๐ค Play vs Bot
Practice mode โ no wager, no wallet needed.
Quick Play
Jump into a game instantly โ auto-matches you with an open lobby or creates one.
Custom Game
Choose your own token, entry fee, and time control.
Challenge Board
Open Lobbies
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๐๏ธ Watch
Watch games in progress โ board shown with a 2-move delay.
Finding live games...
My Games
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๐ Leaderboard
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๐ Game History
Connect wallet to view history
Connect wallet to view your profile
FAQ
๐ฐ Fees & Costs
Zero fees ยท Optional tips ยท ~$0.10 gas per gameWhen claiming victory, you can choose to leave a voluntary tip (1-20%, default 5%) to support the platform. This is completely optional โ the "Claim Full Pot" button is always available and sends you 100% of winnings. You can adjust your tip percentage in Settings. Tips help us keep the servers running and the platform free for everyone.
๐ก๏ธ Fair Play & Fund Safety
Fair play ยท Smart contract escrowHustle Chess uses automated systems to detect computer assistance. Move patterns, timing, and accuracy are analyzed during every game. By playing, you agree to this monitoring.
If your opponent cheats: Confirmed violations resolve the game as a mutual draw โ your entry is returned in full. You can also report manually with the โ ๏ธ button.
False positive? A human reviews held earnings within 24 hours. Reach out in Discord if you believe an action was made in error.
๐ Getting Started
3 steps to your first game๐ Playing & Winning
Victory, draws, disputes & collectionWin on time (Rapid): Opponent's clock hits 0:00 โ Claim Victory โ Instant collection
Win by timeout (Classical): Opponent inactive 24h โ Claim Timeout โ Instant collection
Draw: Either player offers (free, no transaction) โ Opponent accepts โ Both confirm on-chain โ Full refund, no fee
Cancel: If no one has joined, click Cancel for a full refund.
Moves are validated by the server in real-time using chess rules. When the game ends, the server signs the result and the smart contract verifies the signature before releasing funds. Payout is instant โ no waiting period.
๐ Tournaments
Weekly events ยท Entry fees ยท Prize poolsMost wins at the end of the hour takes the prize pool
Tiebreaker: head-to-head record, then win rate
Create your own tournament, set the entry fee and prize structure, and invite players. Entry fees are locked in a smart contract and automatically distributed to winners. Check the Tournaments tab to browse or create.
๐๏ธ Why Arena?
Social identity ยท Anti-cheat ยท On-rampEvery platform that's tried it has failed because there's no accountability. Someone cheats, makes a new wallet, does it again. No cost to being dishonest.
Identity: Real usernames and avatars instead of hex addresses
Trust: Check an opponent's Arena profile before accepting a game โ see their history and social standing
Stripe on-ramp: Fund your wallet with a credit or debit card through Arena's Stripe integration โ no crypto exchange needed. Go to Wallet โ Deposit โ Credit or Debit and select AVAX
We run as a standalone site too, but the core experience โ where you know your opponent has something to lose โ lives on Arena.
๐ณ Buying Crypto with a Credit Card
Stripe on-ramp ยท No exchange neededAs little as $1-2 worth of AVAX is enough to cover gas fees and a small entry. You can always buy more later.
โฑ๏ธ Time Controls
Classical & RapidRapid (timed) โ Real-time chess clocks. Each player starts with a fixed time bank, and an increment is added after each move. Win by checkmate or when your opponent's clock runs out.
3+0 (Blitz) ยท 3+2 ยท 5+0 ยท 5+3 ยท 10+0 ยท 10+5 ยท 15+10 ยท 30+0
๐ What if I disconnect?
Reconnection ยท Timeout rulesClassical games: You have up to 24 hours per move. If you don't move in time, your opponent can claim a timeout victory.
Video games: If your video drops, there's a brief reconnection window before a video forfeit can be claimed.
๐ Player Stats
Win rate & game history๐ฌ Community & Support
Discord ยท Bug reports ยท Feature requestsChat with other players, report bugs, suggest features, and get help.
โ๏ธ Settings
Hustle Chess is free to play with zero platform fees. Donations help keep the servers running and the games going.
Report bugs, suggest features, or just tell us what you think.
When you win, this percentage of the pot is sent as a tip to support the platform. Hustle Chess charges zero fees โ tips keep the lights on!
Blocked players won't appear in your 1v1 lobby. Does not apply to tournaments.