MChess — Real-Time Multiplayer Chess
Overview
An online chess platform where players create games and compete in real time. Game state is owned entirely by the server: the Go backend validates every move, manages sessions, and broadcasts updates to both connected clients over WebSockets.
Challenge
Real-time multiplayer requires sub-second state synchronization, authoritative move validation to prevent cheating or race conditions, and graceful handling of disconnects and reconnects — all while keeping the client interface responsive regardless of network conditions.
Solution
Implemented a WebSocket server in Go that acts as the single source of truth for game state. Move validation runs server-side before any broadcast, eliminating the possibility of illegal moves or conflicting state. The React frontend applies updates immediately on receipt and handles connection drops with automatic reconnection and state resync from the server.