Chess Opening Trainer

The interface and concept are great but, a lot needs to be done. No doubt it’s easy to use, but it doesn’t give me enough information about openings, middle games, or end games. Anyone who has read enough chess books would know there are more chess openings than what is shown.

For what is is, this is a nice little app. The interface is simple and clean. Almost too simple— you might not be quite sure what to do, but you touch on a move and then it shows all of the different responses and the percentage played. So you can just see what is most common from the 2,000,000 games — but WHAT 2,00,000? I wish we knew that — the computer has crunched. If it is so good and interesting why the 4star? Well, too little support. One of the lines has Rook a1-e1. Other than their being a knight and queen in the way, it is a good move. How to correct this error? Give feedback? Don’t know. In addition the testing doesn’t seem to work. I made the right play but the computer still thought me wrong. Still I like the app. I love the numbers, I love the way you can go forward and backwards checking out possible moves along the way. It is a good app and if you like chess you should try it.

I have never written a review like this. Usually there are things that I like and dislike about an app. So I try to mention both the good and areas that need improvement. Also I rarely review an app unless it's one that I mostly like but feel has a flaw or two that, if corrected, could make it really good or great. This app is useless. If you are trying to learn chess it will give you the idea that by the third or fourth move you have only one choice. If you know how to play chess to any degree its uselessness borders on insulting. After playing through it a few times here's just one example. 1. D4, d5 2. E4, e6 3. B-e3 is the ONLY move available to White. On move 3. Really?!? Because I can think of about half a dozen. The board doesn't rotate. If you want to study a defense for black you're going to have to do it from the white side of the board. In fact there are no settings at all. If you are trying to learn or improve your game this app is is one that you should suggest to your friends that you play with regularly. If they use it you'll have a better chance of winning.