One of the biggest struggles in my life right now is how to get more energy in Kim Kardashian's iPhone game.I mean, obviously I could buy it, but it is possible to play this game for free. There’s also an in-game chat feature to connect with opponents and add a fun element to the gameplay. For practice, you can choose to play versus the AI or play versus a friend. And when you’re ready, you can go for the more challenging games with timers of 30 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10, or 15 minutes per move.
Chess is an ancient strategy game that has evolved over the years and gained tremendous popularity online. Therefore, it has attracted many people to practice and develop their skills on the go via mobile applications. While many apps are available, it can be challenging to find the one that gives you the right balance of features and experience. Fortunately, we’re here to help you out, like a knight in shining armor (pun intended).
We tested out over ten of the most popular iOS chess apps to see which ones truly deliver what they promise. Whether you’re a beginner or expert at this board game, keep reading to discover the best chess apps for iPhone and iPad.
Our Criteria for Selecting the Best Chess Apps for iOS
An app is best reviewed through extensive usage and testing. And that’s precisely what we did with a dozen popular chess apps designed for iPhone and iPad. We played countless matches (we’re not telling how many we won :D) to get a thorough understanding of each application.
Here’s what we based our decisions on:
- User Interface
- Game Modes and Options
- The Overall Experience
Several apps have features that let you learn and build your skillset, making Chess more than just a game. Developers certainly gain brownie points when they create something that’s both educational and entertaining at once!
Well, we’ve made all the right moves to filter it down to five that are worth your while if you’re serious about learning, playing, or improving your game.
Best Apps to Learn and Practice Chess on iPhone & iPad
1. Chess Play and Learn
Let’s start with the app that stands out as the top chess game on iPhone and iPad. It boasts a clean and intuitive user interface along with a range of options for chess lovers of skill level. When you open the chess app, there are seven options available, namely:
- Play Computer
- Play Online
- Puzzles
- Vision Trainer
- Video
- Daily Puzzle
- Articles
Once you get into any one of these sections, there is an extended menu with more options. For instance, you can access forums to discuss everything about Chess, from game analysis to tips for beginners and beyond. It’s a great space to deepen your knowledge and sharpen your skills.
Whether you play against the computer or online, there is a play-by-play review of your games, which critiques your moves and tells you what you could have done better. This helps you gain an understanding of technique and strategy.
I particularly found the solo Chess mode interesting. It gives you a series of tasks to capture a piece with every move until one remains on the board. It starts with just two pieces on the board and then gets steadily tricky until ten pieces are on the board. This both challenges and trains your mind to come up with winning strategies.
Further, you can even customize the theme to match your color and style preferences. Plus, there are tons of articles and news to keep you updated with what’s happening in the world of Chess.
However, do note that you need to create an account to use this app’s full functionality, such as the Puzzles feature, which gives you over 65,000 Chess-board problems to have a crack at. Overall, it’s an incredibly detail-oriented app that will offer a rewarding Chess experience for newbies and pros alike. It’s also available on Apple Watch.
Price: Free (Gold Membership starts at $4.99)
2. Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf
Here’s an app for anyone who wants to learn the game of Chess from scratch or improve their game to the next level. It’s got an interactive chatbot-style interface that makes you feel like you’re taking private coaching lessons. The first three coaching sessions are free, after which you can opt to subscribe.
With each move you make, Dr. Wolf explains what he is doing, and it’s designed to make you improve your game. There are also twenty-five in-depth lessons that explain various chess concepts and offer ample opportunities for guided practice.
What I especially loved is how Dr. Wolf sounds friendly, inspiring, gentle, and sometimes witty too! It creates an engaging gameplay experience that keeps you returning for more. He gradually introduces new concepts, and you earn points when you use a new skill in-game.
Further, you can even opt for specific lessons on various aspects of Chess such as what to do in the opening, how to attack with different power pieces, how to defend hanging pieces, etc.
It also keeps track of your stats and achievements to gain insights into how you’re progressing over time. It’s one of the best chess apps to advance your skills and learn the nitty-gritty of the game.
Price: Free (Monthly Coaching starts at $4.99)
3. Chess Universe Play and Learn
The cute and colorful theme of this iOS chess game makes it stand apart from the rest. You can play free online games with live players, undertake chess quests, unlock cute characters, emojis, chess boards, and sets.
Challenge yourself against seven AI levels, solve puzzles, and learn about the winning moves from some legendary players like Bobby Fischer & Garry Kasparov. There’s also an in-game chat feature to connect with opponents and add a fun element to the gameplay.
For practice, you can choose to play versus the AI or play versus a friend. And when you’re ready, you can go for the more challenging games with timers of 30 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10, or 15 minutes per move.
Besides, there’s a match history section that enables you to revisit any online match you just played. And you can know about your past mistakes with the easy to use analysis feature.
One of the coolest aspects of the interface is that you can have fun customizing your look with unique avatars. However, one drawback is the frequency of the ads that appear in this app. But rewards and bonus points still make it tolerable and worth checking out!
Price: Free (In-app purchases)
4. Real Chess 3D
This one’s in horizontal mode. On the opening screen, you have the option to begin a new game or to customize the look of it according to your preferences. You can choose from a few different options for the board, the pieces, the borders, and the table.
You can play against the computer or another player on the same device. In the two-player mode, the perspective changes after each move so that you and your partner can play your moves. Further, it saves your progress so you can continue a game from where you left it.
Its distinguishing feature is the 3D view, which is hard to come by in other apps. You can use your fingers to move and rotate the board for custom views. This gives it a more realistic feel and is especially suited to play on a larger screen like an iPad.
The best part is the soothing music, which promotes concentration and compliments the polished user interface.
Price: Free ($3.99 to remove ads)
5. Chess
If you’re looking for a no-frills straightforward chess app, here’s an excellent option for you. It’s got a pleasing brown wood-like color scheme and intuitive options. When you open this app, you’ll have the option to choose between one player or two-player modes, then select a difficulty level, and get started.
The game has a real feel and sound to it. So, you can feel each piece as you move it, almost like it has a marble feel with a felt bottom. It’s straightforward to play and convenient on a mobile device. There’s also an option to undo moves.
Although it’s pretty basic and simplistic, it gets the job done. It automatically saves your progress so you can get back to a game where you left it. The graphics and sound effects are on-point, and you have the option to configure player names and track scores.
There are not many features to try out, but if your goal is to play Chess, this is perfect. However, there is no way to change the default brown and beige color scheme, and at times, ads detract from the experience. But do bear in mind that it’s completely free to use, which makes it worth it.
Price: Free
Checkmate!
So, there you have it, our roundup of the top five chess apps for your iPhone and iPad. Just like the Queen, you have plenty of choices about which way to go. Your move!
Don’t forget to share your thoughts with us in the comments below. You might also like to read about the best puzzle games for your iPhone.
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I have been writing about tech for over 10 years now. I am passionate about helping people solve their tech problems with easy and practical solutions. At iGeeksBlog, I write and edit how-to guides and accessory reviews for all things Apple. My work has previously appeared in Live IT and Woman’s Era magazines. When not working, I love reading and traveling.
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One of the most popular games you can play right now is GamePigeonBattleship or Sea Battle. It is a game which feels a lot like the Battleship you used to play as a child, but you don’t have to worry about getting the coordinates right or keeping all of those little pieces in the same place.Instead, you just have to worry about finding the ship. To play Sea Battle on iPhone, you need to have the GamePigeon application installed and toggled on. Then, you need to find a willing opponent.
The game can last a long time if you aren’t smart about the way you play. A lot of GamePigeonSea Battle strategy will revolve around offense. You need to make smart calls. However, your defense matters as well. You should place your boats in smart places.
Game Pigeon Cheats Crazy 8
In this guide, we will cover how to play Sea Battle on GamePigeon, how to place your boats, and how to make guesses. Read on to become the Sea Battle master.
How to Play Sea Battle on GamePigeon
If you’ve played Battleship before, you know how Sea Battle works. It is basically the same premise. There aren’t any surprises or tricks here. Even so, not everyone has played this game, so here are some basic steps:
- Start by positioning your ships around the board. All players can move their ships as they wish. You cannot put them diagonally, but you can put them horizontally and vertically. You want to keep the ships far enough apart so they don’t sit right next to each other. If you do this, the boxes around the ship will turn red until you move them.
- Guess where your enemy placed his or her ships. You can pick one square at a time. If you land in water, the box will get a dot in it. If you hit the ship, you will feel a slight shake on your phone, and you will see smoke. If you hit a ship, you can guess again. If you miss, it is your enemy’s turn.
- When you have successfully guessed all the squares your enemy’s ship sits in, you will see the ship appear and all the dots around the ship will fill in.
- Keep going until you have hit all of your opponent’s ships.
The game goes back and forth and can take a long time to play, depending on how fast your opponent answers. If you want to play a shorter game, you can change the size of the grid and decrease the number of ships.
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GamePigeonSea Battle Strategy: Defense
When positioning your boats, be smart about it. Don’t put everything into one corner or put every ship around the edges. This is a good way to create a pattern people will easily see. You also want to change up your strategy every time you play the game.If you are going to put any ships along the edges of the board, consider putting the biggest ships there. This way, you can eliminate the number of free spaces your opponent gets when they do sink your big ship. As the biggest ships are the ones most likely to be struck first, you will take away some of your opponent’s advantages.
If you have large areas of open water, this is the best place to put those little ships which are really difficult to find. Usually, these are the last ships of the game. They aren’t captured in the checkerboard pattern if you place them well.
The best thing you can do for the offense is to think about your placement. Don’t just allow the AI to set them up for you. Think about a checkerboard and pick a color (this is a strategy we will talk about in defense). Do not place all your small ships on what would be the same color.
GamePigeonSea Battle Strategy: Offense
When you are guessing which squares to hit, there are a few different things to consider. The first is that your opponent will have done many of the same things you did in the offense. Start by guessing around the edges and then moving your way into the center.
When guessing, most people will guess in a checkerboard pattern. This involves thinking of the Battleship board as a checkerboard. Pick either red or black and only aim for those squares. This will help you to pick up many of the boats, but not all of them. Some people decide to make a giant X with every other square to help divide the board. You can also do this by making a plus sign (+).
When you hit a ship, keep going until you have knocked it out. Some people think it is best to find them all and then start, but you are hitting more water that way. When a ship is completely hit, the boxes around it will fill in, meaning you don’t have to guess those. As you cannot put boats in that area, it is a great way to eliminate bad moves.
If you play with your friends on a regular basis, start to remember their moves. Some people will play with most of their ships around the edge and then go to the center.
GamePigeonSea Battle Cheats
Unfortunately, apart from stealing someone else’s phone, there aren’t any cheats for this game. The only thing you can really do is learn how particular people play and use that to your advantage.Sea Battle is a great way to enjoy this classic game. You get the addition of sounds and haptics, which makes it feel a bit more like the old plastic game that so many of us remember. However, you don’t have to worry about having those little red and white tokens all over your house.