Debate Court

About Debate Court

Debate Court is a debate game you play against AI. Pick a Claim and a side — one from Science, Philosophy or Politics, a random draw, or the Claim of the Week taken from the news — choose your opponent, and argue it out in four timed turns: an opening each, then a rebuttal each, with PRO always speaking first.

Three opponents sit across the room, each in their own voice. Sam Quibble is eager and argues from anecdote; Mei Point is sharp, quick and goes after your argument hard; Max Rebuttal will build your case better than you did, then take it apart.

Then Judge Honoria deliberates. She does not know which side is human or which opponent you picked, and she scores both debaters on logic, evidence, rebuttal quality and rhetoric. Every factual claim either side makes is checked with web search, and a false or misleading one costs evidence points. Her verdict quotes the sentence that did most for you, the one that cost you most, and one thing to do next time.

Free in your browser on a phone or a desktop, with nothing to install and no account needed to play. Rather watch? Pick two AI debaters and a Claim and let them argue it out.

How to play

1. Pick a Claim and a side, PRO or CON, then choose Sam, Mei or Max as your opponent.
2. Press My turn to start your clock and type your case: 60 seconds and 1,200 characters for an opening, 30 seconds and 600 for a rebuttal.
3. When the clock runs out your text is sent as it stands; End turn sends it early, and an empty box forfeits the turn.
4. Your opponent's turns are not on a clock — read or listen, then press My turn when you are ready.
5. Hear the verdict: four criteria, ten points each, and the higher total wins. You bank your total plus 10 for a win, weighted ×0.5 against Sam, ×1 against Mei and ×1.5 against Max.

Controls

On a computer

Type in the box; End turn or Ctrl+Enter (⌘+Enter on a Mac) sends it early. Esc pauses your clock.

On a phone

Type in the box and tap End turn to send it early. Your clock runs 1.5× longer, because thumbs type slower than keyboards.

Leaderboard

Sign in with a free zapjam account and every debate you finish banks points on the leaderboard — all time and this week, filterable by category and Claim, with your own rank on it. Challenge a friend to beat you, and bring the debates you played as a guest on this browser with you when you sign in. Playing never needs an account.