I agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge that entries are final and automated monitoring is active.
Quick Play
Jump into a game instantly — auto-matches you with an open lobby or creates one.
Custom Game
Choose your own token, entry fee, and time control.
💡 Reminder: You need ~0.01 AVAX in your wallet for gas fees, even when using ARENA tokens.
Min: 0.01 AVAX · Max: 250 AVAX
Available Game Lobbies
Loading lobbies...
👁️ Live Games
Watch games in progress — board shown with a 2-move delay.
Finding live games...
My Games
Loading your games...
My Statistics
Loading your statistics...
Game History
Loading game history...
🏆 Leaderboard
Loading leaderboard...
📜 Game History
Connect wallet to view history
👥 Challenge Arena Friends
⭐ Arena Social Feature
Challenge your Arena friends to chess directly! They'll receive a push notification.
Loading friends...
How It Works
▸
🚀 Getting Started
3 steps to your first game
1.
Connect your wallet — Click "Connect Wallet" and approve the connection in MetaMask (or Core, Rabby, etc). Make sure you're on the Avalanche C-Chain network.
2.
Fund your wallet — You need AVAX for gas fees (~0.01 AVAX minimum) plus your entry fee. New to crypto? The Arena platform has a built-in Stripe integration — buy AVAX directly with your credit or debit card, no exchange account needed. You can also swap tokens on Trader Joe.
3.
Create or join a game — Set your entry amount, choose a time control, and wait for an opponent. Or browse the lobby and join an existing game.
💡 Your first game will require a few wallet approvals — this is normal. Each chess move is a blockchain transaction.
▸
💳 Buying Crypto with a Credit Card
Stripe on-ramp · No exchange needed
Never bought crypto before? No worries. The Arena platform includes a built-in Stripe integration that lets you purchase AVAX directly with your credit or debit card. No exchange account, no complicated transfers — just a free Arena account.
1.
Create a free account at arena.social — this gives you an Arena wallet and access to the on-ramp. You can sign up with email or social login.
2.
In your Arena account, go to Wallet → Deposit → Credit or Debit and select AVAX as the token.
3.
Enter the amount and complete checkout with Stripe — just like any online purchase.
4.
AVAX arrives in your Arena wallet within minutes. Find Hustle Chess in the Arena App Store and your wallet is already connected — you're ready to play!
⚠️ Arena account required — The Stripe on-ramp is a feature of arena.social, not Hustle Chess directly. You'll need to create a free Arena account to access it. Arena is also where Hustle Chess is hosted as an app!
💡 How much do I need?
As little as $1-2 worth of AVAX is enough to cover gas fees and a small entry. You can always buy more later.
As little as $1-2 worth of AVAX is enough to cover gas fees and a small entry. You can always buy more later.
Supported payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, and other major cards via Stripe's secure checkout. Payment processing is handled entirely by Stripe — neither Arena nor Hustle Chess sees your card details.
▸
💰 Fees & Costs
Zero fees · Optional tips · ~$0.10 gas per game
Zero platform fees! Hustle Chess takes absolutely no mandatory fees. When you win, you receive the entire pot — 100% of both entries. Draws refund both players in full.
Optional tip
When claiming victory, you can choose to leave a voluntary tip (1-20%, default 5%) to support the platform. This is completely optional — 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.
When claiming victory, you can choose to leave a voluntary tip (1-20%, default 5%) to support the platform. This is completely optional — 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.
Example: Both enter 1 AVAX → Pool: 2 AVAX → Winner gets 2 AVAX (100%)
Gas fees: Since game moves happen off-chain, you only pay gas for 3 blockchain actions per game:
Create ~0.003 · Join ~0.003 · Claim ~0.003 · Total: ~0.009 AVAX (~$0.08)
⚠️ Keep at least 0.01 AVAX in your wallet at all times for gas.
▸
🏆 Playing & Winning
Victory, draws, disputes & collection
Win by checkmate: Checkmate → Claim Victory → Instant Payout
Win on time (Rapid): Opponent's clock hits 0:00 → Claim Victory → Instant collection
Win by timeout (Classical): Opponent inactive 24h → Claim Timeout → Instant collection
Draw: Either player offers → Opponent accepts → Both get full refund, no fee
Cancel: If no one has joined, click Cancel for a full refund.
Win on time (Rapid): Opponent's clock hits 0:00 → Claim Victory → Instant collection
Win by timeout (Classical): Opponent inactive 24h → Claim Timeout → Instant collection
Draw: Either player offers → Opponent accepts → Both get full refund, no fee
Cancel: If no one has joined, click Cancel for a full refund.
How is the result verified?
The game verifies checkmate automatically before processing your claim. Since each move is signed by alternating wallets on-chain, the move history is tamper-proof. Payout is instant — no waiting period.
The game verifies checkmate automatically before processing your claim. Since each move is signed by alternating wallets on-chain, the move history is tamper-proof. Payout is instant — no waiting period.
💡 Enable 🎥 Video Chat when creating a game for a more social experience.
▸
⏱️ Time Controls
Classical & Rapid
Classical (24h per move) — No time pressure. Think as long as you need. If your opponent doesn't move within 24 hours, you can claim timeout victory. Great for casual or asynchronous play.
Rapid (3-30 min + increment) — Real-time chess clocks. Each player starts with a fixed time bank, and a few seconds are added after each move. Win by checkmate or when your opponent's clock runs out.
Rapid (3-30 min + increment) — Real-time chess clocks. Each player starts with a fixed time bank, and a few seconds are added after each move. Win by checkmate or when your opponent's clock runs out.
⚠️ Rapid games need a stable internet connection. Each move takes 2-3 seconds to confirm on-chain, so don't rely on fast pre-moves when time is low.
▸
⭐ Reputation & Trust
Badges & Verified status
Every player earns a reputation score displayed in lobbies and during games, so opponents know who they're playing against.
Build reputation by completing games and playing fairly. Abandoning games or timing out repeatedly will lower your score.
✅ Veteran 90+ · 30+ games
⭐ Experienced 50-89 · 15+ games
🎮 Active 25-49 · 5+ games
🔰 Beginner 10-24 · 2+ games
🛡️ Verified Players:
After 15+ completed games, you earn a 🛡️ Verified badge. This means the platform has enough game history to reliably assess your skill level and giving opponents greater confidence.
▸
🛡️ Fair Play & Fund Safety
Fair play · Smart contract escrow
Are my funds safe? Yes. All entries are held in a smart contract on the Avalanche blockchain — not by the platform. Funds can only be released to the winner or refunded on draw/cancellation. No one else can touch them.
Fair play monitoring
Hustle 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.
Hustle 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 you cheat: Restrictions, earnings held for review, or confirmed violations result in a mutual draw refund and temporary ban. Funds are never permanently seized.
If your opponent cheats: Confirmed violations resolve the game as a mutual draw — your entry is returned in full. You can also report manually with the ⚠️ button.
False positive? A human reviews held earnings within 24 hours. Contact [email protected] if you believe an action was made in error.
If your opponent cheats: Confirmed violations resolve the game as a mutual draw — your entry is returned in full. You can also report manually with the ⚠️ button.
False positive? A human reviews held earnings within 24 hours. Contact [email protected] if you believe an action was made in error.
▸
🏟️ Why Arena Integration?
Social identity · Accountability
More than just payments
Arena integration goes beyond providing a fiat on-ramp. Arena profiles create social friction — your reputation, followers, and identity are tied to how you play.
Arena integration goes beyond providing a fiat on-ramp. Arena profiles create social friction — your reputation, followers, and identity are tied to how you play.
On an anonymous blockchain, a cheater can just create a new wallet and start over. With Arena, your social profile — your handle, your connections, your history — is on the line. Cheating has real social consequences.
What Arena adds:
Identity: Players see real usernames and avatars instead of anonymous hex addresses
Accountability: Bans and reports carry weight because they're tied to a social profile people care about
Trust: You can check an opponent's Arena profile before accepting a game — see their history and social standing
On-ramp: Players can fund their wallet through Arena's Stripe integration without needing a crypto exchange
Accountability: Bans and reports carry weight because they're tied to a social profile people care about
Trust: You can check an opponent's Arena profile before accepting a game — see their history and social standing
On-ramp: Players can fund their wallet through Arena's Stripe integration without needing a crypto exchange
⚙️ Settings
♔ Support Hustle Chess
Hustle Chess is free to play with zero platform fees. Donations help keep the servers running and the games going.
Hustle Chess is free to play with zero platform fees. Donations help keep the servers running and the games going.
💰 Default Tip Percentage
When you win, this percentage of the pot is sent as a tip to support the platform. Hustle Chess charges zero fees — tips keep the lights on!
When you win, this percentage of the pot is sent as a tip to support the platform. Hustle Chess charges zero fees — tips keep the lights on!
5%
Settings are saved automatically and persist across sessions.
Game # - Match Pool: Loading...
♚
Opponent
Waiting...
♔
You
Not Connected
Move History:
Victories are verified automatically and paid out instantly — no waiting period.