Did you know you can play chess in Facebook Messenger?

Despite having spent an unsociable number of hours on the social network, we had no idea it could do this.

Open a conversation in Facebook Messenger and write "@fbchess play".

The following box should appear.

Look! It's a little chess board in your Messenger conversation! Neat!

However, you'll need a good deal of patience and an understanding of chess notation if you and a friend are going to complete a full game.

By entering "@fbchess help" you'll be presented with the following hint sheet:

• Start game with random colors: @fbchess play
• Pick the colors: @fbchess play white/black
• Pick the opponent: @fbchess play white John
• Make a move: use Standard Algebraic Notation:
  @fbchess e4 or @fbchess Pe4 moves pawn to e4
  Nbd2 to move knight from b-file to d2
  B2xc5 to take on c5 with 2nd rank bishop
  e8=Q to promote pawn to queen
  0-0-0 or O-O to castle
• Claim draw (e.g. 3-fold repetition): @fbchess draw claim
• Offer a draw in the current position: @fbchess draw offer
• Offer an undo of the last move: @fbchess undo
• Resign: @fbchess resign
• Show current position: @fbchess show
• Show stats between current players: @fbchess stats
• Continue a game from another conversation: @fbchess continue
• From 1:1 conversation, @fbchess continue with [friend]
• From group chat, @fbchess continue from [thread name]

Got that? Good.

First noticed on Reddit by jargonaughtm, it's not known how long the function has been hiding away in Facebook's Messenger function - nor what other turn-based games might be waiting to be discovered.

Anyone for a game of @fbbattleships? Or @fbdarts?

Make it happen, Zuckerberg.