Chess Coach – AI Chess Tutor review: scores and evidence

A1 :2Importing your games (Chess.com, Lichess, PGN files)

https://chesscoach-app.com/ai-chess-coach.html (re-read on 12 November 2026) — "Lichess games can be imported directly", and any other game can be pasted as PGN (file or share, according to https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.cheescoach); Chess.com is not connected: level 2

A2 :2Automatic engine analysis of every game

https://chesscoach-app.com/ai-chess-coach.html — the engine, running on the phone, gives both players' accuracy, the evaluation graph and a grade for every move; Stockfish 18 on Android, Caissa on iPhone and iPad (https://chesscoach-app.com/); depth not published

A3 :0Recurring mistakes identified across all your games

https://chesscoach-app.com/ai-chess-coach.html — accuracy and graded moves game by game; nothing aggregated across games

A4 :0Types of mistakes covered (tactics, strategy, endgame, time…)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.cheescoach — moves graded "Best, Good, Inaccuracy, Mistake or Blunder"; no mistake typology published

A5 :3Written explanation of each mistake

https://chesscoach-app.com/ai-chess-coach.html — the coach explains "the idea you missed and what to play instead"; version 12.1.0 of 2 October 2026 (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6790447113): moves numbered and tagged by side in the text, explanations grounded in facts computed from the board (material, hanging pieces, attacked squares)

A6 :0Stated verification of the diagnoses (procedure, rates)

https://chesscoach-app.com/ai-chess-coach.html — "the AI only explains what the engine found"; no published procedure or rate for checking the explanations

A7 :0Tracking each weakness over time

https://chesscoach-app.com/ai-chess-coach.html — puzzle, Streak and Storm ratings; no tracking of weaknesses in play over time

A8 :0Comparison with players of the same rating

https://chesscoach-app.com/ai-chess-coach.html — "written for your rating" sets the level of the explanations; no comparison with a rating band

B1 :1Building a personal repertoire

https://chesscoach-app.com/chess-opening-trainer.html (re-read on 12 November 2026) — you pick "the openings you actually play, as White and as Black" from a catalog organized by ECO code (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.cheescoach); no import and no line editor

B2 :2Training the repertoire (drills, games)

https://chesscoach-app.com/chess-opening-trainer.html — drills on the board, each line returning "after a gap that grows", review due date shown; the Opening Lab plays the line against Maia "into the middlegame", not to the end of the game

B3 :0Spotting where you left your repertoire in your games

https://chesscoach-app.com/chess-opening-trainer.html — no repertoire deviations spotted in the player’s games

B4 :0Verification of the lines taught (engine, practice)

https://chesscoach-app.com/chess-opening-trainer.html — no stated source or engine check for the opening lines

B5 :2Opening explorer and statistics

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.cheescoach (re-read on 12 November 2026) — "Explore any opening with the Lichess database — millions of games with win rates"; a single database, no engine evaluation

B6 :1Explanation of opening plans and ideas

https://chesscoach-app.com/chess-opening-trainer.html — guided arrows, practice, then quizzes on the moves; opening plans and ideas not explained

C1 :0Exercises drawn from your own games

https://chesscoach-app.com/ai-chess-coach.html — mistakes explained within the game; no exercises built from the player’s own games

C2 :2Bank of tactical exercises (size, themes, rating)

https://chesscoach-app.com/chess-puzzles.html (re-read on 12 November 2026) — "over 35,000 puzzles in the app", from the Lichess database (CC0), engine-checked, theme shown, a rating for each puzzle; neither 100,000 puzzles nor votes or reports

C3 :2Endgame training

https://chesscoach-app.com/essential-chess-endgames.html (re-read on 12 November 2026) — 100 endgames in five families, played against the engine "at full strength", over 45,000 positions from real games checked against endgame tablebases; no endgames drawn from the player’s own games

C4 :2Strategic and positional training

https://chesscoach-app.com/chess-pawn-structures.html — 25 pawn structures with each side’s plans; 1,000 positions from real games in which you name the structure and say where the game is heading; sorted by structure only

C5 :2Training defense and alertness

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6790447113 — version 12.2.0 of 14 October 2026: a "Defending" theme in the Decision Trainer; Coach Mode grades every move during a game (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.cheescoach); a single dedicated defensive sub-type

C6 :2Training calculation and visualization

https://chesscoach-app.com/woodpecker-method.html (re-read on 12 November 2026) — two sets of 150 positions over seven cycles, with the line played five moves deep; 149 decision exercises by theme (https://chesscoach-app.com/how-to-calculate-in-chess.html); no multi-level programme

C7 :2Difficulty matched to your real level

https://chesscoach-app.com/chess-puzzles.html — the player’s rating works "like a chess rating", starts at 1200, and the next puzzle matches it; no target success rate published

C8 :2Spaced repetition (named algorithm)

https://chesscoach-app.com/chess-opening-trainer.html — the interval grows with each success and shrinks after a miss, due date shown; missed Woodpecker positions come back the next day, then at growing intervals (https://chesscoach-app.com/woodpecker-method.html); the algorithm is not named

C9 :1Personalized training plan

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6790447113 — version 12.3.0 of 16 October 2026: the level and goal chosen at sign-up set "your first step on the home screen"; no personalized plan with a time budget

D1 :2What the free plan actually lets you do

https://chesscoach-app.com/learn-chess.html (re-read on 12 November 2026) — free: games against the bots, engine review of games, the whole first course and the first lessons of the others; the Italian Game, king and pawn endgames, the first 10 positions of each Woodpecker set (https://chesscoach-app.com/); 5 free AI analyses, then credits or your own key

D2 :3Annual price of the full plan

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6790447113 — "Chess Coach Premium" $5.59 ≈ €5.14, a one-time purchase ("Premium is a one-time purchase", https://chesscoach-app.com/terms.html); AI credits optional, or your own API key

D3 :2Commercial transparency (price shown, trial, cancellation)

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6790447113 — the price of each purchase is shown in the store, not on the website; every module can be tried free before buying; no subscription, so nothing to cancel; refunds left to Google and Apple (https://chesscoach-app.com/terms.html)

D4 :2Number of paid tiers (how simple the offer is)

https://chesscoach-app.com/terms.html — Premium is a one-time purchase; AI explanations run on credits (packs of 125 to 500) or on your own API key (https://chesscoach-app.com/api-setup.html): Premium alone does not unlock everything

E1 :0Published evidence of effectiveness

https://chesscoach-app.com/ — no effectiveness data published

E2 :2Chess verification of the content (positions, lines)

https://chesscoach-app.com/chess-puzzles.html (re-read on 12 November 2026) — puzzles "checked with an engine"; endgame positions checked against tablebases (https://chesscoach-app.com/essential-chess-endgames.html); Woodpecker sets "chosen and checked with an engine"; no quantified protocol

E3 :2Transparency of the method (algorithms, code)

https://chesscoach-app.com/open-source.html — engines named (Stockfish 18, Leela Chess Zero 0.31.2, Maia, Caissa) with licences and build steps; the app’s own code is not public; analysis depth not published

E4 :2Marketing claims that can be checked (no overselling)

https://chesscoach-app.com/ — factual wording (engine on the device, explanations that need a connection); "helps you improve at chess faster" (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.cheescoach) with no number; limits not stated as such

F1 :3Courses organized by rating level

https://chesscoach-app.com/learn-chess.html (re-read on 12 November 2026) — five courses: First Steps (29 lessons), Beginner up to 1000 (44), Intermediate 1000 to 1800 (94), Advanced 1500 to 2100 (139), Master from 1900 (187), 493 lessons in all

F2 :0Course authors named and titled

https://chesscoach-app.com/learn-chess.html — "Built by JuanfranDevs"; no course author named or titled

F3 :2Content formats (text, video, interactive)

https://chesscoach-app.com/learn-chess.html — lessons combine a short theory section on a board, puzzles and games against the bots; no video

F4 :2Published method of progression

https://chesscoach-app.com/learn-chess.html — an ordered path (checkmates before openings, basic endgames before long plans), sections unlocked by an online game, bot games passed by winning with all three stars; no adaptation to a diagnosis

F5 :3How often the content is updated

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6790447113 — dated version history, several updates a month since September 2026 (14.1.0 of 9 November 2026, 14.0.0 of 4 November, 13.0.0 of 19 October)

G1 :2Playing humans online (pool, anti-cheating)

https://chesscoach-app.com/hu-chess-rules.html — HU Chess, the app’s own online play, with ratings, reporting and blocking (rules of 17 October 2026); rated Lichess games from inside the app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.cheescoach); no anti-cheating system described

G2 :2Realistic artificial opponents

https://chesscoach-app.com/chess-bots.html (re-read on 12 November 2026) — 20 opponents rated 750 to 2841, each with a style of its own; the four "Advanced" rivals play with Maia, trained on human games; thinking time not documented

G3 :1Replaying one specific position against the machine

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.cheescoach — "Start from any FEN position" against the bots; replaying a position from your own games is not announced

G4 :0Tournaments and organized competition

https://chesscoach-app.com/hu-chess-rules.html — a monthly HU Chess ranking (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6790447113, version 13.0.0); no organized tournaments

H1 :2Platforms available (web, iOS, Android, desktop)

https://chesscoach-app.com/ (re-read on 12 November 2026) — "iPhone, iPad, Android"; on the App Store since September 2026 (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6790447113); on the web, games against five bots and a puzzle of the day (https://chesscoach-app.com/play-chess-against-computer.html), not the app

H2 :2User ratings and reviews (stores, press)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.cheescoach (re-read on 12 November 2026) — 4.4/5 from 461 reviews (United States); not yet enough ratings on the App Store (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6790447113)

H3 :1Interface languages available

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6790447113 — "English and Spanish"; website in English and Spanish (https://chesscoach-app.com/es/), with Spanish move notation ("6.Cxf7")

H4 :1Accessibility (keyboard, screen reader)

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6790447113 — version 14.1.0 of 9 November 2026: higher-contrast colours, large text, a board described to screen readers; keyboard navigation not announced; the store’s accessibility section is not filled in

H5 :2Offline use and known incidents

https://chesscoach-app.com/ — engine on the device, "analysis works offline", bots offline; AI explanations need a connection; no status page

I1 :0Preparing for a named opponent

https://chesscoach-app.com/ — no opponent preparation

I2 :0Annotating and sharing games (studies)

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6790447113 — arrows and circles drawn in Review and Analysis (version 14.0.0); no saved comments and no sharing of an analysis

I3 :0Entering a game played at a club (photo, scoresheet)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.cheescoach — PGN import (paste, file, share) and an analysis board; no entry of a game played at a club is announced

I4 :0Searching your games (filters, position)

https://chesscoach-app.com/chess-bots.html — finished games are saved; no filterable list or search shown

J1 :0Access to human coaches

https://chesscoach-app.com/ — no human coach

J2 :0Size and activity of the community

https://chesscoach-app.com/hu-chess-rules.html — HU Chess community rules; no forum or Discord

J3 :0Tools for trainers, clubs and schools

https://chesscoach-app.com/ — no tools for clubs or schools

J4 :2Engagement mechanics (streaks, virtual currency, reminders)

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6790447113 — Streak and Storm ratings, a monthly HU Chess ranking, reminders that can each be switched off and that are muted from 21:00 to 9:00 (version 13.0.0); credits pay for AI explanations, with no paid streak or booster; "No ads" (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.cheescoach)

K1 :2Exporting your data (games, repertoire)

https://chesscoach-app.com/privacy-policy.html (re-read on 12 November 2026) — "Games can be exported as PGN files at any time"; account deletion in the settings; no full export of personal data

K2 :1Protection of personal data (GDPR, hosting)

https://chesscoach-app.com/privacy-policy.html (updated 5 November 2026) — GDPR rights listed, "does not sell", Supabase "in the EU region", but Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics, and AI requests processed in the United States (OpenAI) and in China (DeepSeek, as a fallback)

K3 :1Public API and source code

https://chesscoach-app.com/open-source.html — GPL engines published, the app’s own code is not public; PGN import and export; no API