Two new cool chess apps for iOS

Hi, I've recently purchased two very cool chess apps. One with a weak engine, the other one with a stronger engine. Both apps are new and offer features that no other chess apps such as Stockfish and t-chess can offer.

All screenshots taken from iTunes.

I will give my review here:

1. Shakki - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shakki/id622511105?mt=8

 

It has very cool animation and graphics. You can change the color of the app. It is green in the screenshot, but you can pick any other color. It has a very simple analysis tool. It supports PGN games.

Although the interface is quite good, the engine is quite bad. As an 2000 rated player, I had no problems beating the highest level.

Good

• Pefect animation and graphics
• Simple but effective user interface
• Cool looking

Bad

• Weak chess engine
• Wrong chess notation (eg: e2-e4 not e4)
• Bugs

Despite clearly not a perfect app, it is still a good buy. Strongly recommended.

2. SmallChess - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/smallchess/id570425708?mt=8

This app has lots of features! It has multi-line analysis, tablebase explorer, social media sharing, drawing birthday cakes and more. There is Guess-The-Move with Magnus Carlsen and Bobby Fischer. It's PGN support is wonderful and outstanding. The layout is super.

The engine is very strong, about FIDE 3000 according to the author. I suspect it is the Stockfish engine but I am not 100% sure.

Good:

• Super strong chess engine
• FICS online matching
• Guess-the-move (with annotations) with Fischer and Carlsen
• Opening and endgame explorer
• Nine coaching styles
• Annotation & pictures

Bad:

• No iPad (I hate the small screen when running it on my iPad)
• Spelling and grammar mistakes in the annotations

I strongly recommend trying it, it is a very well designed app. If the author would make the origin of the engine clearer, it would have been even better.

I received a reply from the SmallChess author about the engine. It is not Stockfish, it is a new engine designed by the SmallChess author himself. There will be a PC version later (only the engine). I played a game with SmallChess against Stockfish on my iPad. SmallChess defeated Stockfish.

Rated 2000? Where?

Also, e2-e4 is not "wrong", it is called Long Algabraic Notation (LAN) and is perfectly acceptable, although not used much. The USCF Rulebook calls it computer notation.

From Wikipedia:

Long algebraic notation

Some computer programs (and people) use a variant of algebraic chess notation termed long algebraic notation or fully expanded algebraic notation. In long algebraic notation, moves specify both the starting and ending squares separated by a hyphen, for example: e2-e4 or Nb1-c3. Captures are still indicated using "x": Rd3xd7.

The long notation takes more space and thus is not as commonly used. However, it has the advantage of clarity, particularly for less-skilled players or players learning the game. Some books using primarily short algebraic notation use the long notation instead of the disambiguation forms described earlier.

Well, since no other app uses this notation, it should be considered as a mistake. This is not an app designed purely for beginners, so I think the "Long algebraic notation" doesn't make much sense.

Well, it is a setting in most chess programs such as Chessbase products or Arena.

You would think a 2000 rated player would know that.

No way. I use Fritz from Chessbase, it never reported anything like 1.e2-e4 c7-c5 to me. Are you kidding?

Fritz:

Chessbase

Note the game notation behind the Options window in Chessbase.

I can show you Arena also if you like.....

It is a setting, you can choose to have it on.

At least one respected chess book publisher uses long algebraic too. I can't say I like it that much myself, but it's a perfectly valid (and understandable) variant. 

Ok you win.

Also from SmallChess. The app I've been playing. It has a training feature on chess players, positional understanding and chess mathematics.

3 bucks?

Well, I've brought it. It was a very good app. I don't think they have a demo version. I like the training excersises.

Hello Chess World

I've created 3 New Chess apps in the Itunes store that are More Challenging than any other chess game you've played!! http://chessempireapps.com

I tried your 3 apps but it never connected. Any idea?

You need to add computer opponents fo the three Chess Empire apps. I didn't find anyone online to play with.

Hi everyone, I'm looking for an iOS app that will allow a user to give odds to an opponent (e.g., a pawn or piece odds).  

Any suggestions? 

Sorry for the tech problems, try again and please let me know if you have any more concerns or questions. Chess Emire Apps isn't about computer opponents. It's about building community with live plays. Thank you for your input though. Enjoy and Play.

bibkeboy88, I don't think there is such app, iOS or Android.