# ♟️ Chess Game — Real-Time Multiplayer

Live Now: [https://chessgame-by-23neurobytes.onrender.com](https://chessgame-by-23neurobytes.onrender.com)

A real-time, multiplayer chess game built with **Node.js**, **Express**, **Socket.IO**, and **chess.js**, featuring a modern drag-and-drop chessboard UI, automatic board flipping, move history tracking, and spectator support.

## 🚀 Features

- 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Real-time multiplayer gameplay (2 players + unlimited spectators)
- 🖱️ Intuitive drag-and-drop chessboard
- 🕰️ Move history with algebraic notation, piece names, and timestamps
- 🔁 Board auto-flips for black player
- ❌ Invalid move detection and prevention
- 📱 Responsive design for desktop and mobile

## 🛠️ Tech Stack

- [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/) — Backend runtime
- [Express](https://expressjs.com/) — Server framework
- [Socket.IO](https://socket.io/) — WebSockets for live interaction
- [chess.js](https://github.com/jhlywa/chess.js) — Game rules engine
- [EJS](https://ejs.co/) — Templating for frontend rendering
- Vanilla HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

## 🌐 Live Deployment

This app is publicly hosted at:

🔗 [https://chessgame-by-23neurobytes.onrender.com](https://chessgame-by-23neurobytes.onrender.com)

Feel free to challenge a friend or just spectate a match!

## 📦 Getting Started Locally

### Prerequisites

- Node.js v14 or higher

### Installation

```bash
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/your-username/chess-game.git
cd chess-game

# Install dependencies
npm install