# Chess - tChess Lite — Fun and easy to use

> Virtual chess board game for casual players on iOS devices. (iPhone/iPad app by Tom Kerrigan.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tchess-lite/id296756437 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Tom Kerrigan](https://appshunter.io/developer/295445504)
- Category: Games, Entertainment, Board, Strategy
- Price: $0.99
- Rating: 4.60/5 from 77 App Store ratings · 267 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 26.0 · 6 MB
- Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified, China)
- Released: 2008-11-15
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tchess-lite/id296756437/reviews.md

## What is Chess?

tChess Lite is the popular chess game designed just for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. tChess is like a virtual chess board on your device. It's fun and easy to use--perfect for the casual player!

This game features a very clean UI design and beautiful graphics. tChess is a fast and stable program. Pick up a game in your free time... and there's no problem listening to your music while you play.

(tChess Lite is a fully-functional version of tChess for casual chess players. If you're an active player and want enthusiast-level features, take a look at tChess Pro, which is over 1000 ELO stronger and has received rave reviews from Grandmaster Susan Polgar, PE's Chess Cast, and iPhone app critics.)


tChess Lite Features:

- Perfect for 1- or 2-player games (on the same device, no network connection required)
- Tap-tap to move pieces
- Highlights legal moves
- View full game history in the Move List
- Go back or forward move by move and replay completed games
- Built-in chess clock
- "Get hint" feature to improve your game
- Easy to undo moves
- Saves your game automatically if you exit the program or take a call
- Play against any ELO rating from 500 to 1200
- Computer opponent is the most fun and realistic for beginners and casual players
- Use the Profile feature to play rated games and track your progress
- Over 15,000 openings for fresh, varied games


tChess Lite is developed by Tom Kerrigan, author of the TSCP and Stobor chess engines.

## Key features

- 1- or 2-player games on one device
- Tap-to-move piece selection
- Highlights legal moves
- Full game history and move list
- Built-in chess clock
- Get hint feature
- Undo moves

## What do users think of Chess?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Great app
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 💡 Helpful hints and features
- 🎨 Excellent graphics and visuals
- 🧠 Challenging AI opponent
- 📊 Useful rating/progress tracking

**Cons**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔍 Limited difficulty levels
- 🤖 AI can be predictable at times
- 💤 Lack of online/multiplayer options

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Inconsistent pawn movement rules
- Stalemate issues and computer refusing to resign
- Connectivity problems with Game Center

**Most requested features**

- Ability to set up custom board positions
- More difficulty levels and ELO ratings
- Online/multiplayer functionality
- Notification options for opponent moves
- Chess puzzle/training mode

## Recent user reviews (10 of 267)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tchess-lite/id296756437/reviews.md

### 5/5 — The Best!

*2026-05-07*

This app has been an Excellent Training Tool over the years. I also like the Price.

### 5/5 — Mr

*2026-03-27, version 2.0.1*

I have always enjoyed playing and measuring my skills level.  I welcome any further improvements.

### 5/5 — Great app!

*2026-03-25*

The ability to practice, study and review moves is supreme!

### 5/5 — Wie im richtigen Spiel

*2026-02-13*

Man kommt sich vor, als sitzt man direkt am Tisch. Wenn man nicht weiter weiß, dann hilft das System weiter. Mehr als nur ein willkommener Zeitvertreib…

### 5/5 — Great app!

*2025-12-04*

I have used this app for years and find it very helpful and relaxing!

### 5/5 — 1100원에 재미있게 즐기고 있어요

*2025-11-28*

아들이 계속 체스하자고 해서 배울겸 깔았는데 힘들긴 한데 재미있네요

### 1/5 — Garbage

*2025-06-11, version 2.0.0*

This app is a hot pile of garbage

### 5/5 — Perfect

*2024-10-20*

The computer opponent strength is perfect. I’ve played a lot of chess games where it goes from too easy to impossible, with nothing in between. This game doesn’t seem to have that problem. It’s a nice gradual ramp up. Easy (but not too easy) to difficult (but still beatable).  There’s nothing that kills enthusiasm for a game more quickly than impossibly difficult odds. This game happily avoids that pitfall. Looking forward to many more enjoyable games.

### 5/5 — The way to become a champion

*2024-02-02*

This is fun, challenging, and it varies the response even with the same set up very smart

### 5/5 — Good for learning game

*2024-01-27*

I am still learning the game so this works great for me. I get an idea of how I am rated as I progress from game to game.

## Frequently asked questions about Chess

### What is tChess Lite?

tChess Lite is a chess game designed for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. It functions as a virtual chess board, offering a fun and easy-to-use experience for casual players. The app features a clean UI, beautiful graphics, and stable performance.

### What are the key features of tChess Lite?

Key features include 1- or 2-player games on the same device without a network connection, tap-to-move controls, highlighting legal moves, viewing full game history, replaying games move by move, a built-in chess clock, a 'get hint' feature, and the ability to undo moves. Games are also saved automatically.

### Is tChess Lite free to play?

Yes, tChess Lite is a free version of the chess game. It is fully functional for casual chess players. For more advanced features and a stronger computer opponent, there is a separate paid version called tChess Pro.

### Can I play tChess Lite offline?

Yes, tChess Lite is designed for offline play. You can enjoy 1- or 2-player games on the same device without requiring any network connection. This makes it convenient to play anytime, anywhere.

### Who is tChess Lite best suited for?

tChess Lite is perfect for beginners and casual chess players. It offers an ELO rating range from 500 to 1200, with a computer opponent designed to be fun and realistic for this audience. It's also great for those who want to pick up a game in their free time.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.0.1 — 2025-11-29

- Updated for the latest version of iOS
- Fixed a bug where the animations would become jerky if the app was open for a long time

### 2.0.0 — 2022-07-03

- Added the ability to review your opponent's last move if he requests a takeback
- Added a setting to control the sound volume (in the Interface tab)

### 1.9.3 — 2020-05-19

- Improved the process for logging in to Game Center

### 1.9.2 — 2020-05-17

- NOTE: This version removes the old system for playing online games and chatting with online opponents. If you're still playing games using the old system, please finish those games and switch to the new system. (You were told this transition was going to happen more than a year ago.) The new system is called "Play online" and is accessed via the cloud button on the main toolbar. 

- Added support for Dark Mode
- Added support for split-screen mode on the iPad
- Increased the size of the opening library to 75,000 moves

### 1.9.1 — 2019-04-07

- Fixed a bug where some "Play online" games could get unsynchronized and stuck
- Added a message to explain that "Play online" games are not necessarily real-time

## Apps similar to Chess

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Chess - tChess Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tchess-pro/id295445501) | 4.7 (251) | $7.99 | Games |
| [Chess - Learn, Play & Trainer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-learn-play-and-trainer/id378161776) | 4.6 (1,523) | Free | Games |
| [SocialChess • Online Chess](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/socialchess-online-chess/id442239737) | 4.7 (7,168) | Free | Games |
| [Chess.com - Play and Learn](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesscom-play-and-learn/id329218549) | 4.8 (812,130) | Free | Games |
| [Chess Time - Multiplayer Chess](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-time-multiplayer-chess/id455602152) | 4.7 (1,664) | Free | Games |
| [Chess ∙](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess/id311395856) | 4.5 (204,953) | Free | Games |

## More apps by Tom Kerrigan

- [Chess - tChess Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tchess-pro/id295445501)
- [Chess - Learn Chess](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-learn-chess/id305309870)
- [PopGroup](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popgroup/id318974349)
- [PopGroup Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/popgroup-lite/id318975161)
- [Chess - tChess Pro (Int'l)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chess-tchess-pro-intl/id333297414)

All apps by Tom Kerrigan: https://appshunter.io/developer/295445504

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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 2026-08-26.*