I built a simple and performant online wagered chess server :)

déchecs (from "decentralized" and "échecs," which means chess in French) is a platform I have developed where you can compete with friends in crypto-wagered chess matches. Why would I want to play for something other than Elo points, I hear you ask? Well, because playing for money is simply more fun (when done responsibly). As the stakes are greater, the pressure and thus the thrill of playing is elevated. The pros play for cash week in and week out - why shouldn't you have the opportunity to do this too?

It's super easy and quick to use, and we don't require sign-in: first, connect your web3 wallet, and then set up a game (pick time control, n rounds, wager amount). Then, share the generated game code with a friend or other trusted opponent. The winner of the game after all rounds takes both players' wagers home! If it's a draw after all rounds, the wagers are given back to the players.

I imagine many reading this will jump to the conclusion that this is just another crypto scam, and you'd be rational to do so; crypto 'dapps' have an awful reputation. This is why I made the code open source. I encourage all readers to have a look at the code and, if you're technical, I welcome any feedback you may have on the code/architecture etc. ! In terms of my credentials, I hold a bachelors and masters degree in CS from a top UK university, and previously I worked in fintech/finserv. If you're still unconvinced, please just give it a go - the minimum wager is literally 1 POL ($0.38) so you have (almost) nothing to lose.

Naturally, the question of chess engine use is a big one, markedly so when playing for financial assets rather than Elo points. Although we do not provide any protections against use of chess engines (we do not have the resources to do this effectively), we strongly discourage it, and have designed the platform to mitigate this in the following ways: 1) players only play against known (and hopefully trusted) opponents, 2) the max wager is set to 100 POL (£27 or $38 at time of writing), as cheating is much more likely to occur with larger wagers. If you suspect your opponent is cheating, do not play against them!

Here is the link: dechecs | Play chess to win POL

ENJOY! If you have feedback, please comment on this post or message me on GitHub. And if you had fun using it - please spread the word and tell your friends about it! Wager responsibly. Do not use our platform if you cannot afford to. We do not store any personal data