Chess.com launched a poker site and is planning even more classic games
Chess.com, the dominant platform for online chess over the past two decades, is expanding beyond its core offering. The platform quietly launched Gambit, a free online poker site, in beta in May 2026. Gambit focuses on learning and social play without requiring real money wagering, differentiating it from traditional poker platforms.
The expansion marks a significant strategic shift for Chess.com. According to chief growth officer Albert Cheng, the development leveraged AI to keep the initial team small—just two people—while building a full-featured poker platform. Gambit is now scaling beyond its beta phase, with plans for livestreamed events and partnerships with gaming content creators to build its community.
This move into poker is positioned as the first step in a broader diversification strategy. Chess.com has indicated plans to launch additional classic games beyond chess and poker, leveraging the platform’s established player base and technical infrastructure. The expansion represents a shift in company strategy from singular focus to becoming a multi-game entertainment platform, though specific details about future titles remain unclear.