Comparison

One Million Checkmates vs Gambit/chess

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

Head to head
About

One Million Checkmates

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One Million Checkmates is exactly what it says on the tin: a million checkmate puzzles, with varying levels of difficulty. There are enough that you will probably never run out. If you finish one puzzle per minute nonstop, you would be busy for the next two years. At that point, please email me and I will release the sequel, 10 million checkmates. This app is 100% functional both online and offline. Whether you're on a plane or on the moon, your training never stops. This app also has adaptive difficulty for recommending the next puzzles for you. The puzzles should feel challenging but not impossible. And hints are always there. These puzzles are drawn from real games, which means some will surprise you. This should help you to understand piece geometries in order to recognize checkmate opportunities whenever they come up, not just to pattern match. Many times a checkmate will have multiple valid lines. Some other puzzle apps artificially limit you to certain lines for simplicity. This app doesn't do that. Any line that is as good as the best line is included. No ads. No in-app purchases. Download once, train forever. Light mode and dark mode supported.

About

Gambit/chess

A moody, noir-styled chess game designed for quick play without account creation. Easily invite friends with a code and enjoy a streamlined experience with helpful beginner features. Practice against AI or play with others, with unlimited games available via subscription.

Highlights
  • Account-free play
  • Private invite codes
  • AI practice modes
  • Legal move indicators
  • Full chess rules support
  • Auto-save and resume games
  • Subscription for unlimited play
Features
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a moody, noir-styled chess game built for two people who just want to play — not create accounts, remember passwords, or manage a clock. Start a game and send a short private invite code through Messages or any share sheet. Your friend taps it and you're both at the board in seconds. No email, no password, no friction. Want a handle instead? Claim a personal @handle with a live free-or-taken check as you type — still no sign-in form, ever. Beginners are genuinely welcome here. Tap any piece to see every legal move, captures marked differently, and the king glows the moment it's in check. Illegal moves are refused gently, never with a lecture. No friend online right now? Run a quick match against anyone, or practice against the app at one of three strengths that genuinely differ. Gentle wanders and leaves pieces hanging. Steady punishes obvious mistakes but misses deeper tricks. Sharp plays the strongest move it can find — and hides the legal-move dots entirely, so you read the board yourself. There are no hints anywhere in Gambit. Every game is won on your own judgment. Every rule is here: castling, en passant, promotion, check, checkmate, stalemate, repetition, and insufficient material. Follow the action in a live move list with classic notation and step-back review. Offer a draw, resign, or start a rematch with colours flipped. Left mid-game? Gambit remembers exactly where you were, even after losing signal, so you can pick the position back up whenever you're ready. Your first three games are free — no card and no sign-up. Spend them however you like, practice or against a friend. After that, Gambit Club unlocks unlimited games for $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year. A board you have already started always stays playable. Gambit Club is an auto-renewing subscription that continues until you cancel it in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ No clocks. No puzzles. No ratings. No spectators. Just an atmospheric, confident board and the people you choose to sit down at it with. Download Gambit and send your first invite code tonight.

Screenshots

One Million Checkmates3 screens
Gambit/chess4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Gambit/chess at every 3 days against One Million Checkmates's fortnightly. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

One Million Checkmates ships an update fortnightly, Gambit/chess every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
One Million Checkmates versus Gambit/chess: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOne Million CheckmatesGambit/chess
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size143 MB14 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperLuke Salamoneheather sherry

In-app purchases

None

One Million Checkmates

No in-app purchases

None

Gambit/chess

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is One Million Checkmates free?
One Million Checkmates is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Gambit/chess free?
Gambit/chess is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do One Million Checkmates or Gambit/chess have ads?
Neither One Million Checkmates nor Gambit/chess shows ads.
Which is updated more often, One Million Checkmates or Gambit/chess?
One Million Checkmates ships an update fortnightly, and Gambit/chess every 3 days. Most recently, One Million Checkmates was updated on October 25, 2026 and Gambit/chess on October 29, 2026.

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