So excitin'! I like the first two about equally - although for some reason my brain wants to decode the background as a "checkered flag" from auto racing for some reason. :\
Most app icons don't have language on them, becuase the app name always appears just below the icon anyway.
i think if you actually see it on the iphone you would like the third one the most. i thought i wouldn't be now that i see it in action, i strongly prefer it! i know - weird.
I can buy that. The dark background looks kind of slick. I know what you mean - context is everything.
as long as you don't do some cut out type thing like using a black background to make the icon look like some other shape then square I'll be ok with it.
I really hate that, it ruins the asthetics of the screen.
Third. But more contrast with black and grey checks.
Third one is perfect. A good idea to put the ".com" in other color, the orange one remarks this and makes sense that there is a whole chess comunity behind; it makes a clue to newcomers from this app (maybe via itunes or pandora´s box) to look for chess.com on their browser, Them I think third one is not only the more stetic but also the "smartest".
It´s just my opinion. The two first background doesn´t add more information (the pawn says that is a chess aplication and background says the same) and makes the icon more complex. The ".com" adds information (a value one) and does not makes complex the icon. Another example of K.I.S.S. ideas!
Bye and thanks for your work Erik (and all the team)
Most app icons don't have language on them, becuase the app name always appears just below the icon anyway.
See the ninth comment in this thread for my take on that situation, as weird as it may be. 
Erik, I like the third one. The pawn in the first two looks too airbrushed.Now, if you want to have an official Chess.com kustom kruiser with the obligatory airbrush scene on the hood and sidepanels... go for it! As DeepGreene said, the checkerprint in the background looks like a checkered flag, possibly because of it being at an angle. Maybe just use four black and white (or dark grey and light grey) squares perfectly centered with the rightmost design in the foreground... ? The rightmost icon looks a tad too dark. I think I'd lose sight of the icon on my iPhone. We'll have to wait and see. I especially have to squint to see definition in the lower right quarter. Maybe that right quarter could be a light checker square if you do four checker squares centered in the background. Not that I'll be deeply analyzing the icon when I want to play on my iPhone, of course.
The UI for the game itself looks nice and simple too.
Most app icons don't have language on them, becuase the app name always appears just below the icon anyway.
The UI for the game itself looks nice and simple too.
Yes, seconded! I was a bit surprised to see a control for what looks like a "vs. computer" feature there. Care to drop any hints about the engine in play?
well there is no other good way to show "vs. computer". because you aren't playing vs. a PC (or mac). just no good way...
Um... sorry? I actually think the displayed icon is perfect. I was just expressing surprise that the chess.com app would feature a computer opponent at all. (It's a pleasant surprise.) I'm curious about the engine, levels, etc. But I can wait.
i think if you actually see it on the iphone you would like the third one the most. i thought i wouldn't be now that i see it in action, i strongly prefer it! i know - weird.
I just saw this and do like the third one the best -- go with that one!! 
3rd icon please.
Thoughts?