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The Game of Kings: Become a master with these five chess apps
1. August 2022 Published by Raphael DoerrIt’s maybe 3,000 years old, is played on every continent in different variations, and there are more than 318 trillion possible positions after just four moves: Chess is a fascinating game. In the Middle Ages, it was even considered a knightly virtue to master what is known as the Game of Kings. After all, it demands strategic and critical thinking, planning and foresight. What’s more, good chess players are more decisive and confident. It’s therefore no surprise that it’s Europe’s most popular board game and is also recognized as a sport. And so, of course, there are chess apps that let you practice and play on your smartphone. We present the best ones here.
Chess app no. 1: Play Magnus – Play Chess
Sven Magnus Øen Carlsen is one of the great heroes of the chess scene. He earned the grandmaster title at the age of just 13, after which he went on to win the world championship several times. Play Magnus lets amateurs play with this professional – or rather with his digital alter ego. The artificial chess intelligence is modeled on the grandmaster’s strength at different ages. That means you can test whether you would stand a chance against the 8-year-old Magnus Carlsen – or against his world-class colleagues: Other chess masters can now also be selected in the chess app.
Chess app no. 2: Chess – Play and Learn
This app has a huge range of features. You can play against real players from all over the world, against friends or against the computer. There are also tutorials, videos of famous games, tournaments and much more. A particularly exciting point: In the Pro version, you can analyze every game down to the tiniest detail so that you can soon improve your play. Chess has become the most popular chess app in many countries: Its community already numbers more than 60 million members worldwide.
Chess app no. 3: Chess and Mate
This chess app has a very playful and child-friendly approach. Prince Kaspar guides you through his castle, presenting the individual pieces and slowly introducing you to the game’s finer points. It goes without saying that he’s also a tough, but fair opponent. As a result, kids – or even older pupils – with no previous knowledge can learn the complex game without any pressure. And at the end, the mighty and legendary Captain Black awaits you as the final opponent in this chess app for kids.
Chess app no. 4: Chess Free
Chess Free is also a very popular chess app. It offers twelve different levels of difficulty. But its highlight is: In “Show CPU Thinking” mode, you can watch the artificial chess intelligence while it thinks, as it were. That means you know what move your computer opponent would have made. On top of that, your own performance is evaluated on the basis of the international Elo rating system. You can then compare your playing strength with that of chess masters.
Chess app no. 5: Cartoon Battle Chess
Cartoon Battle Chess is chess for true gamers. It takes features familiar from other online games and applies them to the classic board game. For example, you can develop your players’ potential, join clans or play in Arena mode. Or you can play a story in Adventure mode.
The look and feel is also quite different from traditional chess programs. If you take one of your opponent’s pieces, a real fight ensues. In a nutshell: This chess app is definitely not for purists, but it’s great fun!
The smartphone conquers the gaming market
It’s no wonder there are so many chess apps for smartphones: The International Chess Federation FIDE estimates that more than 600 million people play chess worldwide. However, many more master the basic rules. At the same time, the smartphone is the most important gaming device. So bringing together chess and smartphones is a worthwhile goal for app developers. And for all fans of the Game of Kings, it’s the chance to play at any time they like.
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