usage.
Release notes · Report a problem · For developers
- Download the Windows installer.
- Open the downloaded file to install and launch Neural Chess.
- Connect a model and play. Choose your provider in the app, add your API key or select a local model, then choose Play with AI. Your connection is remembered for next time.
The installer includes the app and everything it needs to run. You do not need Node.js, a terminal, or the source code. Your chosen AI service or local model is separate.
Desktop app preview · demonstration connection
- Bring your own opponent. Connect Ollama, OpenAI, Anthropic, or a compatible API.
- Watch each turn unfold. Read streamed responses and any reasoning the provider makes available alongside the board.
- Play by real chess rules. Legal moves, castling, promotion, checkmate, and repetition draws are enforced.
- Keep control of the game. Undo a turn, stop the AI, or fix a connection and resume from the same position. Failed requests never become random moves.
- Make the board yours. Choose a side and prompt difficulty, resize the board, and copy your position or move record.
- Come back ready to play. Connection settings are remembered, saved desktop API keys are encrypted and separated by provider and server, and updates are available from inside the app.
Language models make interesting opponents, but their playing strength varies. Difficulty adjusts how the model is prompted; it is not an Elo rating.
| Use | What you need |
|---|---|
| Ollama — run a model on your computer | Ollama for Windows installed and running, plus a downloaded model. No per-request API fee; performance depends on your hardware and model. |
| OpenAI or Anthropic — use a cloud model | A provider API key, a model your account can access, and internet access. API usage is billed separately from ChatGPT or Claude chat subscriptions. |
| A compatible service — use your own endpoint | Its server address, API format, and any model name or credentials the service requires. |
Windows shows a security warning?
Current installers are unsigned, so Windows may show a SmartScreen warning. Confirm the download came from this repository's Releases page, and proceed only if you trust the source. In the SmartScreen dialog, More info → Run anyway may be available.
Need help connecting or updating?
The app checks the required connection details before you start. If a turn fails, use Retry AI Move, or Edit Connection to correct the settings without losing your game. Ollama must be running and the selected model must already be downloaded.
Open App Details for update controls and logs. If you report a problem, include your app version, provider, and the error message. Do not share API keys. Technical setup and troubleshooting are in the developer guide.
Made by bobathefetts · MIT license · Contributions and thoughtful bug reports welcome.