Yahoo Chess
Yahoo! Chess was part of Yahoo! Games, which was launched on 31 March 1998. The chess platform allowed users to play games against other players from around the world on a 2D online chess board. Yahoo! Chess was highly popular during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Yahoo! Games
Most Yahoo! Games, including chess, were closed down on 31 March 2014. In a statement regarding the closure, they announced that "changes in supporting technologies and increased security requirements for our own Yahoo! web pages made it impossible to keep the games running safely and securely."
Yahoo! Games were typically either Java applets or simple Flash games (some required local download). They were built after the acquisition of ClassicGames.com and included different types of board games (such as Catan, Checkers, Chess, Dominos, Go, Mah Jong, and Poker Pop), card games (such as Blackjack, Hold'Em Poker, and Hearts), and a variety of casual games (such as Pac-Man, Pool, and Yahoo! Graffiti).
Yahoo! Chess
During its existence, Yahoo! Chess provided constant online action, and it was easy to find an opponent. It was part of Yahoo! Games from its early days, offering a free platform to play online chess. One major drawback was that there were no fair play regulations against using an engine.
Features
- Player Matching: Allowed players to challenge opponents from around the world, whether playing with friends or matching with random users.
- Rating System: Players were rated using a simple Elo-based system, making it attractive for competitive play.
- Game Modes: There were blitz and standard time controls.
- Chat and Community: Integrated chat functionality, which helped establish an active chess community.
- User Interface: Provided a simple but functional 2D chessboard with customizable themes.
Legacy
Yahoo! Chess is remembered fondly by many as a pioneer to modern online chess platforms. It was an important stepping stone in making chess accessible to a global audience.
Play Chess Online for Free on Chess.com
You can play free online games with more than 190 million players from around the world on Chess.com. The platform offers a variety of options, including the feature to play chess vs. bots, take part in tournaments, try different chess variants, and many more.
There is also a huge database of puzzles, lessons, openings, and endgames to help you improve your game.
