Pocket Chess Reviews

by BobBob BobBob

1. The ads were like being in jail. So I
Paid $4.95. Within two minutes I realized I had already paid this amount a while back so now I paid twice.
2. In App Store, top left said mate in two. It’s a mate in one. I wasted time trying to figure out format knowing there was an error, but what was it????
Then I gave up- do I loaded app- ad ad ad ad
So I paid, again now paid twice plus wasted time. I whizzed through first 60 ish puzzles then wrote this if they refund double payment and fix top left to be mate in one, saving others from assuming the format is simple. I’ll change rating to 5-star but even $5 feels real when it doubles. To $10 because of a bug. First $5 paid over a year ago.

by Grdjj258

Seemed like a chess tactics app with good graphics and a nice interface.

I was happy to pay $5 to get rid of ads, only to realize that the entire game basically runs on a hint system that either costs you more money or… makes you watch ads.

You have to complete each puzzle before going to the next one, so if you’re stuck at all, it’s ad time again.

There’s day-specific puzzles and multi-puzzle time-based “events” but those usually only give you more hint currency if you get to the very end, and since solutions to those cannot easily be found online as they can for the standard levels (at least the earlier ones), you’re stuck without answers or compensation unless you can solve everything, or pay for hints.

Ultimately, chess should be about learning. It’s fun when it’s turned into mini games like this but it’s annoying when progress and knowledge is locked behind micro-transactions.

Given how many similar (but better) apps there are right now, there’s basically no justification for this apps popularity or high rating. I guess a polished aesthetic counts for a lot to people. My recommended alternative is Chess Tactics Pro, but there’s many other options.

by Loramer1141

Biggest problem I have is that sometimes the solution requires the opponent to make a bad move. Most puzzles are fine, the moves you make are forcing moves and your opponent has no options. On a few of the levels (I don’t remember which of the early levels, except for level 62, which was the latest one I found), you have a way to get checkmate if the opponent makes a bad move, but your opponent has other options that don’t end in checkmate.

Second problem I have is that there are 30 second ads every 2 levels. Way too many ads; way too long of ads.

by CamBam12274

Don’t get me wrong it was fun for about 25-30 levels. Pros good graphics, good difficulty (at first) and different from most. But the cons!! So many ads it’s ridiculous. once you get past level 30 it’s like there trying to find grand masters because they start to base the levels off of you need to get a hint, that’s leads into watch ads being 75 coins yet the hint is 100 coins. Then even if you watch the ads the hint it only tells you what peace to move not what move to do. I get it needs to be challenging but it took maybe 15 minutes to get there and I got stuck. If your looking for a quick game to play because your bored just move on to the next game but if your a great player and I mean great player at chest give this game a try because I believe it will stump even grand masters.

by Lil_Wayne_sux

First off, after reaching around level 20, I started to get an ad after every level, so get ready to skip a lot of ads or pay $4.99 to remove ads. Also there was a level that I figured out 3 different checkmates, but the game kept saying stalemate. I sat here checking the moves and the king had nowhere to go, but the game said stalemate. Then I figured out the way, the game wanted me to solve the puzzle. So you may find another way to solve the puzzle, but if the game devs didn’t think of that way, then you will get a stalemate.

by Shutterfx

Helps if your chess games happen to get into these situations. This is, though, an interesting way of getting checkmate in 2 or 4 moves and helps to think ahead the moves and why it may or may not work. Would like to see these situations on the full board vs the compact field.
Each situation only shows the few pieces to get checkmate, but is that all the pieces? This scenario only shows the pieces that are needed, but when viewing the full board with other pieces, it’s also figured in the best moves to make, some bad, some good, but it all figures in the moves available.

by ProbablyBadReview

I downloaded this game not too long ago and ive had a lot of fun i love the concept of having a game like this for free, but, there is one thing in particular about this game that really bugs me, the ads, the amount of ads on this is just ridiculous, especially if you get a level that you complete fast, i mean you get ads after basically every single level and it is very frustrating. i kind of understand why there would be maybe an ad after every level considering that some levels may take a while to complete, which would make sense to make an ad afterwards to make up for the playing time of said level, but i just dont think its necessary. and i also think coins should be able to actually purchase things in game like different boards, backgrounds, pieces, etc. instead of just hints.

by Magic Pteradactol

I love puzzles for chess, and PocketChess makes some great ones. But, I think the levels need to increase in difficulty more quickly, and some feel out of order (easier puzzles are ahead of much harder ones). Also, they need to change it so that you can return to previous puzzles and see how you solved them, or else what’s the point of solving 200 or so puzzles without being able to enjoy the satisfaction of watching how you beat a previous puzzle?

Overall though, it’s still fun.

by AlphaYnut

Honestly just a lil fun exercise for chess moves and a good start to the day. Start small in the morning to get your brain thinkin’, then do some more arduous things after. Also helps for end game plays in chess instead of constantly chasing around a king or missing all your opportunities.

Only problem is once I rated the game, ads started to pop up after every one or two games which got a bit annoying. Play on airplane mode if possible.

by Shadowgreen

Awesome creative and challenging puzzles of all difficulties! The various shapes and sizes of the board, and the fact that different combos of pieces are used than standard chess, makes PocketChess really unique and valuable.

I would easily pay money for PocketChess. I would pay to remove ads if there were any. I might even pay for more levels. I don’t like paying for coins because that’s manipulative, and feels a bit of a scam. I might even do a monthly subscription that came with a few hints each month. Just lay off the “limited time 50% off 5k coins” type of sales tactic.

by Eric W. S

I have enjoyed PocketChess!! If you like chess, I think you will like this. Once you get to the mate in 3 or 4 scenarios makes it very interesting/challenging. If you think the idea of mental energy is not relevant it would be interesting to get an average time the scenarios are solved at different times of the day. In the morning, I feel that I solve problems faster than late afternoon or the evening. Feedback would be awesome. Anyway, love PocketChess !!

Eric S

by A Fork40

I love getting stuck on a level and coming back to it the next day and figuring it out in seconds.

One suggestion: after completing a level, I’d like a way to recap the moves to see how it worked. Sometimes I’ll solve one accidentally or not see why it could have been stopped if I did it another way. Otherwise, it’s a great time sink, and I’m getting better at endgame!

by Dadasein

I’ve always wanted to get good at chess. Since I was a kid, I’ve worked through chess books and used programs/apps, but I know I’m not good. I saw an ad for pocket chess and dumped other puzzle games I was wasting time on. I never could consistently work through chess puzzle books, but I play pocket chess obsessively every day. I’m not certain it’s working—surely it’s improved my endgame. At least at the beginning, I felt my neurons rewiring, like a video game with novel controls. Now that I’ve gotten 3 times through the basic 1010 and 13 events down, the puzzles come easier. I’m definitely better at thinking in chess.

I just wish it could help with my middle game.

by Lalsmdksksknxkxksnsbd

This game is really fun because it makes you actually use your brain or pay money. People were saying the hints weren’t good and that they aren’t even hints, but the whole point of the game is to solve the situation with your own brain power. Instead of using hints, try to figure it out on your own without these “dumb” hints. Aside from that, overall this game is really fun even with the ads and it’s a switch up from most games in PocketChess store today.

by Gdhdtgdd

I never realized it before, but chess is the ultimate puzzle. This game takes all kinds of possible game-winning chess moves and turns them flawlessly into individual puzzles that can be solved simply in a minute, all the way up to complex layouts that take ages to consider. Chess masters may find this game trivial, or they may find it a great way to practice their skills. Also, there are like hundreds of levels - enough to never get bored!

by Allen Crossander

I initially downloaded this because I thought that it would help teach me specific moves to make in a match and I’m sure that it does help develop your endgame by teaching you to be innovative, but I found it much more fun and rewarding than it being a helpful teaching app. Overall 5⭐️ and it still probably helps with developing your skill set in an actual game.

by Cddtw

It’s fun and challenging and a bit counterintuitive at times because your opponent moves not to win but to prevent you from winning— the response sometimes makes no sense apart from preventing checkmate in two moves. Some rounds seem utterly impossible and it’s frustrating to know that you can get a checkmate in only two moves but it’s still very hard to see the path to get there. This is a great way to hone your game and learn to play outside the box.

by Voss0

Whenever I play chess I feel stupid but I love these puzzles so much. At first, the boards are super small and weird but as you get a little deeper in, it starts to give you some possible game positions. I have never paid to remove ads in my life but this game was worth it, you can also turn off wifi and cellular for the game if you aren't lazy like me. The quality of the puzzles is fantastic, some took a lot of deep thought which gave me something fun to chew on in the morning. It's been a great tool to evaluate how efficiently my brain is working and I hope they add more puzzles in the future :)

by Joe_Dick

I was decent at chess, but Pocket Chess has been like a perfect frame-by-frame instruction on how to get better. No actual chess matches, but a perfect showcase of how to work every checkmate possible, from easy to extremely difficult. It has truly opened my mind to how each piece can be used in tandem with each other piece. When I finally played my brother again, he stood no chance!

by QuarkUnit

I don’t play chess very often and I’m not very good at the strategy, but these little challenges are helping me think through the moves. I can pick it up for five minutes and think through different methods without getting tied up in a full game. Sometimes I’ll play for a few minutes and not be able to solve the puzzle, but I’ll set it aside and come back. The clues are nice, but I like the challenge of solving them myself.

by Yandere-chanAmethyst💚Senpai

I got this game because I’m not great at chess and it didn’t look super difficult. I did pay to remove ads because of how often they occur, but the purchase was worth it! I love the funky board shapes and how every 10th level is a mate in 3 or 4 instead of just a mate in 2. I recently finished all 1000+ levels, but since there are events every so often I’ll still have levels to play :)
This is genuinely one of the only captivating mobile games I’ve found.

by Jsr-- Great

The game is appropriately challenging while simultaneously building on itself/the tactics established in previous levels. I appreciate that the game gives enough “hint coins” that you can earn through play to use while also giving the optional ad view - coin exchange system. With ads infrequent enough to not feel bogged down but understandably common - every 3rd to 4th level completion. - I’ve now completed all 1010 levels and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience

by Dsfhrfvhrddvbhg

I really enjoy solving these puzzles. It really helped me understand deflection and when to sacrifice men to gain position.

Sometimes, it is easy to solve because the puzzle tells me how many moves are needed the solve the puzzle. I think it would be helpful to have an option that does not disclose the number of moves needed to complete the puzzle. Perhaps each puzzle just says 5 or less moves are needed to solve it. That would help me reach the next level of mastery.

by Orchman

I have tried everything that a smart phone or iPad could use for chess. this app is the only thing that has helped me get any better at chess. I really find myself trying to think through sequences without just mindlessly moving pieces around. PocketChess is worth spending money on!

I wish the developer would target his marketing at high school and college chess clubs, because I believe this could be a really valuable educational tool for peopleOf all ages that are interested in chess.

Excellent, excellent game! Very stable app! The hints are reasonably priced!

by VRBrai

I used to play games that were entertaining but added no value to my life while passing boring wait times. Pocket Chess absolutely improves my Chess playing skills. The quick ‘2 moves to checkmate’ challenges have given me a new appreciation for every piece on the board. I never would have considered sacrificing my queen or winning a game with a pawn. Trying to stay ahead of my children, who are now adults, I just executed a checkmate with my knights followed by a checkmate with my pawn defending my queen. Dad is still a force to be reckoned with :) Thanks Pocket Chess!!!

by Lightninzard

This piece is magnificent. It’s perfect for chess beginners that wants to learn but don’t know where to start or don’t want to get into a whole game (which would often complicate the situations, thus making learning much harder). This is the chess “class” I’ve been looking for, but it’s more than that, it’s a GAME! and a quick one! Takes your mind off work and boost your chess strategy. Simply amazing.

by J-mister4life

I have always felt that chess is about exposing yourself to logical thinking and sound tactics. PocketChess helps you develop both. In no way is PocketChess going to make you a GM Magnus Carlsen. However, if you use PocketChess along with some good books and plenty of practice games with real people (not some computer) you can be certain that you are well on your way.