Challenge a Friend
Jump into a game instantly โ auto-matches you with an open lobby or creates one.
Pick a stake โ we make the game and hand you the link. Only the friend you send it to can take the seat.
Join the Discord for matchmaking or send the game link (shown after creating a game) to a friend. Daily tournaments at 6pm ET.
Practice vs Bot
Practice mode โ no stake, no wallet needed.
Custom Challenge
Pick your own token, stake and clock. You still get a link to send.
๐ก Reminder: You need ~0.01 AVAX in your wallet for gas fees.
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Challenge Board
Looking for a game? Accept a challenge below or post your own. No funds locked until you create a game.
No challenges yet โ post one!
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
๐ค
Connect wallet to view your profile
FAQ
โธ
๐ฐ Fees & Costs
Zero fees ยท Optional tips ยท ~$0.10 gas per game
Zero platform fees! Hustle Chess takes absolutely no mandatory fees. When you win, you receive the entire pot โ 100% of both entries. Draws refund both players in full.
Optional tip
When you claim a win you pick between two buttons: Claim (100% of the pot to you) or Claim + tip. The tip is optional and ranges from 0% to 10% of the pot โ the smart contract won't accept more than 10%. Pick "No tip" and nothing is taken. Set a default in Settings. Tips are donations that keep the servers running; they are never a fee.
When you claim a win you pick between two buttons: Claim (100% of the pot to you) or Claim + tip. The tip is optional and ranges from 0% to 10% of the pot โ the smart contract won't accept more than 10%. Pick "No tip" and nothing is taken. Set a default in Settings. Tips are donations that keep the servers running; they are never a fee.
Example: Both enter 1 AVAX โ Pool: 2 AVAX โ 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 ยท Join ~0.003 ยท Claim ~0.003 ยท Total: ~0.009 AVAX (~$0.08)
โ ๏ธ Keep at least 0.01 AVAX in your wallet at all times for gas.
โธ
๐ก๏ธ Fair Play & Fund Safety
Legal moves ยท Invited players only ยท Smart contract escrow
Are my funds safe? Yes. All entries are held in a smart contract on the Avalanche blockchain โ not by the platform. Funds can only be released to the winner or refunded on draw/cancellation. No one else can touch them.
What the app checks
Every move is checked against the rules of chess, and only the two invited players can play a game. That's it โ there is no engine analysis or move-timing monitoring. You play people you know, so play them straight.
Every move is checked against the rules of chess, and only the two invited players can play a game. That's it โ there is no engine analysis or move-timing monitoring. You play people you know, so play them straight.
โธ
๐ How invites work
Create ยท Send the link ยท Friend takes the seat
1.
Make a game โ pick a stake and a clock. Your stake goes into the smart contract.
2.
Send the link โ copy it and send it to your friend however you like. Lost it? Copy it again from My Games on the same device.
3.
Your friend claims the seat and joins โ the first wallet to open the link gets the seat, then puts up their stake. The link is spent after that.
Playing inside Arena? Arena can't carry the link, so paste it into the "Got a link?" box on the home screen or the Create tab and hit Join.
Someone uninvited joined? The game can't start and nobody can win it. Either player can cancel for a full refund between 2 and 5 minutes after they joined. Miss that window and both stakes can be claimed back 48 hours after the join.
โธ
๐ Getting Started
3 steps to your first game
1.
Connect your wallet โ 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 โ 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 โ buy AVAX directly with your credit or debit card, no exchange account needed. You can also swap tokens on Trader Joe.
3.
Make a game and send the link โ pick a stake and a clock, then send the link to a friend. Got a link from someone? Open it (or paste it into "Got a link?") to take your seat.
๐ก Your first game will require a few wallet approvals โ this is normal. Moves happen instantly off-chain; you only pay gas to create, join, and claim.
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๐ Playing & Winning
Victory, draws, disputes & collection
Win by checkmate: Checkmate โ Claim Victory โ Instant Payout
Win 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.
Win 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.
How is the result verified?
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.
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.
๐ก Enable ๐ฅ Video Chat when creating a game for a more social experience.
โธ
๐ Tournaments
Weekly events ยท Entry fees ยท Prize pools
Weekly tournaments are held regularly with entry fees that go directly into the prize pool. No rake โ 100% of entry fees are redistributed to winners.
Current format: Arena-style Blitz
All players play as many 5+0 games as possible in 1 hour
Most wins at the end of the hour takes the prize pool
Tiebreaker: head-to-head record, then win rate
Most wins at the end of the hour takes the prize pool
Tiebreaker: head-to-head record, then win rate
How to join: Follow @Chess_Hustler on X or join the Discord for tournament announcements and registration.
Tournaments are live!
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.
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.
โธ
๐๏ธ Why Arena?
Social identity ยท Card on-ramp ยท Play inside Arena
Play people, not wallets.
On Arena your opponent has a name, a face and a reputation โ usually someone you already follow. That's the whole idea: real stakes against people you know.
On Arena your opponent has a name, a face and a reputation โ usually someone you already follow. That's the whole idea: real stakes against people you know.
Hustle Chess runs inside the Arena app. Got an invite link? Paste it into the "Got a link?" box and your Arena wallet takes the seat.
What Arena adds:
Know who you're playing: Your opponent isn't an anonymous wallet โ they're someone with a name you know
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
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
Hustle Chess is Arena-first.
We run as a standalone site too โ same games, same links.
We run as a standalone site too โ same games, same links.
โธ
๐ณ Buying Crypto with a Credit Card
Stripe on-ramp ยท 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 โ just a free Arena account.
1.
Create a free account at arena.social โ 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 โ Deposit โ Credit or Debit and select AVAX as the token.
3.
Enter the amount and complete checkout with Stripe โ 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 โ you're ready to play!
โ ๏ธ Arena account required โ 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!
๐ก 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 โ neither Arena nor Hustle Chess sees your card details.
โธ
โฑ๏ธ Time Controls
Classical & Rapid
Classical (no clock) โ 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 (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.
Rapid (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.
Available presets:
3+0 (Blitz) ยท 3+2 ยท 5+0 ยท 5+3 ยท 10+0 ยท 10+5 ยท 15+10 ยท 30+0
3+0 (Blitz) ยท 3+2 ยท 5+0 ยท 5+3 ยท 10+0 ยท 10+5 ยท 15+10 ยท 30+0
โ ๏ธ Rapid games need a stable internet connection. Moves are processed off-chain (instant) but clock sync depends on server round-trip, so very low time situations can feel tight.
โธ
๐ What if I disconnect?
Reconnection ยท Timeout rules
Your game is saved. Game state is persisted on the server. If you close your browser or lose connection, just come back to the site and your active game will be there.
Rapid games: Your clock keeps running while you're away. If it hits zero, your opponent can claim a time victory.
Classical 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.
Classical 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.
๐ก Your wager is always safe in the smart contract. Even if the server goes down, funds can only be released to the winner or refunded โ never lost.
โธ
๐ Player Stats
Win rate & game history
Your record โ wins, losses and draws โ lives on-chain with your games. Check My Profile and Game History to see yours.
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๐ฌ Community & Support
Discord ยท Bug reports ยท Feature requests
Join the Hustle Chess Discord
Chat with other players, report bugs, suggest features, and get help.
Chat with other players, report bugs, suggest features, and get help.
โ๏ธ Settings
๐ 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.
๐ฌ Send Feedback
Report bugs, suggest features, or just tell us what you think.
Report bugs, suggest features, or just tell us what you think.
Default tip optional
When you claim a win you can claim the full pot or claim + tip. This sets which tip is picked first โ you can change it on the claim screen. Zero fees either way; a tip is a voluntary donation, 0โ10% of the pot.
When you claim a win you can claim the full pot or claim + tip. This sets which tip is picked first โ you can change it on the claim screen. Zero fees either way; a tip is a voluntary donation, 0โ10% of the pot.
๐ซ Blocked Players
Blocked players won't appear in your 1v1 lobby. Does not apply to tournaments.
Blocked players won't appear in your 1v1 lobby. Does not apply to tournaments.
๐ Info
๐ Smart Contracts
Tournaments
0xEFc972b513c457EBE769Ae628815e2094C392D4e
Avalanche C-Chain ยท Verified on Snowtrace
Settings are saved automatically and persist across sessions.
Connect wallet to browse tournaments
Create a Tournament
Optional โ defaults to "Tournament #ID"
Min 0.1 ยท Max 1 AVAX (public)
Prize Preview (full bracket)
1st (70%)
0.56 AVAX
2nd (30%)
0.24 AVAX
Platform
Tip-based
Connect wallet to see your tournaments
Game # - Match Pool: Loading...
โ
Opponent
Waiting...
โ
You
Not Connected
Move History:
Victories are verified automatically and paid out instantly โ no waiting period.