Online multiplayer browser-based game server technology?
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I would like to build a simple cross-browser multiplayer game (like chess or a card game) which will communicate to a server using sockets. 

I have some intermediate knowledge of Ruby language, but I'm not so convinced that it is a good solution for a multi-client server, so a thought that Node.js or Socket.io might be a better one. I know that Java or C++ could be great for the job, but I am not too comfortable with none of them, so that is the reason that I'm levitating towards Server-side JavaScript.

My question is, what do you think is the best solution for a project like this one? What might be the best server-side technology on which I will build an entire game and communication logic? Maybe some combination of them? Any comment regarding speed, server load, hosting solutions and development speed for each of the technologies will be greatly appreciated.