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Play Chessmaster, The (Europe edition · English) Online
The Chessmaster
Play The Chessmaster online for NES. Make moves with the hand cursor, choose computer levels, review moves and learn with Teaching Mode and War Room hints.
Browser play
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) / Famicom — EmulatorJS controls
Default Player 1 keyboard mapping. Change keys in Controller Settings.
| Console button | Keyboard |
|---|---|
| ↑ / ↓ / ← / → | ↑ / ↓ / ← / → |
| A / B | Z / X |
| START / SELECT | Enter / V |
Open Controller Settings to configure your keyboard or gamepad. Touch controls are available on mobile.
How to Play Chessmaster, The
Quick start
Press START at the logo, then START again at the copyright screen to reach the board. Move the hand cursor onto a piece, press A to pick it up, move to a legal destination and press A again to place it. Use SELECT for the menu and choose actions with the directional pad and A. Beginners can choose a Newcomer level and switch Teaching Mode on. To review a mistake, press B to enter Take Back/Replay, then B to step backward or A to replay a move; SELECT returns to normal play. Select the War Room view in the menu to read the Hint display.
Controls
Directional pad: move the hand or menu arrow. A: pick up/place a piece; execute a menu action or cycle a setting. SELECT: switch between board and menu; leave Take Back/Replay for normal play. B on the board: enter Take Back/Replay. In that mode, B undoes a move and A replays one. START: advance through the opening logo and copyright screens. Hints appear in the War Room view; no separate hint hotkey is needed.
Chessmaster, The — About this game
The Chessmaster brings chess and position analysis to the NES. You can face the computer, play another person with the program checking moves, or watch the computer handle both sides. Sixteen playing levels range from Newcomer settings to an Infinite mode that keeps thinking until you force a move. Teaching Mode displays legal destinations when you pick up a piece, making it easier to understand what that piece can do. Take Back/Replay lets you revisit earlier decisions rather than discard an entire game after one mistake. For closer study, Setup Mode allows custom positions, while the War Room combines a smaller board with recent moves, captured pieces and the computer’s analysis. Its Hint display suggests a move when it is your turn. You can alternate between playing a full game and studying the choices made along the way.
Cheats
No cheats have been added for this edition.
Player verification and sources
Browser play was reviewed before this edition was published in the catalogue. The date below is the catalogue publication date, not the game’s original release date.
- Browser test and catalogue publication date
- Browsers and devices
- PC: Chrome, Edge and Firefox. Mobile: Chrome on Android and Safari on iPhone and iPad.
- Player engine and core
- EmulatorJS 4.3.0-pre · nes
- Tested by
- rwEmulator
Sources and editorial basis
rwEmulator reviews edition metadata, release information, game manuals and first-hand browser-play notes. Available manuals are linked below; the editorial policy explains how facts are checked and corrections are handled.