SULTAN UL AREFIN
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Feb 20, 2025
4 min read

CheckmateAI

Chess has long been regarded as the ultimate game of strategy, testing players’ tactical acumen and foresight. With the rise of digital gaming, chess has transitioned seamlessly onto digital platforms, making it more accessible than ever. CheckmateAI is a modern chess application developed using Angular that brings the joy of playing chess to your browser. Whether you want to challenge a friend locally or compete against an AI powered by Stockfish, this application is built to deliver a smooth, engaging, and competitive experience.
See Demo See Repository

The Vision Behind CheckmateAI

The objective behind CheckmateAI was to create a simple yet powerful chess platform that allows players to enjoy the game without any installations. Many online chess platforms require registration, subscriptions, or software downloads. Our approach was to build a browser-based chess experience that runs efficiently and provides an intuitive interface, making chess more accessible to everyone, from beginners to seasoned grandmasters.

Features and Functionality

Two Game Modes

  1. Local Multiplayer: Play a friendly match with a friend on the same device.
  2. AI Battle: Compete against Stockfish AI, one of the most powerful chess engines, with adjustable difficulty settings.

Browser-Based Convenience

  • No installations required
  • Just open your browser and start playing!
  • Works across all modern devices and screen sizes.

Built with Angular for Performance

  • Angular ensures a fast and smooth user experience, with dynamic UI updates and component-based architecture.
  • TypeScript provides strong typing and better maintainability.

Powered by Stockfish AI

  • Stockfish is a world-class open-source chess engine used by professional chess players.
  • Offers multiple difficulty levels, making it ideal for players of all skill levels.
  • Provides instant move evaluations, helping users learn and improve their game.

Modern & Intuitive UI

  • Clean, elegant, and easy-to-use interface.
  • Mobile-friendly design for playing on the go.
  • Real-time move validation ensures a smooth playing experience.

Technical Overview

Technologies Used

  • Angular - A robust frontend framework ensuring high performance.
  • TypeScript - Strongly typed JavaScript for better code reliability.
  • Stockfish API - AI-driven chess engine for playing against a computer.
  • HTML/CSS - For a modern and responsive UI.

Stockfish AI Integration

Stockfish is integrated as a REST API to provide a powerful AI opponent. Here’s how the integration works:

  • The user submits a move, which is sent to the Stockfish engine.
  • The engine processes the move and calculates the best possible response.
  • The response is sent back to the Angular frontend, which updates the board accordingly.

Installation & Setup

Want to try it yourself? Follow these simple steps:

Installation Guide

  1. Clone the repository: 
    git clone https://github.com/sultan-ul-arefin/CheckmateAI.git
  2. Navigate to the project folder: 
    cd CheckmateAI
  3. Install dependencies: 
    npm install
  4. Run the application: 
    ng serve
  5. Open your browser and go to http://localhost:4200/ to start playing! 🎉

Case Study: Building CheckmateAI

Challenges Faced & Solutions

  1. Integrating Stockfish AI Efficiently

    • Challenge: Handling real-time AI move calculations without delays.
    • Solution: Used asynchronous requests and optimized Stockfish API calls to minimize response time.

  2. Ensuring a Seamless UI/UX

    • Challenge: Providing a smooth game experience on different screen sizes.
    • Solution: Implemented responsive design with Angular Material and CSS media queries.

  3. Move Validation & Game Logic

    • Challenge: Preventing illegal moves and handling special rules (castling, en passant, etc.).
    • Solution: Implemented real-time move validation using predefined chess rules.

Future Enhancements

The development of CheckmateAI is an ongoing process, with several exciting features planned:

  • Online Multiplayer Mode – Play with friends remotely!
  • User Authentication – Keep track of your games and stats.
  • Game Analysis & Replay – Review and learn from past games.
  • Leaderboard & Ranking System – Compete with other players globally.

CheckmateAI is more than just a chess app—it’s a modern, accessible, and intelligent way to enjoy chess, whether you’re playing for fun or sharpening your skills against a world-class AI. By leveraging Angular, TypeScript, and Stockfish AI, we’ve built an efficient, browser-based chess game that’s easy to use, yet powerful enough for advanced players.

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