The Best Chess Apps for iPhone
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Chess has been around for hundreds of years and isn't going away anytime soon. Although the game may not be as popular as it once was, it remains quite addictive and enjoyable to play.
The best part about chess is that it's easy to learn but incredibly hard to master. Even the best grandmasters in the world spend their whole lives playing and studying chess, and still don't know everything there is to know about the game.
Of course, we don't say that to discourage you; there's no need to spend your entire life learning about chess before you can actually get better at the game. However, you will need the right resources to learn from the best players and platforms in the world.
The good news is that we have technology on our side. Nowadays, you can play and learn about chess with nothing but your iPhone.
To help you get started, we've gathered some powerful apps that will teach you everything you need to know about chess. Whether you're a beginner or you already know how to play the game, these apps will surely teach you something new.
Read on for 7 of the best chess apps for your iPhone.
Chess - Play & Learn
When it comes to online platforms for learning chess, Chess.com's app is one of the best options available. Thanks to this app, chess has become more accessible than ever.
What's great about the app is that both new and experienced players use it. After you create an account, you can start playing against people at the same level as you. When you finish a game, you'll have the chance to review it with the platform's engine, which'll tell you the good moves you played, as well as the blunders you made.
Besides games, the Chess app also has thousands of different chess puzzles that will help you learn more about pattern recognition and think outside the box to discover new moves you didn't even know were possible.
Of course, if you need a little bit more help, there are also courses for beginners that will take you from the most basic moves to some more advanced tactics.
Lichess • Online Chess
As we mentioned, the Chess.com app is one of the best platforms available, but Lichess is probably just as good, if not better in some ways.
The only downside of the Lichess app and website is that they're not as user-friendly as other options on the list. With that said, once you get the hang of it, you'll navigate Lichess without any issues.
What makes this app stand out is that it offers everything other chess platforms have, but without any of the costs. That's right, you can use the app and all of its features for free. While other apps lock things like chess puzzles and their engines behind a paywall, Lichess lets you access everything from the get-go.
That's because Lichess is also a non-profit organization, and as such, it operates solely on the donations of chess enthusiasts worldwide. You can also donate to the platform once or set a monthly donation if you want.
If you don't care about any of that, you'll also find thousands of players of many different levels you can play with. There are also more experienced players who create free courses for you to learn new openings or traps you can use against your opponents.
Chess for Kids - Play & Learn
Just like many other sports, children who start learning chess at a young age are more likely to become skilled players as they grow older. And if you want your kids to learn the right way, you can get started with an app like Chess for Kids.
The Chess for Kids app offers various ways for kids to learn chess. You'll find many different puzzles and resources to let your kids become experts in no time.
There are also online tournaments, allowing them to play against other kids who are also getting started. Of course, if they don't feel ready to play against a real person, they can always challenge the bots in the app. They have many different levels and will be as easy or as tough as you want them to be.
When they're ready to get more serious, the app also features over 1,000 videos created by real chess masters, which will teach them everything from tactics to openings.
Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf
Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf is a unique app that serves as the perfect guide if you're just starting out.
This app will turn your iPhone into a personal coach. With it, you can learn all the basics you need to know to get started. For instance, you'll learn more about the pieces, how they move, and which ones are more important.
Once you get that covered, the app will help you learn more advanced strategies to help you win your first games.
With the app, you'll be able to play against bots and then review and learn from your mistakes instantly.
Take Take Take - Follow Chess
Take Take Take will help you stay on top of the chess world in a very different way. Instead of just learning how to play, you'll be able to learn more about the chess scene and follow your favorite chess masters in real time.
With this app, you'll get news about big chess events, as well as recaps and highlights in case you missed some of the top games. Of course, the app also offers live coverage in multiple languages of major events currently taking place.
Take Take Take will also provide some daily trivia about the chess world that's hard to find anywhere else.
Granted, this app might not help you practice your plays, but you will still learn more about chess in a different way.
Magnus Trainer - Train Chess
In case you haven't heard of him, Magnus Carlsen is one of the best chess players in the history of the game. He's been a world chess champion five times, and he's the highest-rated player in many different categories.
While trying to become as good as Magnus might be a tough challenge. Using the app Magnus Trainer might help you improve your chess in ways you never thought possible. With this app, you'll find over 250 lessons that will help you learn anything from basic chess moves to more advanced tactics.
The app also features many different games specially created to help you improve your chess while having fun.
The Magnus Trainer app also features some of the most famous games from Magnus and lessons to help you understand what his thought process was and how you can improve as well.
The app is great if you want to learn on your own, but if you have friends who are also interested in chess, you can use the app to track your progress and see how well your friends and other online users are doing.
YouTube
Whether you want to learn how to play chess or become a better cook, you know YouTube has all the answers for you.
If you're looking for free courses to take, this is the right place to get started. YouTube is filled with numerous courses and videos that teach you everything about chess. From specific openings to traps you should avoid, and even tactics you didn't know existed.
Of course, not every YouTuber will be right for you, but by checking the comment section, you can see what other users think of that person's teaching style and if it's worth it for you or not.
Become a Better Chess Player on the Go
As you can see, improving your chess game is no longer as challenging as it once was. Nowadays, all you need is your iPhone and the right app for the job.
Luckily, there are many apps that will do a great job of helping improve your chess skills.
The best part is that all of these apps are available for free. You can start playing chess online without spending a dime. And if you want to spend some extra money, you can improve your skills by using the courses available after you pay for a subscription. Alternatively, you can use Lichess and enjoy various classes for free. It's up to you!