Chess Only

Chess Only

Improve your chess by playing

29 ratings
24 reviews
Free

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • May 25, 2021
  • June 7, 2026

Features

Chess Only screenshot #1 for iPhone
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About

Enhance your chess skills with instant analysis and tactical puzzles. This app offers a human-like engine with adjustable difficulty and an evaluation bar with blunder alerts. Play and study without distractions, with features like move trial and PGN saving.

Instant game analysis
Tactical puzzles
Human-like engine (Elo 400-2500)
Evaluation bar with blunder alert
Try moves out of game play
PGN file saving
Over-the-board mode
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What's New in Chess Only

1.29

June 7, 2026

- fix broken UI by Accessibility Show Borders or Button Shapes. (Thanks to Kishan)

User reviews

Great for improving my ability to see blunders

Being able to back up and try other variations is a great feature. Best of all, a truly free app!

Just chess

Just plays chess, can be very hard to beat on higher levels, no gimmicks, just chess. For anyone who played Chessmaster running the king engine, it has that kind of style, quite human at times, if it blunders and you miss it the engine will come back stronger. I do like the fact the engine will resign (you can refuse) or offer a draw, makes it feel much more natural. A note to the dev, the buttons are there to save a game as pgn file but can’t seem to locate the file in the files app on iPad, any ideas?
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Response from developer

Thanks a lot for the thoughtful review. I just found and fixed saving a game doesn't work sometimes. 1.1 will address the issue in a day or two. chessonly.pgn is expected to be located at "On My iPad/Chess Only" in Files App.

Almost perfect!

That's the app I’ve been looking for. Thanks for putting time and effort into it 🙌 The only thing missing is an option to configure the time when creating a new game (including games with no time).

Response from developer

Thanks a lot for the feedback. Just letting you know 1.0 is now released, which has “blitz” speed, meaning “as quick as possible”. For player’s time, it’s there for reference purpose only, no penalty by time spent.

Garbage chess

Placed opponent in check mate multiple times and app decides to say stalemate. Stupid computer can’t win and doesn’t want to give any points so it gives stalemate. Very disappointing app. In two moves the computer says stalemate.

Response from developer

Thanks for the feedback. Stalemate is one of the most interesting (or frustrating :) part of the chess. Theorists say it’s there for the balance of the game by reducing the innate disadvantage of black. Wish you don’t meet the stalemate any longer.

The only app to have for chess

Real good, Just chess
without endless popups adds of machine gun games and slot machines flashing in your face and cockblocking the function controls

FAQ

What does Chess Only do?

Chess Only is a dedicated application designed to help users improve their chess skills. It provides instant game analysis, tactical puzzles generated by a human-like engine, and features to try out moves without consequence.

What are the key features of Chess Only?

Key features include instant game analysis with a blunder alert, a human-like engine that offers draw/resign options and spans Elo 400 to 2500, the ability to try moves out of game play, PGN file saving, and an over-the-board mode.

Is Chess Only free to use?

Yes, Chess Only is a free application. It explicitly states 'No ads. No network. No gimmicks.' and does not mention any in-app purchases or subscription models.

What kind of chess engine does Chess Only use?

The app utilizes a human-like engine that is designed to provide realistic gameplay and analysis. This engine is capable of offering draw or resign options and covers a wide Elo range from 400 to 2500, making it suitable for players of various skill levels.

Who would benefit from using Chess Only?

Chess players of all levels, from beginners to advanced players, can benefit from Chess Only. It is particularly useful for those who want to analyze their games, practice tactical situations, and improve their understanding of chess strategy without distractions.