# Chess Shield — Chess puzzles, less scrolling. > Chess puzzle app that blocks distracting apps to improve chess skills. (iPhone/iPad app by Alejandro Trevino Saldana.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-shield/id6772290132 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Alejandro Trevino Saldana](https://appshunter.io/developer/6772290134) - Category: Productivity, Education - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 1.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.1 · 51 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-05-27 - Data updated: 2026-08-23 - Monetization: freemium - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-shield/id6772290132/reviews.md ## What is Chess Shield? For chess players who want to actually get better. Endless scrolling steals the hours you'd rather spend improving. Chess Shield blocks the apps that eat your chess time. Try to open one, and a puzzle takes over the screen. Solve it to get past. Every solve moves your ELO. HOW IT WORKS Pick the apps you reach for when you meant to study. Instagram, TikTok, X, whatever's eating you. When you try to open them, a puzzle takes over. Solve it to unlock the app for a few minutes. The puzzles match your level. Type your chess.com or Lichess ELO and we'll start there. Or skip the input and we'll test you with three puzzles. From then on, every puzzle is challenging enough to make you think, solvable enough that you'll get there. Insights show you which tactics keep tripping you up. Your ELO moves in real time on every solve. FREE INCLUDES – Unlimited puzzles, matched to your ELO – 6 starter tactics: Fork, Pin, Skewer, Mate-in-1, Mate-in-2, Back-rank – 1 shielded app – Full ELO tracking – Insights into what you solve and what you miss PRO UNLOCKS – All 52 advanced tactics. Mate-in-3, Discovered Attack, Zwischenzug, endgames. The full library, not just the starters. – See every blind spot. Insights unlocks every theme. Your full weakness map, no locked tiles. – Block every app you want, not just one. Plenty to start on Free. Pro is where you stop guessing what to study. 7-day free trial on the yearly plan. $4.99/month or $39.99/year. WHY IT'S DIFFERENT Most focus apps are guilt machines. Most chess apps want your scroll. Chess Shield does both jobs at once. Every minute in here is measurable progress, not just dopamine. If you've ever wished the time you waste scrolling could be real chess time, this is it. PRIVACY We don't collect anything. No accounts, no analytics, no backend. The apps you block are opaque tokens iOS hands us. We literally can't see them. Everything stays on your device. ——— Subscription details Chess Shield Pro is offered as a monthly ($4.99/month) or yearly ($39.99/year) auto-renewing subscription. The yearly plan includes a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation. The subscription auto-renews unless turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in iPhone Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions. Privacy Policy: https://chessshield.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://chessshield.com/terms ## Key features - Blocks distracting apps - Replaces app opens with chess puzzles - Puzzles matched to ELO - Tracks ELO in real-time - Tactical insights - Unlimited puzzles (Free) - Block multiple apps (Pro) ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Chess Shield Pro | $4.99 | per month | | Chess Shield Pro | $39.99 | per year | ## Recent user reviews (1 of 1) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-shield/id6772290132/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Apps not being unlocked *2026-07-29* Once my app was blocked, I’d be redirected to the Chess shield app to solve a puzzle and get the app back. I’d solve the puzzle, and the app (YouTube for example) would come up as unlocked, but when I click on the app redirect to go back into it, it still shows up as blocked and I keep having to solve puzzles, with no luck unblocking the apps, and burning up free puzzles. Please fix this. ## Frequently asked questions about Chess Shield ### How does Chess Shield help me improve at chess? Chess Shield blocks apps you might use for distraction, replacing them with chess puzzles. Solving these puzzles helps you practice tactics and moves, directly contributing to your ELO improvement and identifying areas for growth. ### Does Chess Shield have ads? No, Chess Shield does not contain advertisements. The app is free to use with basic features, and offers an optional Pro subscription for advanced functionality. ### What are the subscription options for Chess Shield Pro? Chess Shield Pro is available as a monthly subscription for $4.99 or a yearly subscription for $39.99. The yearly plan includes a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. ### How are the chess puzzles tailored to my skill level? You can input your current chess.com or Lichess ELO, and the app will generate puzzles matching your level. Alternatively, it can test you with three puzzles to establish a starting point. ### What kind of tactical insights does Chess Shield provide? Chess Shield offers insights into which tactics you are solving correctly and which ones you are missing. The Pro version unlocks a full weakness map, showing all tactical themes and blind spots. ### Can I block more than one app with Chess Shield? The free version of Chess Shield allows you to block one app. To block every app you want, you will need to upgrade to Chess Shield Pro. ### How often is Chess Shield updated? The latest version of Chess Shield is 1.0.8, which was last updated on August 1, 2026. Updates typically occur to introduce new features or improve performance. ### Is Chess Shield available on Android devices? Based on the provided information, Chess Shield is currently supported on iPhone and iPod. There is no mention of Android compatibility at this time. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.0.8 — 2026-08-01 Switching between Timed and Every Open is now smoother. Your blocks always stay set the way you want. ### 1.0.6 — 2026-07-21 The 7-day free trial now starts on the monthly plan, so you can try Pro for a week and keep going at $4.99 a month. ### 1.0.5 — 2026-07-07 A shield that always shows the right state, faster notifications in Focus modes, and a bunch of little fixes to make everything smoother. ### 1.0.4 — 2026-07-05 What's new: Every Open mode. For the apps you really want to cut back on, you can now require a puzzle every single time you open them, not just once for a block of time. Maximum friction, maximum focus. A new analysis board. After you solve a puzzle, open it up, move the pieces yourself, and see the best lines. Like having a coach look over your shoulder. Redeem creator codes right inside the app. Plus a round of fixes and refinements to keep everything running smoothly. ### 1.0.3 — 2026-06-09 What's new in v1.0.3 A rebuilt onboarding that shows you the math: how much time you're trading, and what that becomes in chess practice. • Personalized Pro screen tailored to your stated goals • Daily training target shared across Practice and Shield • Expanded Pro tactic library with deeper mate patterns and endgame studies • Improved Focus Mode and notification setup so the shield doesn't go silent in DND • Cleaner Insights with clearer Free / Pro separation • Pro welcome screen for new subscribers • Performance polish and stability improvements Onward to your next rating jump. ## Related topics [eblino](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/eblino) · [chess puzzles to improve skills](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/chess-puzzles-to-improve-skills) · [technique of japanese chess](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/technique-of-japanese-chess) · [puzzlers jo](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/puzzlers-jo) · [chess endgame studies](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/chess-endgame-studies) · [chessnut air](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/chessnut-air) --- *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 2026-08-23.*