Chess.com has moved into the poker world with Gambit, a free-to-use platform designed to teach the game rather than monetise it — no real-money gambling, no rake. PokerNews reported on the launch, describing Chess.com as a popular chess website with millions of daily users that has now built out a dedicated poker product carrying its own distinct identity.
According to Chess.com Chief Growth Officer Albert Cheng, who addressed the platform in a blog post, Gambit is “a poker site built for learning.” The feature set reflects that philosophy: players can work through poker basics walkthroughs and strategy lessons, track their stats, and compete against bots, friends, or other online users in cash game formats. For those looking for structured competition, Gambit offers Speedrun events — tournaments with five-minute blind levels — alongside Gambit Cup events, Player of the Month leaderboards, and a display of reigning champions and past tournament results. PokerNews reported that the platform is available on desktop, iOS, and Android.
The visual experience carries over from Chess.com’s existing product. PokerNews described Gambit as using the same interface and graphics as the chess platform, which may ease the transition for users already familiar with the site. That crossover audience could be substantial: the two games share a long association as competitive strategy pursuits, and PokerNews noted several figures who have crossed between them — including high-stakes player Michael Addamo, who PokerNews reported discovered poker through chess, and world chess champion Magnus Carlsen, who has dabbled in poker. At the 2023 European Poker Tour Monte Carlo stop, Carlsen told PokerNews that “the similarities between poker and chess are greater than people would think.”
For the poker community specifically, Gambit represents an unusual entry point: a major online platform with an established user base deploying its brand and infrastructure toward poker education rather than a real-money product. PokerNews also noted that Jen Shahade, known for a career as a PokerStars pro, and chess streamer Alexandra Botez, who has become a regular at tournament poker stops, illustrate just how porous the boundary between the two games has become.
