Games like Farmville and Candy Crush Saga have exploded in popularity on Facebook over the years, but most users probably aren’t aware of the secret game hidden inside the company’s Messenger app.
By typing a quick phrase, any Facebook user can start a game of chess with another friend through Facebook’s website or Messenger app.
It’s not the best online chess experience, but it’s a fun little Easter egg to play around with.
Here’s how to play the game, which blog BetaNews recently noticed:
- Start a conversation with a friend and type “@fbchess” play into the chat box. A chess board should appear in the Messenger window.
- To move a piece, type the letter and space on the board that corresponds with the move you want to make. Each piece has its own letter symbol (p for pawn, etc.). If you wanted to move a pawn to the space labeled F3 on the board, you would type “@fbchess Pf3,” for example.
- You can pull up instructions in the chat window by typing “@fbchess help.”
- If you want to make the chess board larger, click or tap the settings cog and select “See full conversation.”
