Comparison

FirstMoves vs Chess Strategy

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

Head to head
About

FirstMoves

Features
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============================== Master chess openings and take your game to the next level with FirstMoves — the interactive chess opening trainer designed for players of all skill levels. LEARN OPENINGS THE RIGHT WAY Stop memorizing moves you don't understand. FirstMoves teaches you the "why" behind every move with clear explanations that help you remember and apply what you learn in real games. FEATURES • 50+ Chess Openings — From beginner-friendly openings like the Italian Game and London System to advanced lines like the Sicilian Najdorf and King's Indian Defense. • Interactive Lessons — Step through each opening move-by-move on a beautiful, responsive chessboard. See the position develop as you learn. • Move Explanations — Understand the purpose of every move. Learn the ideas, plans, and tactics behind each opening. • Progress Tracking — Track which openings you've studied and your mastery level. Pick up right where you left off. • Offline Mode (Premium) — Download openings and study anywhere, even without an internet connection. • Difficulty Levels — Openings are categorized as Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced so you can find the right challenge. OPENINGS INCLUDED White Openings: • Italian Game & Giuoco Piano • Ruy Lopez (Spanish Opening) • Queen's Gambit • London System • King's Indian Attack • English Opening • And many more... Black Defenses: • Sicilian Defense (multiple variations) • French Defense • Caro-Kann Defense • King's Indian Defense • Nimzo-Indian Defense • Dutch Defense • And many more... PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION Upgrade to Premium for unlimited access: • Unlimited study sessions (no daily limits) • Access to all 50+ openings • Offline mode — learn anywhere • Detailed analytics and progress tracking • Full move explanations for every line SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS • Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • Manage and cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings Whether you're preparing for your first tournament or looking to expand your repertoire, FirstMoves helps you build a solid opening foundation. Download now and make your first moves count.

About

Chess Strategy

Features
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SEE THE BOARD. FIND THE PLAN. Most chess apps beat you and move on. Chess Strategy: Coach & Learn explains what just happened, what the position wants, and which move gets you there — while you play. GUIDED PLAY WITH THE OAKMASTER COACH Play a full game against the engine with a coach at your side. Before every move the coach names the idea, shows the line it is considering, and explains the plan behind it. Choose how much help you want: • Full Coach — suggests the best move every turn, with the reasoning • Advisor — stays quiet unless a move needs attention • Silent — no in-game coaching, then a full review when the game ends Set the trainer anywhere from Beginner to Grand Master so the games stay hard enough to teach you something. 390 PUZZLES FROM REAL GAMES Thirteen themed sets cover the patterns that decide games: back-rank mates, deflection, discovered attacks, double checks, forks, hanging pieces, mate in one, pins, skewers, and more. Every position is taken from a real game, and each one is rated so you can feel yourself improving. STRUCTURED COURSES Work through opening principles, tactics, checkmate patterns, endgame technique, and positional play. Lessons are short, hands-on, and built around positions you actually have to solve. FREE PLAY Want a normal game? Play the Oakmaster or a friend on one device with no coaching at all. CHALLENGE THE COACH Disagree with the recommendation? Play your move anyway and the coach will tell you honestly whether it was better, equal, or worse — and why. LEARN OFFLINE Everything runs on your iPhone. No account, no sign-in, and no internet connection required. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Chess Strategy collects no personal data. Your progress stays on your device. Chess Strategy Pro unlocks every course plus unlimited hints with a single one-time purchase — no subscription. Questions or feedback? Reach us any time at kingjameshld@gmail.com or 646-323-2360.

Screenshots

FirstMoves4 screens
Chess Strategy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: FirstMoves at 3 against Chess Strategy's 1. FirstMoves also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. FirstMoves sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Chess Strategy sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
FirstMoves versus Chess Strategy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFirstMovesChess Strategy
PriceFreeFree
Update frequency—Every 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB82 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJEFFREY ROBERT SANCHEZGreyscale holding LLC

In-app purchases

2 purchases

FirstMoves

Subscriptions2
  • FirstMoves Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
  • FirstMoves Premium Yearly$29.991 Year
5 purchases

Chess Strategy

One-time5
  • 10 Hints$1.99
  • 45 Hints$6.99
  • Pro — All Courses & Unlimited$14.99
Show 2 more
  • 125 Hints$17.99
  • 200 Hints$26.99

Questions

Is FirstMoves free?
FirstMoves is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chess Strategy free?
Chess Strategy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do FirstMoves or Chess Strategy have ads?
Neither FirstMoves nor Chess Strategy shows ads.

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