Chess for Android

4.1
109K reviews
10M+
Downloads
Content rating
Everyone
Screenshot image
Screenshot image
Screenshot image
Screenshot image
Screenshot image
Screenshot image
Screenshot image
Screenshot image
Screenshot image
Screenshot image

About this game

Chess for Android consists of a chess engine and a GUI. The application accepts moves through the touch screen, trackball, or keyboard (e2e4 pushes the king pawn, e1g1 castles king side, etc.). An optional "move coach" highlights valid user moves during input and last played engine move. Full game navigation enables users to correct mistakes or analyze games. Games import and export as FEN/PGN to and from the clipboard or via sharing, load and save as file, or are set up through a position editor. A draw by stalemate, insufficient material, the fifty move rule, or threefold repetition is recognized. The engine plays at various levels (including random, against itself in auto-play, or free-play, where the game can be used as a "magnetic chessboard"). The user can play either side and, independently, view the board from the perspective of white or black.

The application supports the Universal Chess Interface (UCI) and Chess Engine Communication Protocol (WinBoard and XBoard), which allows users to play against more powerful third party engines or even play tournaments between engines. Engines are imported in Android Open Exchange format (OEX), in Android Chessbase compatible format, or directly from SD card. Engine setup features time control, pondering, infinite analysis, hash tables, multiple threads, endgame tablebases, and opening test suites.

The application connects to an external electronic chessboard (Certabo, Chessnut, ChessUp, DGT, House of Staunton, or Millennium) and supports online play on FICS (Free Internet Chess Server) or ICC (Internet Chess Club).

Online manual at:
https://www.aartbik.com/android_manual.php

PERMISSION NOTES:
You can freely disable permissions you don't want to grant, the rest of the application will continue to work:
+ Storage (Files and Media): only required when you want to load and save games to SD Card
+ Location: only required if you want to connect to DGT Pegasus/Chessnut Air, which requires a Bluetooth LE scan
Updated on
Dec 9, 2023

Data safety

Safety starts with understanding how developers collect and share your data. Data privacy and security practices may vary based on your use, region, and age. The developer provided this information and may update it over time.
No data shared with third parties
Learn more about how developers declare sharing
No data collected
Learn more about how developers declare collection

Ratings and reviews

4.2
102K reviews
Carlos Jesus Amador
March 11, 2021
It's a cool app. I can't get enough of it but it's extremely hard. There aren't any levels. You can't get better because every move you make it countered by a master move. It doesn't matter how much you "undo" because the engine will find a way to win. It finally "allowed" me to gain a material advantage enough to win--almost 30 moves later. I think it got back into master mode as soon as it gave away the advantage. It's fun to play (eyes mode) but sucks if you're looking to build confidence. ☹
48 people found this review helpful
Did you find this helpful?
A Google user
December 3, 2018
Thank you for contributing this great, straightforward chess app with no ads and no spyware. I appreciate the focus on the AI rather than battery-wasting frills like fancy graphics. My only complaint is that it's too smart 😁 I'm not an experienced player by any means, but the easiest mode seems unbeatable on my phone. Something in between random and level 1 would be great.
44 people found this review helpful
Did you find this helpful?
Aart Bik
December 5, 2018
Thanks for your kind review! For the time being, perhaps you could train using random moves until you are ahead, and then switch to another level to see if you can win from there!
R
September 29, 2023
I enjoy this a lot but there needs to be a way to disable notification everytime you let the cpu make a move or you castle etc. It bogs down the app and gets annoying fast. Edit: These are not SPOKEN MOVES this is a text notification when the computer makes a move on your behalf. Edit: I have also noticed the AI is limited in the moves it will do, becoming extremely predictable you can play the same game over and over again if not careful, even when changing difficulty. Edit: still not fixed.
58 people found this review helpful
Did you find this helpful?
Aart Bik
July 18, 2022
You can disable the spoken moves in the options menu. See https://www.aartbik.com/android_manual.php for details. Ah, the pop up when switching sides, yes I am working on having control over that! Thanks for the suggestion.

What's new

Added support for House of Staunton Sensory Board (USB/BT)