Over-the-board chess

Your online rating,
at a real table.

You know your blitz rating by heart. When did you last play a human across a board? Check-mates finds over-the-board games near you — and makes them count.

Browse venues How it works

2 venues on the map · 1 partner table

Online chess is everywhere. A game across a real board, with someone near you, at a fair level, tonight — that is the hard part.

Check-mates is the missing half.

Four moves to a real game

a1Find

See who's playing near you

Open the map. Real games and available players at real tables — filtered to your city and your tempo.

b2Join

Join a game or send a challenge

Tap an open game, or challenge a specific player. Rating bands keep matches fair; a beacon says you're free right now.

c3Play

Meet at the table and play

Check in when you arrive. Chat to sort the details. Then it's just you, the board, and the clock.

d4Rate

Confirm the result — your rating moves

Both players confirm the outcome. A Glicko-2 OTB rating updates per tempo. No-shows count against reliability.

Rated for real, per tempo

Every confirmed game moves a Glicko-2 rating — the same math the online sites use, kept separately for each time control. Bring your chess.com or Lichess rating to seed it.

BulletBlitzRapidClassic

Where chess lives

All venues →

Ludo

★ Partner

Meerseniersstraat 16, Gent

BoardsPieces

Eet- en praatcafé De Smisse

Kerkstraat 6, Damme

Play the game you love, in person.

The app is coming soon. Find a table near you now and be there when it opens.

Find a table

Your online rating,at a real table.