Comparison

BookMoves vs ChessClues

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BookMoves

Master chess openings with a unique blend of theory, computer science, and spaced repetition. Memorize hundreds of variants for both sides and transition from rote learning to intuitive application. Overcome the forgetting curve with an innovative technique for lasting mastery.

Highlights
  • Chess opening theory
  • Spaced repetition learning
  • Hundreds of chess variants
  • Statistical probabilities
  • Integrated scoring system
  • Algorithmic improvement
Features
Read full description

Embark on a transformative chess journey with our groundbreaking app, seamlessly blending Opening Theory, Computer Science, and Space Repetition. Easily memorize hundreds of chess variants for both white and black, transitioning from rote memorization to intuitive application of knowledge. Overcome the Forgetting Curve using our innovative Space Repetition technique, converting short-term storage into lasting mastery. Access a comprehensive database of 1 million+ opening variants, each accompanied by statistical probabilities. Our integrated scoring system considers game statistics and parameters for effective play, constantly evolving to provide you with the strongest advantage at your current skill level. Experience the power of continuous algorithmic improvement, ensuring you stay ahead in every game. Optimized for mobile, our app lets you practice openings anytime, anywhere, enhancing your skills on the move. Unleash your chess potential by consistently training with new openings, conveniently accessible through your mobile browser. Elevate your game, break free from stagnation, and become the chess pro you aspire to be. Start your journey to mastery today!

About

ChessClues

Features
Read full description

Every opening has its own tactics. In the Italian, royal forks turn up four times more often than in chess as a whole. In the Caro-Kann, it is Boden's mate. ChessClues shows you the tactics, patterns and mates that happen in the openings you play, and teaches you how to win with them. Tactics trainers teach patterns in isolation. Opening trainers teach moves. ChessClues connects the two: pick your openings, and see which patterns turn up in them more often than in chess as a whole, ranked from real club games. SEE THE TACTICS IN EVERY OPENING • The Pattern Atlas for each opening: its signature tactics, ranked by how often they appear there. • Each pattern explained in plain words: what to look for, and why it works. • The typical pawn structures of the opening, with a plan for each. • The main named lines, and the traps club players fall into, move by move. LEARN TO WIN IN YOUR OPENING • A learning path for each opening: a pattern tour, its traps, its top tactics from easiest to hardest, then a final test. • 36 interactive courses, 216 short lessons where you play the moves: one course per opening, plus checkmates, tactics by name, finishing the game, and pawn and rook endgames. • Your teacher, Finn or Nia, talks you through every lesson. THE MATES THAT HAPPEN IN YOUR OPENING Smothered mate, back-rank mate, Légal's mate, Boden's mate and dozens more, each shown in the openings where it really happens. PRACTISE ON REAL POSITIONS More than 140,000 puzzles from real games in your openings, at three levels: • Spot: one move wins it. • Set-up: one forcing move first, then the payoff. • Deep: three moves and beyond. Spaced review brings back the patterns you are still missing. Recognise trains your eye: ten real positions, five seconds each. 13 OPENINGS As White: Italian, Ruy Lopez, Scotch, Vienna, Bishop's Opening, Four Knights, Queen's Pawn Game (London setup). As Black: Sicilian, French, Caro-Kann, Scandinavian, Philidor, Queen's Gambit Declined. EVERY DAY • A daily drill of 5 puzzles from your openings. Free. • Trap of the day and pattern of the day. • A blind-spot grid: your openings against their top patterns, by mastery. • Across your openings: the patterns they share, to learn first. • Search a pattern by name (smothered mate, royal fork) and see which openings produce it. • Tactics tree and Endgame Atlas: the same patterns under their textbook names, and the endgames each opening tends to reach. MADE FOR 800–1600 PLAYERS Choose your openings and rating; change them any time in Settings. OFFLINE, NO ACCOUNT Everything ships inside the app and works offline. No sign-in, no ads, no analytics. Progress stays on your device. The app goes online only for purchases. Two-pane layout on iPad and Mac. FREE AND ALL ACCESS Free, the same for everyone: the daily drill; 100 Spot and Set-up puzzles in every opening; 10 in every pattern and mate; the top three patterns of every opening in the Atlas; five traps in every opening; the first two lessons of every course. All Access opens every level including Deep, every trap, all 216 lessons, the full Atlas, and everything added while you have access. Choose a yearly subscription or a one-time lifetime unlock; the store shows the price before you buy. Restore purchases and manage your subscription in Settings. All Access yearly renews automatically at the end of each year unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends; payment is charged to your Apple ID and you can manage or cancel it in Account Settings. Terms of Use: https://happyheadsapps.netlify.app/chessclues/terms. Privacy Policy: https://happyheadsapps.netlify.app/chessclues/privacy.

Screenshots

BookMoves4 screens
ChessClues4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BookMoves at none against ChessClues's 2. BookMoves also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ChessClues sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. BookMoves asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
BookMoves versus ChessClues: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBookMovesChessClues
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size70 MB58 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRegulus Team s.r.o.Santosh Hegde

In-app purchases

None

BookMoves

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

ChessClues

Subscriptions1
  • All Access — 1 Year$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • All Access — Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is BookMoves free?
BookMoves is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ChessClues free?
ChessClues is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BookMoves or ChessClues have ads?
Neither BookMoves nor ChessClues shows ads.

Other comparisons