Privacy Policy

Last Updated: January 10, 2026

Introduction

Welcome to Chess Blitz. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we handle data. This privacy policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data.

Chess Blitz is a free online chess game that allows you to play against AI opponents or other players online. We designed our service with privacy in mind, using anonymous guest sessions that require no registration or personal information.

Information We Collect

Automatically Generated Data

When you use Chess Blitz, we automatically generate:

  • Anonymous Session ID: A random identifier (UUID) that is not linked to your real identity. This allows us to maintain your game session.
  • Display Name: An auto-generated name (e.g., "Guest_abc123") used to identify you in multiplayer games. You do not provide this yourself.
  • ELO Ratings: Skill ratings for each game mode (Bullet, Blitz, Rapid, Classical) that are calculated based on your game results.

Game Data

  • Game Statistics: Win/loss/draw records stored locally in your browser.
  • Game Moves: During multiplayer games, your moves are transmitted to our game servers. We do not permanently store game history.

User Preferences

Settings you configure are stored locally in your browser:

  • Board theme (Wood, Green, Blue, Midnight)
  • Sound settings
  • Animation speed
  • Move confirmation preferences
  • Language preference (stored as a cookie)

How We Store Your Data

Browser Storage

We use your browser's local storage to save:

  • chess-blitz-auth - Your anonymous session token and ELO ratings
  • chess-blitz-settings - Your game preferences
  • chess-blitz-multiplayer - Temporary game reconnection data

Cookies

We use a single cookie:

  • NEXT_LOCALE - Stores your language preference

Session Duration

  • Session tokens expire after 7 days of inactivity
  • Settings persist until you clear your browser data
  • You can reset all data at any time by clearing your browser's local storage

Third-Party Services

MSN Start Games Platform

When Chess Blitz is accessed through the MSN Start Games platform, additional features may be available:

  • Advertisements: Display ads, interstitial ads, and rewarded ads may be shown. Ad delivery is handled by the MSN platform.
  • Leaderboards: Your scores may be submitted to platform leaderboards.
  • Cloud Saves: Game state may be saved to the platform's cloud storage.
  • Platform Data: The MSN platform may collect additional usage data according to their own privacy policy.

When accessing Chess Blitz directly (not through MSN), these platform features are not active and no data is shared with MSN.

Game Backend Service

Our multiplayer functionality is powered by a backend service that:

  • Handles matchmaking between players
  • Transmits game moves in real-time via WebSocket connections
  • Calculates and updates ELO ratings after games
  • Does not permanently store game history or move records

Hosting Provider

Chess Blitz is hosted on Cloudflare, which may collect standard server logs for security and performance purposes. These logs may include IP addresses and are handled according to Cloudflare's privacy policy.

Information We Do NOT Collect

Chess Blitz does not collect:

  • Real names or email addresses
  • Payment or billing information
  • Precise geolocation data
  • Device identifiers or fingerprints
  • Browsing history outside of our application
  • Contact lists or social media data

We do not use analytics services such as Google Analytics, and we do not track users across websites.

Children's Privacy

Chess Blitz is designed to be accessible to players of all ages. Because we use anonymous guest sessions and do not collect personal information, there is no special data collection from children. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone.

Data Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or rent your data to third parties. Data may only be shared in the following limited circumstances:

  • Multiplayer Games: Your anonymous display name and moves are shared with your opponent during games.
  • MSN Platform: When accessed through MSN Start Games, data may be shared with Microsoft according to their policies.
  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights.

Your Rights and Choices

You have control over your data:

  • Clear Data: Clear your browser's local storage to reset all Chess Blitz data, including your session and settings.
  • Change Settings: Modify your preferences at any time through the settings menu.
  • Cookies: Your browser settings allow you to manage or delete cookies.
  • No Account: Since there are no user accounts, there is nothing to delete or deactivate.

Security

We take reasonable measures to protect data transmitted through our service. Connections to our game servers use secure WebSocket connections. However, because we primarily use client-side storage and anonymous sessions, the security of your data also depends on your browser and device security.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

contact@zoony.io