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Chessmaster, The
国际象棋：master, The
The Chessmaster is a chess game developed by The Software Toolworks and released in 1990 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It's a puzzle/strategy game that allows players to engage in matches against a computer opponent or play two-player matches. The game features various difficulty levels, from beginner to advanced, accommodating players of different skill levels. Players use the controller to navigate the board and select pieces, then move them according to standard chess rules. The interface displays the board in an isometric perspective, making piece selection and movement intuitive. The game includes teaching features and tutorials to help less experienced players learn chess fundamentals. Multiple game modes are available, including timed matches and untimed casual play. The NES version brought portable chess gameplay to home consoles, offering both casual play and competitive challenges for chess enthusiasts.
- Developer
- The Software Toolworks
- Released
- 1990
- Platform
- NES
- Genre
- Puzzle
- Players
- 2P
- Rating
- 4.3 / 5 (1.2K)
- Last updated
Chessmaster, The Controls — NES Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Chessmaster, The on our in-browser NES emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | D-Pad Up | Move up |
| ↓ | D-Pad Down | Move down |
| ← | D-Pad Left | Move left |
| → | D-Pad Right | Move right |
| X | A | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | B | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| Enter | Start | Start / Pause |
| Shift | Select | Select / Mode |
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Chessmaster, The Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Chessmaster, The on NES before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Chessmaster, The" NES longplay 1990
Chessmaster, The Cheat Codes
2 community-curated cheats for Chessmaster, The. Tick any to activate them automatically when you click "Play with cheats" — or copy a code into your own emulator.
-
Game Allows Any Move
0642:00 -
Move Pieces Anywhere
AAVKNLTI+SZNGULSA+SZNKELSA
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Chessmaster, The released?
Chessmaster, The was released in 1990 for the NES.
Who developed Chessmaster, The?
Chessmaster, The was developed by The Software Toolworks, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
How many players does Chessmaster, The support?
Chessmaster, The supports up to 2 players, ideal for couch co-op or competitive sessions on the NES.
What type of game is Chessmaster, The?
Chessmaster, The is a Puzzle game for the NES, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Chessmaster, The for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Chessmaster, The runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Chessmaster, The in the browser?
No. Chessmaster, The streams from a public archive into a browser-side NES emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Chessmaster, The?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original NES cartridge supported.
Does Chessmaster, The work on mobile devices?
Yes — the NES emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Chessmaster, The this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Chessmaster, The. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
