Desktop Chess Gadget

Desktop Chess Gadget is a small desktop widget that enables you to play chess with the computer whenever you want to take a break from work. It doesn't contain customization preferences, so it can be used even by individuals with little or no experience in software apps.

The interface is based on a small frame that you can move to any position on the screen with the help of the mouse cursor. Clicking it brings up a larger screen with a chess board, and the game starts.

You can assign the computer as white or black, and even switch to computer vs. computer mode. In order to move a chess piece, you have to click it (highlight in red) and choose a new position.

Plus, you can promote pieces to Queen, Knight, Bishop, or Rook. Game log details are shown on the bottom part of the screen. Thanks to the Windows built-in options, you can adjust the frame's opacity and make it stay on top of other windows.

The small widget does not put a strain on system resources, since it uses a very low amount of CPU and RAM. It has a good response time and works smoothly, without causing the OS to hang, crash or pop up error dialogs; we have not encountered any issues in our tests. Desktop Chess Gadget is a nice addition to any chess fan.