CheckMateX

A real-time multiplayer chess application built using React, Node.js, and Socket.IO. The platform enables synchronized gameplay through private rooms, configurable timers, and AI-based practice powered by Socketfish.

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Overview

CheckMateX is designed to deliver a low-latency, real-time chess experience over the web. It supports both multiplayer gameplay and AI-based practice. The system ensures consistent game state synchronization across all connected clients using WebSocket-based communication.

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Features

• Real-time multiplayer gameplay using Socket.IO
• Private room creation and joining via secure PIN
• AI-based practice using Socketfish integration
• Configurable timers for competitive matches
• Multiple chessboard themes
• Server-side move validation and game state management
• Scalable and modular architecture

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Tech Stack

Frontend

• React (Vite)
• Tailwind CSS
• Socket.IO Client
• JavaScript (ES6+)

Backend

• Node.js
• Express.js
• Socket.IO

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Project Structure

checkmatex/
├── public/
│   └── logo.png
│
├── server/
│   ├── config/
│   │   └── socket.js
│   │
│   ├── controllers/
│   │   ├── gameController.js
│   │   └── roomController.js
│   │
│   ├── services/
│   │   ├── chessAiService.js
│   │   ├── chessService.js
│   │   ├── roomService.js
│   │   └── timerService.js
│   │
│   ├── sockets/
│   │   ├── game.socket.js
│   │   ├── room.socket.js
│   │   ├── timer.socket.js
│   │   └── index.js
│   │
│   ├── utils/
│   │   ├── constants.js
│   │   ├── generatePin.js
│   │   ├── logger.js
│   │   └── validateMove.js
│   │
│   ├── app.js
│   ├── server.js
│   ├── index.js
│   ├── .env
│   ├── package.json
│   └── package-lock.json
│
├── src/
│   ├── components/
│   │   ├── ChessBoard/
│   │   │   ├── ChessBoard.jsx
│   │   │   ├── BoardTheme.css
│   │   │   └── index.jsx
│   │   │
│   │   ├── Controls/
│   │   │   ├── ThemeSelector.jsx
│   │   │   └── TimeSelector.jsx
│   │   │
│   │   ├── Room/
│   │   ├── Timer/
│   │   │   └── Timer.jsx
│   │   │
│   │   └── UI/
│   │       └── LoadingOverlay.jsx
│   │
│   ├── pages/
│   │   ├── Game.jsx
│   │   ├── Home.jsx
│   │   └── NotFound.jsx
│   │
│   ├── socket/
│   │   └── socket.js
│   │
│   ├── store/
│   │   ├── gameStore.js
│   │   ├── roomStore.js
│   │   └── timerStore.js
│   │
│   ├── utils/
│   │   ├── chessConfig.js
│   │   └── constants.js
│   │
│   ├── App.jsx
│   ├── App.css
│   ├── index.css
│   └── main.jsx
│
├── index.html
├── README.md
├── .gitignore
├── eslint.config.js
├── vite.config.js
├── postcss.config.js
├── tailwind.config.js
├── package.json
└── package-lock.json

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Architecture Overview

The application follows a modular client-server architecture:

• The frontend manages UI rendering, user interactions, and socket communication.
• The backend is responsible for room management, move validation, timer synchronization, and AI computation.
• Socket.IO enables bidirectional communication for real-time updates.
• The system is divided into controllers, services, and socket layers to maintain separation of concerns.
• AI-based gameplay is handled via chessAiService.js, integrating Socketfish for move generation.

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Installation

Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/your-username/checkmatex.git
cd checkmatex

Install Dependencies

Frontend:

npm install

Backend:

cd server
npm install

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Running the Application

Start Backend Server

cd server
npm start

Start Frontend Development Server

npm run dev

Application URL:

http://localhost:5173

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Environment Variables

Create a .env file inside the server directory:

PORT=5000
CLIENT_URL=http://localhost:5173

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Future Enhancements

• Spectator mode
• Match history with PGN export
• User authentication and player profiles
• Online matchmaking system
• Deployment and scalability improvements

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Author

Manish Kumar Sah B.Tech Computer Science and Engineering Lovely Professional University

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

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