Arkon: Chess Opening Explorer

The developer’s website disappeared. If you click on the”Help” on the app (don’t!), you get redirected to some sketchy website that will inform you that your iPhone has been hacked. This is very unfortunate, as the app is really useful and very well made.

And for that, I think it’s the best free option out there. I agree with other users that it would be nice to see cumulative vs individual cp scores, but otherwise I love building my own opening, seeing what it’s named, and practicing a few options before playing a real game. For a ~1500 player like me, 9 moves is plenty. After that, I can buy the upgrade or read a book.

I’ve used this app with great success and joy when playing out some of the moves from older chess books from the 1940’s, 50’s, and 60’s. Every now and then the app helps me find a mistake in these old books. I do wish it had better game info, and I only give it four stars because it has encountered an error a few times near the end of a game, resulting in a need to reset (and lose) the game. Other than this, it’s a great app with a seriously deep engine. Has helped me improve leaps and bounds.