Steven Adams Joins Chess.com as Its Tallest-Ever Chess Bot
Think your chess skills are strong enough to outplay an NBA star? Houston Rockets center Steven Adams has made his move onto Chess.com as a playable chess bot, giving fans a chance to challenge the towering New Zealand basketball player across the board. With a listed rating of 1500, Adams offers an entertaining test for players looking to see whether they can claim a victory over one of the NBA’s most recognizable big men.
Known for his strength and imposing presence on the basketball court, Adams now brings that larger-than-life profile to online chess. At 6 feet 11 inches tall, he is being billed as Chess.com’s tallest-ever bot. Of course, height does not determine how a player handles a knight fork or protects a vulnerable king—but it does make the matchup especially memorable. For chess fans and basketball followers alike, the bot creates a playful crossover between two games built around strategy, timing, and reading an opponent.
How to Play Chess Against Steven Adams
Players can visit Adams’ page on Chess.com and start a game against his bot. The 1500 rating makes the challenge accessible to a broad range of chess enthusiasts: newer players can use the game to practice calculation and improve their decision-making, while more experienced competitors can test their opening preparation and tactical awareness.
A rating is a useful guide, but it is not a guarantee of how any individual game will unfold. A single blunder can change a position in seconds, and even a well-planned attack can fail if a player overlooks a defensive resource. That uncertainty is part of the fun. Whether you are trying to win quickly, survive a difficult middlegame, or simply enjoy an unusual opponent, Adams’ bot offers a fresh reason to return to the chessboard.
Before starting, players may want to choose an opening they understand rather than reaching for an unfamiliar line. Developing pieces, controlling the center, and keeping the king safe remain reliable priorities at every level. Against a bot rated around 1500, careful tactics can matter just as much as memorized theory. A missed fork, an undefended piece, or a poorly timed pawn push could decide the game.
A Basketball Star with a Longstanding Interest in Chess
Adams’ appearance on Chess.com is not a random detour from basketball. He has been a chess fan for years, and his interest has surfaced publicly at several points. In March 2026, he took part as a featured speaker at the 20th annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, an event that brings together people interested in data, technology, and innovation in sports.
During the conference, Adams visited Chess.com’s dedicated space and met members of the Chessbrahs, the popular chess content and streaming group. He also had an opportunity to meet an international master. The visit connected two communities that share an appreciation for preparation and strategic thinking. Basketball players study opponents, recognize patterns, and make decisions under pressure; chess players do much the same, though their contests unfold on 64 squares rather than a full-sized court.
That overlap helps explain why chess has attracted athletes across a range of sports. The game rewards patience, concentration, and the ability to anticipate what an opponent might do next. Those qualities are valuable in competition, where a player must often respond quickly while keeping a larger plan in mind.
Adams’ Chess Trash Talk Goes Back to the NBA Bubble
Adams’ chess personality was also on display in the summer of 2020. Ahead of the NBA’s restart in the Orlando bubble, following the pandemic lockdown, he shared a series of chess screenshots and playful, trash-talking posts on social media. The messages were aimed at fellow NBA players and the league, turning chess into part of the conversation around the unusual season.
The posts offered a glimpse of Adams’ sense of humor and showed how chess could become a lighthearted way for players to compete away from the court. Rather than relying on physical matchups, the challenge shifted to reading positions, spotting threats, and making the right move. The new Chess.com bot gives fans a chance to join that rivalry—without needing an NBA contract or a place inside the bubble.
A Timely Challenge Ahead of the Rockets’ Season
The launch of Adams’ chess bot arrives just as the Houston Rockets prepare for the start of their 2026–27 NBA regular season. Houston is scheduled to open against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, October 21, giving fans an extra way to engage with the team and one of its standout players before the season gets underway.
For supporters, the timing creates a natural pregame challenge: can you beat Adams at chess before he and the Rockets take the court? The matchup is a fun alternative to the usual season previews and player statistics, and it gives fans a chance to interact with the center through a game that reflects his interests outside basketball.
Can You Beat the NBA’s Tallest Chess Bot?
Whether you are a dedicated chess player, a casual fan, or simply curious about the crossover between basketball and board games, Adams’ Chess.com bot is an invitation to test your skills. A 1500-rated opponent can punish careless moves, so take your time, watch for tactical threats, and make sure every piece has a purpose.
Then make your move. Visit Steven Adams’ page on Chess.com, start a game, and see if your strategy can overcome the NBA star’s virtual opponent. You may not be able to dunk over the 6-foot-11 center on a basketball court—but on the chessboard, the result is up to you.
