Customer Reviews (500)

Propes B • 2025-01-24T07:36:13-07:00

Keep up with different tactics with the free version 💪

Mehul patel ohio • 2024-12-19T20:58:44-07:00

How do I change a king with a rocks. Can someone show me?

Christofer S • 2024-09-10T20:02:01-07:00

I encountered a position where, after Queenside castling as white, the computer on the highest difficulty setting made no move as Black and yet somehow put me in check. The same thing happened 3 times in a row after using the undo feature. Up to that point though the app is fine, hence 3 stars.

Summary of Key Insights

Chess Premium is a generally well-received chess app, particularly praised for its adjustable difficulty, ease of use, and ability to provide a challenging single-player experience. However, a significant number of users report bugs related to cheating AI (illegal moves, disappearing pieces), stalemate/draw issues, and problems with the paid version not removing ads or becoming slower. There are also recurring requests for features like PGN support, notation, more customization options (board/piece colors, 3D view), and the ability to view captured pieces. While many find it a good practice tool, others report issues with unfair AI behavior and lack of features for serious study. The sentiment is generally positive, but the persistent bugs and unmet feature requests detract from the overall experience.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall rating: Approximately 4.2 (based on the score distribution).
  • 5-star reviews: 60.2% (301/500)
  • 4-star reviews: 17.8% (89/500)
  • 3-star reviews: 8.2% (41/500)
  • 2-star reviews: 3% (15/500)
  • 1-star reviews: 10.8% (54/500)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but implied to be collected over a significant period based on the version number (1.85) and mentions of older iOS versions.
  • Analysis Methods: Manual review and categorization of user feedback based on sentiment, keyword extraction to identify recurring themes (bugs, feature requests, positive aspects), and frequency analysis to prioritize issues.

Key User Pain Points

  • "Cheating" AI: Users report the AI making illegal moves (knights moving like bishops, pawns moving like queens), pieces disappearing, and false checkmates. This significantly impacts the perceived fairness and enjoyment of the game.
  • Stalemate/Draw Issues: The app frequently calls draws when the player is about to win, frustrating users and hindering end-game practice.
  • Ads in Paid Version: A recurring complaint is that users who paid for the premium version still experience ads.
  • Performance Issues with Paid Version: Some users report the paid version being slower than the free version, with increased "think time" for the AI.
  • Bugs/Glitches: Various bugs are reported, including the game freezing, pieces being unmovable, and the game crashing.
  • Lack of Castling Instructions: New players struggle to understand how to castle.

Frequently Requested Features

  • PGN Support: Ability to import/export PGN files for game analysis and sharing.
  • Notation: Display algebraic notation of moves during or after the game.
  • Captured Pieces Display: A visual representation of the pieces each player has captured.
  • Elo Rating System: Display Elo ratings for difficulty levels and track player performance.
  • More Customization: Options for different board and piece colors/styles (including black and white pieces), and a 3D view.
  • Tutorial/Help System: Instructions on how to play, including how to castle.
  • Game Saving/Loading: Ability to save and load games in progress.
  • Review Finished Game: Ability to step through a completed game to analyze moves.
  • Online Multiplayer: Play against other human players online.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Adjustable Difficulty: Users appreciate the ability to adjust the AI difficulty to match their skill level.
  • Ease of Use: The app is generally considered easy to use and navigate.
  • Challenging AI: Many users find the AI challenging, especially at higher difficulty levels.
  • Undo Function: The undo function is appreciated for learning and correcting mistakes.
  • Good for Practice: Users find the app helpful for practicing chess and improving their skills.
  • Offline Play: Ability to play without an internet connection.
  • Simple and Clean Interface: Many users appreciate the simple and uncluttered design.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Fix "Cheating" AI Bugs: Investigate and eliminate instances of illegal moves, disappearing pieces, and false checkmates. This is the most critical issue affecting user experience.
  • Resolve Ads in Paid Version: Ensure that users who pay for the premium version do not see any ads. This is a breach of promise and leads to negative reviews and refund requests.
  • Address Stalemate/Draw Issues: Adjust the draw algorithm to prevent premature draws when the player is clearly winning.
  • Investigate Performance Issues: Determine why the paid version is slower for some users and optimize performance.

Medium Priority:

  • Implement PGN Support: Adding PGN support would significantly enhance the app's value for serious chess players.
  • Add Notation: Displaying algebraic notation would improve the app's educational value.
  • Include Captured Pieces Display: A visual representation of captured pieces is a commonly requested feature.
  • Improve Castling Instructions: Provide clear instructions on how to castle.
  • Add Game Saving/Loading: Allow users to save and load games in progress.
  • Implement Review Finished Game Feature: Allow stepping through a completed game to analyze moves.
  • Provide Clearer Difficulty Levels: Replace the slider with specific difficulty levels or an Elo rating system.

Low Priority:

  • Offer More Customization Options: Add options for different board and piece colors/styles.
  • Consider a 3D View: Explore the possibility of adding a 3D view, but prioritize other features first.
  • Add Online Multiplayer: While requested, this is a more complex feature that may require significant development effort.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • AI Chess Tutor App: An app that not only plays chess but also provides real-time feedback and suggestions to improve the player's game. It could analyze moves, explain strategic concepts, and offer personalized training exercises.
  • Chess Variant App with PGN Support: An app that supports various chess variants (e.g., Chess960, Crazyhouse) and offers robust PGN support for analyzing and sharing games.
  • Chess Analysis App: An app focused specifically on chess analysis, allowing users to import PGN files, explore different variations, and evaluate positions with a powerful engine.

Trends and Observations

  • Language Preferences: The majority of reviews are in English, but there are also reviews in Spanish, indicating a need for multilingual support.
  • "Cheating AI" Reports: The frequency of reports about the AI cheating suggests that this is a long-standing issue that needs to be addressed urgently.
  • Paid vs. Free Version Confusion: Many users are confused about the differences between the paid and free versions, suggesting a need for clearer communication about the benefits of the premium version.
  • Desire for Educational Features: Many users are looking for features that can help them learn and improve their chess skills, such as tutorials, move suggestions, and game analysis tools.

Conclusion

Chess Premium is a solid chess app with a generally positive reputation, but it suffers from persistent bugs and unmet feature requests. Addressing the "cheating" AI, resolving ad issues in the paid version, and implementing PGN support and other commonly requested features would significantly improve the user experience and increase the app's value. By focusing on these priorities, the developer can solidify Chess Premium's position as a leading chess app in the App Store.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/chess-premium/id311395927?uo=2