Chess.com unveils Gambit poker platform: what players can expect

Chess.com enters the poker market with its new project Gambit, offering training and safe play to millions of users. Find out more about the launch and what it means for players.

In June 2024, the popular chess platform Chess.com announced the launch of its own poker project, Gambit. This new service is focused on teaching poker and is designed for the millions of Chess.com users who want to learn the game without the risk of losing money. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what Gambit offers, the connection between chess and poker, and what this launch could mean for PPPoker club players. Gambit — a new poker project from Chess.com Chess.com, the world’s largest online chess platform, has introduced Gambit, a free poker app. It’s available on desktop as well as on iOS and Android mobile devices. Gambit features an interface and graphics inspired by Chess.com, making the transition seamless and comfortable for existing users. Gambit lets you play poker against bots, friends, or other users online. The app includes tutorial modes: beginners can go through step-by-step lessons on poker fundamentals, explore poker strategy, and track their own statistics. Importantly, Gambit has no real-money betting, no in-app purchases, and no rake — the project is designed purely for learning and entertainment. As Chess.com’s Director of Development Albert Cheng noted, the goal of Gambit is to make poker accessible to anyone who wants to learn, without putting their own money at risk. According to him, the project is built on the same principles that made Chess.com a success: a focus on education, community building, and fair play. Gambit features and game formats In Gambit, users can choose between cash games and tournaments. Cash games are the classic format, where players join tables with virtual chips and can leave at any time. For those who prefer a competitive environment, several types of tournaments are available: Speedrun Events — tournaments with fast-rising blinds (every five minutes), making the action fast-paced and intense. Gambit Cup — regular cup events where you can test your skills against other players on the platform. The app features “Player of the Month” leaderboards showcasing top performers, as well as published results for all tournaments and the names of current champions. This adds extra motivation for users to keep improving their skills. The connection between chess and poker Chess and poker are two mind sports often compared for their similarities in strategic thinking and decision-making. Many well-known chess professionals have found success in poker, and vice versa. One of the most successful poker players, Michael Addamo, told PokerNews that he first became interested in poker thanks to chess. Renowned poker pro Mike “Timex” McDonald, after retiring from poker, took up chess seriously and achieved notable results. Grandmaster and author Jen Shahade has built a successful career as a PokerStars pro, while popular chess streamer Alexandra Botez regularly competes in poker tournaments around the world. Even Magnus Carlsen, widely regarded as the greatest chess player of all time, has tried his hand at poker on several occasions. In an interview with PokerNews during the 2023 European Poker Tour in Monte Carlo, Carlsen noted that the similarities between chess and poker run much deeper than most people think. In his view, even though all information is open in chess, players still have to make decisions based on incomplete calculations, which brings the two games closer together. Poker education and community development One of Gambit’s key features is its educational approach. Users can not only play, but also take structured strategy lessons — especially valuable for beginners. This format lowers the barrier to entry and helps foster a healthy community where the main goal is skill development, not gambling. Chess.com is leveraging the same features that made it successful in chess: leaderboards, regular tournaments, a transparent achievement system, and a strong focus on learning. This could spark greater interest in poker among Chess.com’s millions of users worldwide. Famous names and poker achievements Among the notable figures who have built careers in both games are Michael Addamo, Mike “Timex” McDonald, Jen Shahade, Alexandra Botez, and Magnus Carlsen. Their experiences show that skills developed in chess often translate to success in poker. For example, Jen Shahade became a PokerStars pro, and Alexandra Botez is a regular at major poker series. Magnus Carlsen, the world chess champion, is also interested in poker and often shares his perspective on the overlap between these two intellectual pursuits. What this means for PPPoker club players The launch of Gambit by Chess.com is a significant development for the entire poker community, including PPPoker club players. First, it highlights the growing interest in educational and free poker platforms that focus on skill-building rather than gambling. This could inspire PPPoker clubs to place more emphasis on training events, internal tournaments, and community growth. Second, Gambit’s arrival may attract new players from the chess world to poker, expanding the player base and raising the overall level of competition. For PPPoker club members, this is an opportunity to experience a new style of play and learn best practices from chess players known for their strategic thinking. Finally, Chess.com’s experience shows that combining gamification, leaderboards, and regular events leads to long-term player engagement. PPPoker clubs would do well to adopt these features to boost activity and retain their members.