npm package: @react-chess-tools/react-chess-game
Description: react-chess-game is a React component bridging chess.js with react-chessboard to offer a full-featured, ready-to-integrate chess board experience.
Author: Daniele Cammareri
Latest version: 1.0.5

<div align="center">
  <h1>@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game</h1>
  <p>An easy-customizable, ready-to-use chess game component for React</p>

[![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game.svg)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game)
[![npm downloads](https://img.shields.io/npm/dm/@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game.svg)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game)
[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
[![TypeScript](https://img.shields.io/badge/TypeScript-5.x-blue.svg)](https://www.typescriptlang.org/)

  <p>
    <a href="https://github.com/Clariity/react-chessboard">react-chessboard</a> +
    <a href="https://github.com/jhlywa/chess.js">chess.js</a> + nice defaults
  </p>
</div>

## Table of Contents

- [Overview](#overview)
- [Features](#features)
- [Installation](#installation)
- [Quick Start](#quick-start)
- [Demo](#demo)
- [API Reference](#api-reference)
  - [ChessGame.Root](#chessgameroot)
  - [ChessGame.Board](#chessgameboard)
  - [ChessGame.Sounds](#chessgamesounds)
  - [ChessGame.KeyboardControls](#chessgamekeyboardcontrols)
  - [ChessGame.Clock](#chessgameclock)
- [Hooks](#hooks)
  - [useChessGameContext](#usechessgamecontext)
- [Examples](#examples)
- [License](#license)

## Overview

`@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game` is a React component that bridges [chess.js](https://github.com/jhlywa/chess.js) with [react-chessboard](https://github.com/Clariity/react-chessboard) to offer a full-featured, ready-to-integrate chess board experience.

Built using a compound component pattern (similar to [Radix UI](https://www.radix-ui.com/)), it provides a `ChessGameContext` that you can use to customize and enhance the game while maintaining sensible defaults.

The package now includes integrated chess clock functionality powered by [`@react-chess-tools/react-chess-clock`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@react-chess-tools/react-chess-clock).

## Features

- **Move-by-click** - Click to select and move pieces
- **Sound effects** - Built-in sounds for moves, captures, check, and game over
- **Square highlighting** - Visual feedback for valid moves and last move
- **Keyboard controls** - Navigate through game history with arrow keys
- **Integrated Chess Clock** - Built-in clock support with multiple timing methods
- **Full game state** - Access to check, checkmate, stalemate, draw detection
- **TypeScript** - Full TypeScript support with comprehensive type definitions
- **Customizable** - Override any default with your own implementation

## Styling

All components accept standard HTML attributes (`className`, `style`, `id`, `data-*`, `aria-*`), making them compatible with any CSS approach:

### Tailwind CSS

```tsx
<ChessGame.Board className="rounded-lg shadow-xl border-2 border-gray-200 max-w-md mx-auto" />
```

### CSS Modules

```tsx
import styles from "./Board.module.css";

<ChessGame.Board className={styles.customBoard} />;
```

### Data Attributes (for CSS selectors)

Clock components expose data attributes:

```css
[data-clock-active="true"] {
  border-color: #fbbf24;
  box-shadow: 0 0 12px rgba(251, 191, 36, 0.5);
}

[data-clock-timeout="true"] {
  background-color: #ef4444;
  color: white;
}
```

## Installation

```bash
npm install @react-chess-tools/react-chess-game
```

```bash
yarn add @react-chess-tools/react-chess-game
```

```bash
pnpm add @react-chess-tools/react-chess-game
```

## Quick Start

```tsx
import { ChessGame } from "@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game";

function App() {
  return (
    <ChessGame.Root>
      <ChessGame.Board />
      <ChessGame.Sounds />
      <ChessGame.KeyboardControls />
    </ChessGame.Root>
  );
}
```

With a chess clock:

```tsx
import { ChessGame } from "@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game";

function App() {
  return (
    <ChessGame.Root timeControl={{ time: "5+3" }}>
      <ChessGame.Clock.Display color="white" />
      <ChessGame.Board />
      <ChessGame.Clock.Display color="black" />
      <ChessGame.Clock.PlayPause />
    </ChessGame.Root>
  );
}
```

## Demo

Visit the [live demo](https://react-chess-tools.vercel.app/) to see the component in action.

## API Reference

### ChessGame.Root

The root component that provides `ChessGameContext` to all child components. It instantiates a `Chess` instance using the `fen` prop and optionally sets up a chess clock.

**Note:** This is a logic-only component (Context Provider). It does not render any DOM elements.

#### Props

| Name               | Type                    | Default           | Description                                              |
| ------------------ | ----------------------- | ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| `children`         | `ReactNode`             | -                 | Child components                                         |
| `fen`              | `string`                | Starting position | Initial FEN string for the chess game                    |
| `orientation`      | `"w" \| "b"`            | `"w"`             | Board orientation (white or black at bottom)             |
| `theme`            | `PartialChessGameTheme` | -                 | Optional theme configuration                             |
| `timeControl`      | `TimeControlConfig`     | -                 | Optional clock configuration to enable chess clock       |
| `autoSwitchOnMove` | `boolean`               | `true`            | Auto-switch clock on move (when timeControl is provided) |

#### Example

```tsx
<ChessGame.Root
  fen="rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq e3 0 1"
  orientation="b"
  timeControl={{ time: "10+5" }}
>
  <ChessGame.Board />
</ChessGame.Root>
```

### ChessGame.Board

The main chess board component. Renders the board and pieces using `react-chessboard` v5.

Supports **ref forwarding** and all standard **HTML div attributes** (className, style, id, data-_, aria-_, etc.).

#### Props

| Name        | Type                             | Description                                                               |
| ----------- | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `options`   | `ChessboardOptions`              | Options forwarded to `react-chessboard`. Your values merge with defaults. |
| `ref`       | `Ref<HTMLDivElement>`            | Forwarded ref to the wrapper div element                                  |
| `className` | `string`                         | Custom CSS class names                                                    |
| `style`     | `CSSProperties`                  | Custom inline styles                                                      |
| `...`       | `HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElement>` | All standard HTML div attributes                                          |

#### Example

```tsx
<ChessGame.Root>
  <ChessGame.Board
    options={{
      squareStyles: { e4: { boxShadow: "inset 0 0 0 2px #4f46e5" } },
      onPieceDrop: ({ sourceSquare, targetSquare }) => {
        console.log(`Move: ${sourceSquare} -> ${targetSquare}`);
        return true;
      },
      showNotation: true,
      animationDurationInMs: 300,
    }}
    className="my-custom-board"
    style={{ borderRadius: "8px" }}
    id="game-board"
    data-testid="chess-board"
  />
</ChessGame.Root>
```

### ChessGame.Sounds

Provides sound effects for the chess game. Uses built-in sounds by default, but custom sounds can be provided as base64-encoded strings.

**Note:** This is a logic-only component that returns `null`. It sets up audio functionality via hooks.

#### Props

| Name     | Type                             | Default | Description                                                               |
| -------- | -------------------------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `sounds` | `Partial<Record<Sound, string>>` | -       | Custom sounds configuration. Keys: `move`, `capture`, `check`, `gameOver` |

#### Example

```tsx
<ChessGame.Root>
  <ChessGame.Sounds
    sounds={{
      move: customMoveSound,
      capture: customCaptureSound,
    }}
  />
  <ChessGame.Board />
</ChessGame.Root>
```

### ChessGame.KeyboardControls

Enables keyboard navigation through the game history.

**Note:** This is a logic-only component that returns `null`. It sets up keyboard event listeners via hooks.

#### Props

| Name       | Type               | Default                   | Description                                   |
| ---------- | ------------------ | ------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| `controls` | `KeyboardControls` | `defaultKeyboardControls` | Object mapping key names to handler functions |

**Default Controls:**

- `ArrowLeft` - Go to previous move
- `ArrowRight` - Go to next move
- `ArrowUp` - Go to starting position
- `ArrowDown` - Go to latest move

#### Example

```tsx
<ChessGame.Root>
  <ChessGame.KeyboardControls
    controls={{
      ArrowLeft: (ctx) => ctx.methods.goToPreviousMove(),
      ArrowRight: (ctx) => ctx.methods.goToNextMove(),
      Home: (ctx) => ctx.methods.goToStart(),
      End: (ctx) => ctx.methods.goToEnd(),
    }}
  />
  <ChessGame.Board />
</ChessGame.Root>
```

### ChessGame.Clock

Integrated chess clock components. When `timeControl` is provided to `ChessGame.Root`, these components become available to display and control the clock.

The clock automatically switches when moves are made on the board (can be disabled with `autoSwitchOnMove={false}`).

**Note:** These are wrapper components that use the clock state from `ChessGame.Root`. No need for a separate `ChessClock.Root` provider.

#### Available Components

| Component                   | Description                                  |
| --------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| `ChessGame.Clock.Display`   | Displays the current time for a player       |
| `ChessGame.Clock.Switch`    | Button to manually switch the active clock   |
| `ChessGame.Clock.PlayPause` | Button to start, pause, and resume the clock |
| `ChessGame.Clock.Reset`     | Button to reset the clock                    |

#### ChessGame.Clock.Display

Displays the current time for a player.

```tsx
<ChessGame.Clock.Display
  color="white"
  format="auto"
  style={{ fontFamily: "monospace", fontSize: "24px" }}
/>
```

**Props:**

| Name         | Type                                        | Default  | Description                        |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------- | -------- | ---------------------------------- |
| `color`      | `"white" \| "black"`                        | -        | Player color to display (required) |
| `format`     | `"auto" \| "mm:ss" \| "ss.d" \| "hh:mm:ss"` | `"auto"` | Time format                        |
| `formatTime` | `(milliseconds: number) => string`          | -        | Custom time formatting function    |
| `...`        | `HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElement>`            | -        | All standard HTML div attributes   |

#### ChessGame.Clock.Switch

A button that manually switches the active player's clock.

```tsx
<ChessGame.Clock.Switch>Switch Turn</ChessGame.Clock.Switch>
```

**Props:**

| Name      | Type                                      | Default | Description                            |
| --------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `asChild` | `boolean`                                 | `false` | Render as child element (slot pattern) |
| `...`     | `ButtonHTMLAttributes<HTMLButtonElement>` | -       | All standard HTML button attributes    |

#### ChessGame.Clock.PlayPause

A button to start, pause, and resume the clock.

```tsx
<ChessGame.Clock.PlayPause
  startContent="Start Game"
  pauseContent="Pause"
  resumeContent="Resume"
/>
```

**Props:**

| Name              | Type                                      | Default       | Description                            |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `startContent`    | `ReactNode`                               | `"Start"`     | Content shown when clock is idle       |
| `pauseContent`    | `ReactNode`                               | `"Pause"`     | Content shown when clock is running    |
| `resumeContent`   | `ReactNode`                               | `"Resume"`    | Content shown when clock is paused     |
| `delayedContent`  | `ReactNode`                               | `"Start"`     | Content shown when clock is delayed    |
| `finishedContent` | `ReactNode`                               | `"Game Over"` | Content shown when clock is finished   |
| `asChild`         | `boolean`                                 | `false`       | Render as child element (slot pattern) |
| `...`             | `ButtonHTMLAttributes<HTMLButtonElement>` | -             | All standard HTML button attributes    |

#### ChessGame.Clock.Reset

A button that resets the clock.

```tsx
// Reset with same time control
<ChessGame.Clock.Reset>Reset</ChessGame.Clock.Reset>

// Reset with new time control
<ChessGame.Clock.Reset timeControl="10+5">
  Change to 10+5
</ChessGame.Clock.Reset>
```

**Props:**

| Name          | Type                                      | Description                                   |
| ------------- | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| `timeControl` | `TimeControlInput`                        | New time control to apply on reset (optional) |
| `asChild`     | `boolean`                                 | Render as child element (slot pattern)        |
| `...`         | `ButtonHTMLAttributes<HTMLButtonElement>` | All standard HTML button attributes           |

For more details on time control formats, timing methods, and clock start modes, see the [`@react-chess-tools/react-chess-clock` documentation](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@react-chess-tools/react-chess-clock).

## Hooks

### useChessGameContext

Access the chess game context from any child component.

```tsx
import { useChessGameContext } from "@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game";

function GameStatus() {
  const { currentFen, info, methods, clock } = useChessGameContext();

  return (
    <div>
      <p>Turn: {info.turn === "w" ? "White" : "Black"}</p>
      {info.isCheck && <p>Check!</p>}
      {info.isCheckmate && <p>Checkmate!</p>}
      {clock && <p>White: {clock.times.white}ms</p>}
      <button onClick={() => methods.flipBoard()}>Flip Board</button>
    </div>
  );
}
```

#### Return Values

| Name               | Type                          | Description                           |
| ------------------ | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| `game`             | `Chess`                       | The underlying chess.js instance      |
| `orientation`      | `"w" \| "b"`                  | Current board orientation             |
| `currentFen`       | `string`                      | Current FEN string                    |
| `currentPosition`  | `string`                      | Current position in game history      |
| `currentMoveIndex` | `number`                      | Index of current move in history      |
| `isLatestMove`     | `boolean`                     | Whether viewing the latest position   |
| `methods`          | `Methods`                     | Methods to interact with the game     |
| `info`             | `Info`                        | Game state information                |
| `clock`            | `UseChessClockReturn \| null` | Clock state (if timeControl provided) |

#### Methods

| Method             | Type                                             | Description                             |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------- |
| `makeMove`         | `(move: string \| MoveObject) => boolean`        | Make a move, returns true if successful |
| `setPosition`      | `(fen: string, orientation: "w" \| "b") => void` | Set a new position                      |
| `flipBoard`        | `() => void`                                     | Flip the board orientation              |
| `goToMove`         | `(moveIndex: number) => void`                    | Jump to specific move (-1 = start)      |
| `goToStart`        | `() => void`                                     | Go to starting position                 |
| `goToEnd`          | `() => void`                                     | Go to latest move                       |
| `goToPreviousMove` | `() => void`                                     | Go to previous move                     |
| `goToNextMove`     | `() => void`                                     | Go to next move                         |

#### Info Object

| Property                 | Type         | Description                           |
| ------------------------ | ------------ | ------------------------------------- |
| `turn`                   | `"w" \| "b"` | Current turn                          |
| `isPlayerTurn`           | `boolean`    | Whether it's the player's turn        |
| `isOpponentTurn`         | `boolean`    | Whether it's the opponent's turn      |
| `moveNumber`             | `number`     | Current move number                   |
| `lastMove`               | `Move`       | Last move made                        |
| `isCheck`                | `boolean`    | Whether current player is in check    |
| `isCheckmate`            | `boolean`    | Whether it's checkmate                |
| `isDraw`                 | `boolean`    | Whether the game is a draw            |
| `isDrawn`                | `boolean`    | Alias for `isDraw`                    |
| `isStalemate`            | `boolean`    | Whether it's stalemate                |
| `isThreefoldRepetition`  | `boolean`    | Whether threefold repetition occurred |
| `isInsufficientMaterial` | `boolean`    | Whether there's insufficient material |
| `isGameOver`             | `boolean`    | Whether the game has ended            |
| `hasPlayerWon`           | `boolean`    | Whether the player has won            |
| `hasPlayerLost`          | `boolean`    | Whether the player has lost           |

## Examples

### Basic Game with All Features

```tsx
import { ChessGame } from "@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game";

function FullFeaturedGame() {
  return (
    <ChessGame.Root>
      <ChessGame.Sounds />
      <ChessGame.KeyboardControls />
      <ChessGame.Board />
    </ChessGame.Root>
  );
}
```

### Game with Chess Clock

```tsx
import { ChessGame } from "@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game";

function GameWithClock() {
  return (
    <ChessGame.Root timeControl={{ time: "5+3" }}>
      <ChessGame.Clock.Display color="white" />
      <ChessGame.Board />
      <ChessGame.Clock.Display color="black" />
      <ChessGame.Clock.PlayPause />
      <ChessGame.Clock.Reset>Reset</ChessGame.Clock.Reset>
    </ChessGame.Root>
  );
}
```

### Custom Starting Position

```tsx
import { ChessGame } from "@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game";

function CustomPosition() {
  // Sicilian Defense starting position
  const sicilianFen =
    "rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/8/2p5/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq c6 0 2";

  return (
    <ChessGame.Root fen={sicilianFen}>
      <ChessGame.Board />
    </ChessGame.Root>
  );
}
```

### Game with Move History Display

```tsx
import {
  ChessGame,
  useChessGameContext,
} from "@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game";

function MoveHistory() {
  const { game, currentMoveIndex, methods } = useChessGameContext();
  const history = game.history();

  return (
    <div className="move-history">
      {history.map((move, index) => (
        <button
          key={index}
          onClick={() => methods.goToMove(index)}
          className={index === currentMoveIndex ? "active" : ""}
        >
          {move}
        </button>
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

function GameWithHistory() {
  return (
    <ChessGame.Root>
      <ChessGame.Board />
      <MoveHistory />
      <ChessGame.KeyboardControls />
    </ChessGame.Root>
  );
}
```

### Game with Status Display

```tsx
import {
  ChessGame,
  useChessGameContext,
} from "@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game";

function GameStatus() {
  const { info } = useChessGameContext();

  if (info.isCheckmate) {
    return (
      <div className="status">
        Checkmate! {info.hasPlayerWon ? "You win!" : "You lose!"}
      </div>
    );
  }
  if (info.isDraw) {
    return <div className="status">Draw!</div>;
  }
  if (info.isCheck) {
    return <div className="status">Check!</div>;
  }
  return (
    <div className="status">Turn: {info.turn === "w" ? "White" : "Black"}</div>
  );
}

function GameWithStatus() {
  return (
    <ChessGame.Root>
      <GameStatus />
      <ChessGame.Board />
      <ChessGame.Sounds />
    </ChessGame.Root>
  );
}
```

### Using ChessClock Directly

You can also use `ChessClock` components directly alongside `ChessGame`:

```tsx
import { ChessGame, ChessClock } from "@react-chess-tools/react-chess-game";

function GameWithSeparateClock() {
  return (
    <div>
      <ChessClock.Root timeControl={{ time: "10+0" }}>
        <ChessClock.Display color="white" />
        <ChessClock.Display color="black" />
        <ChessClock.PlayPause />
      </ChessClock.Root>

      <ChessGame.Root>
        <ChessGame.Board />
      </ChessGame.Root>
    </div>
  );
}
```

## License

This project is [MIT](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT) licensed.

## Show Your Support

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