Chess Betting: Best Sites, Odds, and Information

Chess is a timeless and globally celebrated game, offering fans an exciting dimension through betting. This expert guide meticulously selects the finest chess betting sites for those eager to engage with the game. We break down the best chess bookmakers, ensuring you’re well-equipped to get in on the action.

Written by: Luke Andrews

Updated on: 04.12.2024

Top 5 Chess Betting Sites

• 🥇 10bet ✪ Best Chess Betting Site
• 🥈 Ladbrokes ✪ Strong Odds Levels
• 🥉 BetTarget ✪ Large Welcome Bonus
• ⭐ bet365 ✪ Unique Betting Options
• ⭐ William Hill ✪ Unique Extra Features

As you can see, there are a wide variety of online chess bookies for you to sink your teeth into. Each has its own particular strengths. So, compare betting odds and choose the site that best fits your chess gambling needs. Have a look at below at our summary of top chess betting sites by category:

Whether you are a grandmaster or new to the game, our selection of online chess betting platforms has something for everyone. These recommended sites are just a starting point, as there are many more bookmakers that offer chess odds. For a comprehensive look and detailed reviews, make sure to explore our best UK betting sites.

As the leading grandmasters meet around the world and compete, you can wager on who you think will come out on top. We’ll help you optimise your online chess betting and get the best value from your wagers. No matter the level you play at yourself, it can be a fun way to get more from the game .

The Latest Chess Odds

Here are the latest odds for the FIDE World Chess Championship. The match takes place over fourteen games and is then decided, if necessary, via tiebreak. The reigning champion usually begins as a favourite in these title matches, and it is up to the challenger to raise their game to take the crown.

Betting on the favourite will give you the greatest chance of winning but of course the payout will be significantly less. The odds on all online chess betting sites should be broadly similar. That said, you may be able to get some extra value if you shop around – so don’t limit yourself to just one betting account.

Possible Bets

There aren’t many varieties of chess betting that you can do, which makes it similar to White Christmas betting as they both lack a lot of proposition markets – nothing in comparison to online football betting.

Some of our top five chess bookies may offer added markets during the biggest events, but you will likely have just a few options when you have a chess bet online.

Betting Outright on Chess

Gambling on the outright winner of a match or tournament is the most common way to gamble on chess. Bookies will offer a two-way market for most chess matches, as a tiebreaker is usually used in the event of a draw. Tournaments generally takes place in a round robin format, with the alternative being the Swiss system which is suited for larger field events.

Betting on the Final Score

The World Championship and other leading events always take place over a series of games. For the biggest tournaments, you can bet on the final score of the match. Remember though, chess games can end in a draw, awarding half a point per player. So bear that in mind when you make your score selections.

Betting on Magnus Carlsen Against the Field

Norway’s Magnus Carlsen is universally viewed as the most complete chess player in the world and very difficult to beat. Some bookies give you a simple and straightforward choice – back Magnus or bet against him. This bet enables you to support every other player in the tournament to win instead of Carlsen.

Chess Betting Bonuses

It is unlikely that any bookmaker will offer a specific online chess betting bonus. However, check back during the big events as there may be enhanced odds or specials available. Our featured new customer bonus below is easy to claim and will give a great boost.

Getting the best value for your bets is important for any punter. Using a bonus will ensure you make the most of your online chess bets. Have a peek at our list of top online bookmaker bonuses to find one which fits your needs.

Chess Betting Tips

Diving into the world of online chess betting? Our expertly crafted tips will guide you through making informed decisions, ensuring you’ve looked at every angle before placing a bet. With a plethora of resources available for gathering insights and expert opinions on upcoming chess matches, it’s essential to be well-researched in the dynamic arena of chess gambling.

• Make sure to bet using one of our best chess betting sites.
• Consider a player’s ELO ranking. High ELO points indicate strong performance, making it a valuable metric for predicting match outcomes.
• Study player histories and head-to-head records.
• Take note of the format of the event and which players that will favour.
• Follow the matches live to analyse moves and positions.
• Get the opinions of chess experts to see who they are tipping.
• Will you back Magnus Carlsen or bet against him?

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when gambling on chess. Perhaps surprisingly, you can be a successful chess bettor even if you aren’t an expert at the game. When you do bet on chess, general betting knowledge and smarts are just as important as being a skilled player yourself.

The Rules of Chess

Chess is a strategic two-player game where each player starts with 16 pieces: king, queen, rooks, knights, bishops, and pawns. The aim is to checkmate the opponent’s king. Each piece moves in specific ways, with the queen being the most versatile. Special moves include castling and pawn promotion.

The game can end in checkmate, stalemate, or resignation. While simple to understand, chess’s depth and strategic complexity make it one of the most popular and enduring board games worldwide – and an equally thrilling spectacle to place bets on.

Popular Chess Tournaments to Bet On

For UK chess enthusiasts looking to add excitement to their tournament viewing, the world of chess betting opens a fascinating avenue. Major tournaments like the World Chess Championship and Candidates Tournament not only showcase the pinnacle of chess talent but also offer unique betting opportunities.

These tournaments, featuring the globe’s top players and a variety of formats from classical to rapid and blitz, provide a rich tapestry for those interested in the strategic aspect of betting on chess outcomes. Here’s a brief overview of the most popular tournaments UK players can bet on:

World Chess Championship

This hallmark event determines the world champion and follows a 14-game match format. You can place bets on the outright winner, match winners, and various aspects of the games themselves, such as the number of moves or specific opening strategies​.

Candidates Tournament

This takes place in Toronto, Canada, and is critical as it determines who will challenge the reigning World Chess Champion. The tournament features top players like Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Alireza Firouzja, among others.

Grand Chess Tour

The Grand Chess Tour 2023 featured a series of chess tournaments with a total prize pool of $1.4 million. It typically includes two classical tournaments and three rapid & blitz tournaments.

Chess Olympiad

The Chess Olympiad is a biennial international chess tournament where teams from around the world compete. The competition format involves teams of up to five players, with recent editions adopting the Swiss system and scoring based on match points.

British Open Championship

Organised by the English Chess Federation and includes various categories, such as the main British Championship, the English Chess Championships, and the British Women’s Chess Championship. Restricted to just British and Irish players.

Norway Chess

Norway Chess is an elite annual chess tournament held in Stavanger, Norway. The format includes both blitz and classical games, with unique scoring systems to determine the winner.

Final Thoughts

Online chess betting offers unique entertainment for sports fans, allowing fans to wager on exciting tournaments, including the World Championship. If you’re looking for more beyond sports, there’s our entire novelty betting guide which features diverse betting options like TV shows and awards. Explore all UK betting sites for even more choice.

FAQs

We trust that you found our chess betting guide to be informative. Below are some of the frequently asked questions related to gambling on chess. These answers respond to the most common questions about online chess betting and will give you clarity on regular queries from our users that you might share.

What are the best chess betting sites?

Chess isn’t offered by every bookmaker, but we have done the research to present to you our top online chess bookmakers. We recommend you visit those first as they are likely to offer the largest range of markets for gambling on chess.

Can you bet on chess?

Chess betting is widely available and you can bet on all of the biggest chess events. Check out some of the most common types of chess betting in our dedicated section above.

What are the latest chess odds?

Take a look at our chess odds section to see which bookmakers are offering most competitive odds. And remember, odds can fluctuate, so keep track of market movements before you bet.

Are there any bonuses for betting on chess?

All of our five recommended chess betting sites offer top quality sign up bonuses and promotions. You could also find selected chess specials and offers with other bookie that cover the game

What chess tournaments can I bet on?

You can bet on a wide range of chess tournaments, including major international competitions like the World Chess Championship, the Chess Olympiad, and various Grandmaster tournaments. Additionally, online platforms may offer betting on national championships and rapid, blitz, and classical chess events.

References

• Chess.com, 2024. 2024 FIDE Chess World Championship. [online] Available at: https://www.chess.com/events/2024-fide-chess-world-championship [3rd April 24].
• Wikipedia, 2024. Chess Olympiad. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_Olympiad [3rd April 24].
• Wikipedia, 2024. British Chess Championship. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Chess_Championship [3rd April 24].
• World Chess, 2024. [online] Available at: https://worldchess.com/ [3rd April 24].