Odds and coach hints: fair games between different levels

Give a newer friend more time or coach hints in a private game, so players of different levels can enjoy a real game. Free, set when you create a room.

Updated 29 October 2026 · 1 min read

Playing a parent, a child or a friend who's just starting? Odds make the game fair and fun for both sides.

Setting odds

When you create a game on Create room, open Odds and coach hints:

• Starting time: "Same for both" or "Different" — each player can start with 1 to 60 minutes. The increment stays the same for both.
• Coach hints for: Nobody, Me, My friend, or Both.

Odds belong to the player, not the colour, so after a rematch (when colours swap) each person keeps their time and hints.

Everyone can see the odds

The room header shows the odds to both players and to spectators, for example "Sam has coach hints" and "Alex 3 min · Sam 10 min · +2s each".

What coach hints do

A player with hints gets a Hint button (first press highlights the piece to move, second shows the move), a red arrow when a real threat appears, and feedback on their own moves. Hints run on that player's own device. Friend games are unrated, so there's nothing to gain except a better game.