Reconnaissance Blind Chess vs LearnChess Pro
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Reconnaissance Blind Chess
This app offers a unique chess variant where players cannot see their opponent's pieces. Utilize private sensing actions to gather information and strategize your moves. Compete in ranked or unranked games against AI bots.
- Imperfect information gameplay
- Private sensing actions
- Ranked and unranked game modes
- AI bot opponents
- Capture-based win condition
- Time-based win condition
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The Reconnaissance Blind Chess (RBC) variant was invented in 2015 at JHU/APL as an experimentation platform to study artificial intelligence (AI). RBC includes imperfect information, long-term strategy, explicit observations, and very little common knowledge between opponents. In the RBC variant, the opponents cannot see each other’s pieces but can learn about them through private, explicit sensing actions. In unranked RBC games, the player plays with a guest account. They choose their opponent from a list of available bots and select their color (white or black). An unranked RBC game will not affect the player's rating. In ranked RBC games, the player logs in with their RBC account credentials, and their opponent and color are chosen at random. It may take a few seconds to be matched up against an opponent. A ranked RBC game will affect the player's rating. Game Rules: Reconnaissance Blind Chess (RBC) was intentionally designed to keep the game as close to traditional chess as possible while adding an appropriate amount of uncertainty and explicit sensing. RBC is like chess but includes the following core differences: A player cannot see their opponent's pieces. Prior to making each move, a player selects a 3×3 region of the chess board (via green outline on the relevant squares) to “sense” the pieces in that region. The player is informed of the true piece configuration within the sensed 3×3 region. The opponent is not informed about where the player sensed. When a player captures a piece, they are informed (via red outline on the relevant square) that they made a capture, but they are not informed about what piece they captured. When a player's piece is captured, they are informed (via red outline on the relevant square) that their piece was captured, but they are not informed about what piece captured it. There is no notion of check or mate because neither player can be definitively aware of any check relationship. A player wins by capturing the opponent's king or when the opponent runs out of time. Each player begins with a cumulative 15-minute clock to make all their moves. If a player tries to move a sliding piece through an opponent's piece, the opponent's piece is captured and the moved piece is stopped where the capture occurred. The moving player is notified of the square where the piece landed (via red outline on the relevant square), and both players are notified of the capture in the manner stated above. If a player attempts to make an illegal move, such as a pawn diagonally to an empty square, or a pawn forward to an occupied square, or a castle through an interposing piece, they are notified that the move did not succeed and their turn is over. However, castling through check is allowed because the notion of check is removed. There is a "pass" option that a player can select if they prefer to make no move during their turn. A player has access to reserve pieces that they can drag on and off the board to better visualize the state of the board, based on their belief of where their opponent's pieces are located. The turn tracker informs the player when it is their turn to sense and move, and when it is the opponent's turn.
LearnChess Pro
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LearnChess.pro is your ultimate chess learning and community app, designed for players of all levels. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, this app provides the tools and connections you need to grow in chess and beyond. Key Features: Interactive Lessons: Learn everything from the basics to advanced tactics at your own pace. Daily Challenges: Stay consistent with tasks designed to build strong chess habits. Community Feed: Share puzzles, achievements, progress, and ideas with like-minded players. Messaging: Communicate directly with other students or your coach to discuss strategies and progress. Structured Courses: Includes foundational courses like MasterChess Basics in 8 Days. Why Chess? Chess is not just a game—it’s a pathway to personal and intellectual growth: Build decision-making, critical thinking, and quick-thinking skills. Foster leadership and creativity, helping you excel in any field. Encourage maturity, awareness, and out-of-the-box thinking. Identify challenges in kids that need nurturing and correction. Experience focus, calmness, and joy, making chess a form of meditation. As Coach Sai Prahlad K says: "Chess helps you connect with your mind and soul. It sharpens focus, enhances creativity, and brings a sense of calm. Play chess every day—not for the rating, but for the growth, joy, and endless possibilities it offers." About Us: LearnChess.pro is brought to you by Seed Succeed Chess Academy, Chennai, led by Coach Sai Prahlad K (Arena Grandmaster) and AbiJayath, the 4-year-old chess coach. Join us on this exciting journey to master chess, connect with others, and unlock your full potential. Let’s grow and enjoy the game together!
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Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Reconnaissance Blind Chess at none against LearnChess Pro's 1. LearnChess Pro's advantage is update cadence (every 9 months vs every 32 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. LearnChess Pro sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Reconnaissance Blind Chess asks for nothing beyond the download.
Reconnaissance Blind Chess ships an update every 32 months, LearnChess Pro every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on June 7, 2026 and May 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Reconnaissance Blind Chess | LearnChess Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 32 months | Every 9 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 52 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory | TagMango Inc |
In-app purchases
Reconnaissance Blind Chess
No in-app purchases
LearnChess Pro
- Your Self-Learning Roadmap$7.99
Questions
Is Reconnaissance Blind Chess free?
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Which is updated more often, Reconnaissance Blind Chess or LearnChess Pro?
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