Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf

I have wanted to find an application that would help me learn the game. It has really opened my understanding of the game. Here a few reasons: 1) The various games provide relaxed training opportunities to make a mistake and then ask if I wish to flip the board to determine why the last move was a mistake. 2) When I finish a game I can go over all of my blunders to compare what I did versus what would have been a better move. 3) The training session help explore specific tactics I can use for the specific pieces in unique circumstances. 4) I just learned there are multiple coaches and I am switching to see if they offer different teaching methods. The only suggestion I can think of is the developer could break the games down to help me recognize when to recognize sacrificing a piece or how to develop in game tactics when transitioning from opening and developing pieces. Well done. Worth the money if you want to learn.

My grandfather who taught me how to play as a 6 year old lass recently passed away. I’m his honor I was drawn back to the board. But I haven’t played since college, and if I’m super honest, my adhd made 3+ move strategies hard to keep going so - feeling dejected - I stopped playing. This little app is awesome. It was just like my grandfather ‘you suuuuure want to make that move?’, haha. I’m playing coached games interspersed with the lessons and finally have names for moves that I had completely forgotten I’d known. I’m also realizing that I’m an aggressive player so I’m not entirely certain how helpful this app will be in the long run but I absolutely recommend it for younger folks, newbies, and those like me who forgot how to play. Literally my only complaint is the background music. *** Edit: actually I do have more feedback (sorry devs!). I love the Hint function, it’s brilliant. BUT, it could be great if we got an explanation of *why* a particular move is preferred, it would help with the fundamentals. For instance, I’m learning that I’m a more aggressive player, so when the coach gives me a hint that goes directly against my strategy, without a reason why, it feels like it’s discouraging me from taking risks/initiative.

Dr. Wolf at expert level is no more than a version of the advanced level that makes almost just as many mistakes, albeit less embarrassing ones. When I launch a legitimate attack on “expert” Dr. Wolf, he often makes ridiculous blunders that beckons checkmate in less than 5 moves, leaving me feeling snubbed by the end. There are obviously somewhat educational purposes to his sudden weaknesses, but a difficulty level named as it is should be a platform where highly advanced players can feel consistently challenged. I believe having a more formidable opponent that can still act as a guide through more complicated variations retains more educational value than an opponent who plays with enticing inaccuracy. The latter is, after all, not an ideal role model for the more perceptive amateurs. Also, the concept of “strong moves” are based on very short-sighted standards, evaluating my moves just in light of incidental guiding principles and not the overall strategy of the game. Not expert teaching, I guess. If the nature of the app’s chess advice would be more refined and flexible, this app would become more competitive. And if learning opportunities and consistency of computer strength could be reconciled in an exceptional way, this app would become my favorite for chess.