Free chess game · Ages 5–10
Mithi Chess: learn to play chess with animal friends
Mithi Chess is real chess with a friendly cast. Carved wooden animals stand in for the pieces on a tilted wooden board: bunnies are the pawns, ponies the knights, owls the bishops and tree houses the rooks, a proud lion is the king, and Mithi herself is the queen.
- Ages 5–10
- Free
- No ads
- No sign-up
- Phone · tablet · computer
Plays in your browserNew to chess? Start with Learn the animals: six short lessons, one for each piece, where your child moves it around the board to collect stars while Mithi explains how it goes (“The pony jumps in an L”). Then play Mithi at three levels, Little cub, Clever fox and Wise owl, or take turns with a friend on one screen.
Hint draws an arrow showing a good move, Undo takes a move back, and check, checkmate and stalemate are explained gently as they happen, so children learn the rules by playing.
What your child learns
- How every chess piece moves, from the bunny pawns to the lion king
- Thinking ahead: what could happen after my move?
- Check, checkmate and stalemate, and keeping the lion safe
- Taking turns, and winning and losing kindly
How to play
- Choose Play with Mithi (and a level), Two friends or Learn the animals.
- Tap one of your animals to light up the squares it can move to.
- Tap a glowing square to move there. The arrow keys and Enter work too.
- Stuck? Press Hint for an arrow showing a good move, or Undo to take one back.
- Trap the other lion so it has nowhere safe to go (checkmate) to win.
Play together
Sit beside your child for the first few games and think out loud: “If I move my owl there, could your pony catch it?” After each of Mithi’s moves, ask what she might be planning. Talking it through is the best chess lesson there is.
Good to know, grown-ups
- Free, for realNo adverts, no in-app purchases and nothing to unlock with money.
- No sign-upNo account, no email and no personal details. Just open it and play.
- Any screenPlays in the browser on phones, tablets and computers. Nothing to download.
- Ages 5–10Made for children aged 5 to 10, and fun to play together.
Questions grown-ups ask
Can my child learn chess from scratch?
Yes. Learn the animals has six short lessons, one for each piece. Your child moves just that piece around the board to collect stars while Mithi explains how it moves, before playing a whole game.
Is it real chess?
Yes. The pieces are animals, but the rules are the real ones, including castling, en passant and a bunny that reaches the far side becoming another animal of your choice.
How strong is Mithi?
That is up to you. As a Little cub she is just learning too; as a Clever fox she thinks a move ahead; as a Wise owl she plays her very best. At every level she will spot a checkmate if there is one.
Can two children play each other?
Yes. Choose Two friends and take turns on one phone, tablet or computer.
