# Losing chess — The most popular chess variant

> Play chess variant where the goal is to lose all pieces or be stalemated. (iPhone/iPad app by Jan Maes.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/losing-chess/id1556993151 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Jan Maes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1550506252)
- Category: Games, Board, Puzzle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 5 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 14 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2021-03-29
- Data updated: 2026-08-03
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/losing-chess/id1556993151/reviews.md

## What is Losing chess?

Play losing chess against the AI, solve one of the 100 puzzles, or play against a friend on the same device.

Losing chess is one of the most popular chess variants. The overall goal of each player is to lose all of their pieces or be stalemated.

The rules are the same as those for standard chess, except for the following special rules:

- capturing is compulsory.

- The king has no royal power and it may be captured as any other piece.

- There is no check or checkmate and no castling.

- A pawn can be promoted to a king.

A player wins by being unable to make a move. This can be because he has no pieces left or his pieces are stalemated.

## Key features

- Play losing chess against AI
- Solve 100 unique puzzles
- Local multiplayer mode
- Compulsory captures
- Capturable king
- Pawn promotion to king

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock all features | $1.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/losing-chess/id1556993151/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Misleading

*2023-07-16*

The suicide chess variant is good against the computer, but to player 1 on 1 you pay $2.99.  When purchased, it doesn’t seem to do anything and this seems to me like on-device PVP not online PVP, which i find very misleading.

**Developer response:** Hi SuperSquibbly,
I apologise. The 1 on 1 player is indeed on the device. It never occurred to me that this could be misleading and be interpreted as online play. When I update the app in the future, I will keep this in mind and make it more clear that the 1vs1 is on the device itself.

### 4/5 — Really fun

*2023-05-26*

This is a great app! My single gripe is that it takes audio priority and the only audio it has is the clicks of chess pieces. I’d love to be able to listen to my music while playing.

## Frequently asked questions about Losing chess

### What are the main differences in Losing Chess rules?

In Losing Chess, capturing is compulsory, the king can be captured like any other piece, and there is no check or checkmate. A pawn can also be promoted to a king.

### How do you win in Losing Chess?

You win by being unable to make a move, which typically happens when you have no pieces left or your remaining pieces are stalemated.

### Does Losing Chess have a single-player mode?

Yes, Losing Chess offers a single-player mode where you can play against the AI or solve 100 unique puzzles.

### Can I play Losing Chess with friends?

Yes, Losing Chess supports local multiplayer, allowing you to play against a friend on the same device.

### What devices is Losing Chess available on?

Losing Chess is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod, as indicated by its supported devices.

### What is the age rating for Losing Chess?

Losing Chess has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of players.

### Does Losing Chess have ads?

Yes, Losing Chess contains advertisements.

### When was Losing Chess last updated?

Losing Chess was last updated on March 30, 2022, with the latest version being 1.1.

## Version history (last 2 releases)

### 1.1 — 2022-03-30

Updated for newer iOS versions.

### 1.0 — 2021-03-29

No release notes.

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## More apps by Jan Maes

- [Groovy Metronome](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/groovy-metronome/id1550506250)
- [Groovy Pianotuner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/groovy-pianotuner/id1565645496)
- [ASMR Marble](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/asmr-marble/id1576763348)
- [jAmp 8100](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jamp-8100/id6450633716)
- [Cab ML](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cab-ml/id6469339928)

All apps by Jan Maes: https://appshunter.io/developer/1550506252

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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 2026-08-03.*