# OpenMate — Strong chess, opening coach

> Offline chess engine with opening coach and analysis tools for improvement. (iPhone/iPad app by RAMINE ROANE.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openmate/id6760992582 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [RAMINE ROANE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887179395)
- Category: Games, Education, Board, Strategy
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 6 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 20 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2026-03-25
- Data updated: 2026-07-20
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openmate/id6760992582/reviews.md

## What is OpenMate?

Learn chess openings, or play chess against a strong, fast engine with built-in coaching and analysis tools.
OpenMate runs entirely on your device. No internet connection, no accounts, and no data collection. Everything is local, private, and instant.
Designed for both play and improvement, OpenMate combines engine strength with visual guidance and practical coaching to help you understand the game as you play.

Features:

• Strong, fast engine with instant responses: ~4M nodes per second on an iPhone 16 (half on Low Power Mode), ~2800 ELO at 3s/move!
• Fully offline: no network access required
• Hint mode with visual coaching:
  - Opening guidance with move suggestions and lists (multicolor arrows)
  - Engine-recommended moves (green arrows)
  - Threat visualization (red arrows)
• Built-in opening knowledge to guide early play
• Strategy tips with both chess terminology and plain-English explanations
• Play as White or Black
• Flip the board anytime
• Undo moves freely at any point
• No clock: play at your own pace without time pressure

OpenMate is designed to remove friction and distractions. There are no ads, no sign-ups, and no interruptions. Just chess.

Whether you want to practice openings, analyze positions, or simply play strong games offline, OpenMate gives you a focused and responsive experience.

Built for iPhone and iPad, tested across devices, and optimized for smooth performance.

## Key features

- Strong, fast chess engine
- Fully offline functionality
- Visual coaching with move suggestions
- Built-in opening knowledge
- Strategy tips and explanations
- Play at your own pace, no clock
- Undo moves freely

## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/openmate/id6760992582/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Powerful engine and great game analysis

*2026-04-02*

This app gives you both a powerful chess engine that you can play with, along with wonderful game analysis features such as move records, move suggestions, plus-minus scores, etc.

### 5/5 — Great for all skill levels!

*2026-03-26*

Lots of fun 🦞 you can adjust the level and toggle hints!

### 5/5 — Best chess app I have seen

*2026-03-26*

Best chess app I have seen.  Love the way to suggests moves to make.  Great way to play like a pro.

## Frequently asked questions about OpenMate

### How strong is the chess engine in OpenMate?

OpenMate features a strong and fast engine capable of around 4 million nodes per second on an iPhone 16, achieving approximately 2800 ELO at 3 seconds per move. This provides a challenging opponent for improvement.

### Can I play OpenMate offline?

Yes, OpenMate is designed to run entirely on your device without any internet connection. This means no network access is required, ensuring complete privacy and instant play.

### What kind of coaching does OpenMate offer?

OpenMate provides visual coaching with multicolor arrows for opening guidance and engine-recommended moves. It also offers threat visualization and strategy tips explained in both chess terminology and plain English.

### Does OpenMate have ads?

No, OpenMate is completely ad-free. The app is designed to remove friction and distractions, offering a pure chess experience without any advertisements.

### What devices is OpenMate available on?

OpenMate is built for iPhone and iPad, offering smooth performance optimized across these devices. It is compatible with devices rated for age 4 and up.

### How often is OpenMate updated?

The latest version of OpenMate is 1.1.0, last updated on May 18, 2026. Updates aim to improve performance and features for a smooth user experience.

### Is there a time limit when playing OpenMate?

No, OpenMate does not have a clock. You can play at your own pace without any time pressure, allowing for thoughtful moves and analysis.

### What is the user sentiment for OpenMate?

Based on the available data, OpenMate has a perfect rating of 5.0 stars from 6 ratings, indicating very positive user sentiment.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 1.1.0 — 2026-05-18

What's New in Version 1.1.0                                     

  Estimated ELO rating
  After each game, OpenMate shows your estimated ELO rating based on your move accuracy. A fun way to track improvement over time.

  Stronger engine & opening book
  Improved time management leads to deeper, more consistent play. The opening book no longer suggests moves that give away castling rights.

  Learn Openings — new mode                                       
  Explore chess openings at your own pace by playing both colors freely. No AI opponent — just you, the board, and the opening book. Arrows guide whichever side is to move. Perfect for memorizing and understanding opening ideas before playing against the AI.

  Redo
  You can now redo moves after undoing them, in both Play vs AI and Learn Openings modes.

  Redesigned setup screen
  The new game screen now leads with a clear choice: Learn Openings or Play vs AI, where options (difficulty, opening book) are shown.

### 1.0.2 — 2026-04-01

- Four difficulty levels: Learner (coaching mode), Club (2000+ elo), Master (2500+ elo), and GM (2800+ elo).
- Stronger engine: Improved engine across all levels, with smarter search and better tactical awareness. GM mode can play at 2800+ ELO on airplane mode, off "Low Power Mode" on a modern device.
- Bigger board & pieces: The board now uses the full screen width, and pieces are larger and crisp on every device. Eval bar now sits above the board instead of beside it.
- New Learner mode: Adjustable difficulty slider (depth 1–6) with coaching tips, hints, and real-time position evaluation. Perfect for beginners.
- Color-coded opening hints: Each book variation gets its own color with numbered badges. Opening legend shows variation names and popularity percentages.
- Clearer game info: Search stats are now human-readable
- Older iOS support: 16.0+

### 1.0.1 — 2026-03-26

Supports older iOS versions (iOS 18+)

### 1.0 — 2026-03-25

No release notes.

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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 2026-07-20.*
