# Chess Deluxe — AI, Two Player & Online Chess

> Elegant and intelligent AI, local, and online chess game with detailed tracking. (iPhone/iPad app by Nicholas Cooke.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-deluxe/id500880061 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Nicholas Cooke](https://appshunter.io/developer/363977390)
- Category: Games, Board, Strategy
- Price: $2.99
- Rating: 4.60/5 from 188 App Store ratings · 55 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17 · 18 MB
- Languages: American English, Danish, Dutch, French (France), German (Germany), Norwegian Bokmål, European Spanish, Swedish
- Released: 2012-02-29
- Data updated: 2026-09-02
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-deluxe/id500880061/reviews.md

## What is Chess Deluxe?

Experience the timeless game of chess with beautiful design and intelligent gameplay.

Chess Deluxe brings the classic strategy game to life with a modern, elegant interface and responsive AI that adapts to your skill level. Whether you're learning your first moves or honing your tactics, enjoy chess exactly how you want to play it - with no ads, no distractions, just pure chess.

Play Your Way:
- Smart AI opponents with Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulties that provide quick, challenging gameplay
- Local multiplayer for face-to-face games on the same device  
- Game Center integration for online matches with friends anywhere
- Flexible move controls with unlimited undo/redo and move highlighting
- Complete game tracking with move history in Standard Algebraic Notation

Beautiful & Intuitive:
- Clean, distraction-free interface designed for pure chess enjoyment
- Smooth animations and satisfying piece movement
- Board rotation for comfortable two-player games
- Captured pieces display and game timer with customisable durations
- Light and dark themes to match your preference
- Crisp sounds that enhance gameplay without interruption

Seamlessly Connected:
- Settings sync across all your devices with iCloud
- Navigate through your game history by selecting any completed move
- No advertisements to interrupt your focus
- Universal purchase includes iOS, iPadOS, and macOS versions

Chess Deluxe is crafted for chess lovers who appreciate thoughtful design and straightforward gameplay. From quick casual games to focused strategy sessions, experience chess the way it should be - simple, beautiful, and always ready when you are.

## Key features

- Smart AI opponents (Easy, Medium, Hard)
- Local multiplayer (same device)
- Online matches via Game Center
- Unlimited undo/redo
- Move history in Standard Algebraic Notation
- Light and dark themes
- iCloud settings sync

## What do users think of Chess Deluxe?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 👍 Simple and clean interface
- 👍 Nice and simple to use
- 👍 Great Chess program
- 👍 Fun Chess app
- 👍 Good basic version of a chess app
- 👍 Great for online play
- 👍 Fantastic interface and design
- 👍 Nice intuitive controls
- 👍 Good for game centre
- 👍 Nice App

**Cons**

- 🐛 Computer difficulty inconsistent
- 🐛 Computer too easy or too hard
- 🐛 App crashes or doesn't work
- 🐛 Poor computer competition
- 🐛 Game rules not implemented correctly
- 🐛 Limited online play options
- 🐛 No sound effects
- 🐛 Paid app with issues

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Computer won't let you win
- Computer moves king to white king
- Game says won when losing
- All pieces are black
- Cannot castle king and rook
- Hard version is easy to beat
- Movements don't feel good
- Sound isn't good
- Cannot play online without crashing
- No way to start a game
- No play button
- Unable to use program
- Doesn't work on iPad
- Doesn't seem to work on IOS 9
- Unable to go past add player name screen
- Game ends with incorrect checkmate
- Rook unable to move to corner piece
- Check counted as checkmate
- Stalemate called incorrectly
- Computer castles illegally
- Computer throws pieces away
- Internet mode doesn't work
- Cannot find users online
- King turns into opponent's queen
- Valid moves blocked
- Cannot play online without redoing moves
- Castling doesn't work
- Cannot resign or remove game

**Most requested features**

- How to record a game
- Intermediate difficulty level
- Option to turn off timer
- See board labels (g column cut off)
- Board labels visible with pieces
- Cross-platform compatibility (iPhone/Mac)
- Sound effects for piece movements
- Online play beyond Wi-Fi proximity

## Recent user reviews (10 of 55)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-deluxe/id500880061/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Zu schwer.

*2026-04-06*

Die Schwierigkeit Leicht ist genau so wie die Schwierigkeitsstufe Mittel. Enttäuschend.

### 5/5 — Simple and clean

*2026-03-27*

It's chess! Nice simple app with all the features I like.

### 1/5 — Computer

*2025-04-12, version 2.12.2*

The computer wont let you win

### 4/5 — How to record a game?

*2025-03-31*

Good Chess game. How can I record a game on my IPad Pro, in order to be able to view the replay of the whole game later on

### 4/5 — The Test

*2025-01-16, version 2.12.2*

Awesomeness

### 1/5 — terrible

*2024-09-25, version 2.12.2*

do not buy

### 5/5 — chess

*2024-05-26, version 2.12.2*

chess is fun

### 5/5 — fun!

*2024-02-28*

Rediscovering the chess of my youth when i can get away with it on my computer. Good stuff.

### 1/5 — SORRY

*2024-01-18, version 2.12.1*

This app.only allows me to play just with my friends.

### 1/5 — sehr schwaches Programm

*2022-12-22*

sehr schwaches Programm

## Frequently asked questions about Chess Deluxe

### What is Chess Deluxe?

Chess Deluxe is a mobile application that provides a classic chess experience with a beautiful design and intelligent gameplay. It offers various ways to play, including against AI opponents, with friends locally on the same device, or online through Game Center integration.

### What are the key features of Chess Deluxe?

Key features include smart AI opponents with adjustable difficulty, local and online multiplayer modes, flexible move controls with unlimited undo/redo, comprehensive game tracking with move history, a clean and intuitive interface with customizable themes, and seamless settings synchronization via iCloud.

### How much does Chess Deluxe cost?

Chess Deluxe is a paid application. A single purchase grants access to the iOS, iPadOS, and macOS versions of the game, offering a universal experience without ongoing subscriptions or in-app purchases.

### What devices is Chess Deluxe compatible with?

The application is designed for a universal purchase, meaning it is compatible with iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices. Your settings and game progress can be synced across these devices using iCloud.

### Who is Chess Deluxe designed for?

This app is crafted for chess lovers who appreciate thoughtful design and straightforward gameplay. It caters to both beginners learning the game and experienced players looking for a challenging and distraction-free strategic experience.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.14.1 — 2025-12-29

Thanks for playing Chess Deluxe! This update includes:
- Updates for Liquid Glass
- Improved performance and stability
- Bug fixes

### 2.14 — 2025-09-12

Thanks for playing Chess Deluxe! This update includes:
  - New FAQ with expanded help documentation in all supported languages
  - Enhanced AI performance with smarter gameplay
  - Better overall app performance and stability
  - Various bug fixes and performance optimizations

### 2.13.2 — 2025-07-19

Thanks for playing Chess Deluxe!

This update includes behind-the-scenes improvements for better stability and enhanced visual polish, including refined colour highlights and smoother animations.

### 2.13.1 — 2025-06-15

Thanks for playing Chess Deluxe. This update includes:
- A fix for slow computer moves

2.13 includes:
- Performance and stability improvements
- Improvements for iOS 18 and macOS 15
- Various other fixes and improvements

### 2.13 — 2025-06-09

Thanks for playing Chess Deluxe. This update includes:
- Performance and stability improvements
- Improvements for iOS 18 and macOS 15
- Various other fixes and improvements

## Apps similar to Chess Deluxe

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Chess Clash: Online & Offline](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-clash-online-and-offline/id1543399979) | 4.7 (3,130) | Free | Games |
| [Chess.com - Play and Learn](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549) | 4.8 (814,816) | Free | Games |
| [Chess:](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id378161776) | 4.7 (1,530) | Free | Games |
| [Chess ∙](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id311395856) | 4.5 (204,953) | Free | Games |
| [SocialChess • Online Chess](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/socialchess-online-chess/id442239737) | 4.7 (7,168) | Free | Games |
| [Chess Royale](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-royale/id1434658250) | 4.5 (19,911) | Free | Games |

## More apps by Nicholas Cooke

- [Alive 90.5](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alive-905/id385437783)

All apps by Nicholas Cooke: https://appshunter.io/developer/363977390

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-02.*