Customer Reviews (100)

Mohamed Ch • 2025-03-25T07:54:30.957Z

I just like chess

Sean Taylor • 2025-03-25T07:39:24.332Z

One of the best places to get your chess fix when your over-the-board friends are limited.

Amin • 2025-03-25T07:14:02.332Z

Please add a custom time option when clicking on a piece. For example, the selection should last for 3 seconds, and if the time exceeds 3 seconds, you would need to click again. I'm getting really annoyed by misclicks (false moving a piece) when trying to deselect a piece.

Summary of Key Insights

The Chess - Play and Learn app by Chess.com enjoys a generally positive sentiment, reflected in its high number of 5-star reviews. Users appreciate the app's comprehensive features, including online play, tactics puzzles, lessons, and computer opponents. However, some users express concerns regarding cheating, the paywall limiting access to certain features (especially game analysis), bugs, and connectivity issues. There is also a desire for more advanced features like specific engine options and improved opponent matching.

Key Strengths: Comprehensive chess learning and playing platform, large online community, variety of game modes and features. Key Weaknesses: Cheating concerns, limitations on free access, bugs, occasional connectivity issues, and opponent matching issues. Overall Sentiment: Positive Overall Rating: Based on the review breakdown, the average rating is approximately 4.26 stars. Score Distribution: 5-star (64%), 4-star (20%), 3-star (3%), 2-star (2%), 1-star (11%)

Data & Methodology Overview

Data Sample Size: 100 reviews Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be recent. Analysis Methods: Sentiment analysis (manual assessment based on review text), keyword extraction (identifying frequently used words and phrases related to issues, features, and sentiment), and thematic analysis (grouping reviews based on common topics).

Key User Pain Points

  • Cheating: A significant concern, with users reporting rampant cheating and dissatisfaction with the app's handling of cheaters. This negatively impacts the user experience and undermines fair play.
  • Paywall Limitations: Restrictions on free access to features like game analysis and unlimited puzzles are a common source of frustration. Users feel limited in their ability to improve without paying for a premium subscription.
  • Bugs & Glitches: Several reviews mention bugs, including online bugs, time glitches, and issues with game reviews and coach explanations. These technical issues disrupt gameplay and learning.
  • Connectivity Issues: Occasional connectivity drops and lag during online games, particularly short games, lead to unfair losses and frustration.
  • Opponent Matching: Some users find the opponent matching system to be inconsistent, pairing them with opponents who are either too strong or too weak, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
  • Bots Issues: Some users reported that bots do not make moves.

Frequently Requested Features

  • More Advanced Engine Options: Users, especially those with subscriptions, want to play against stronger engines like Stockfish 17.
  • Improved Game Analysis for Free Users: The ability to analyze games without a premium subscription is highly desired.
  • Custom Time Options: Users want more control over time settings, including options to adjust piece selection duration to avoid misclicks.
  • ACPL (Average Centipawn Loss) Measurement: Users want ACPL measurement added to game review.
  • Arrows Feature for Calculations on Mobile: Users want to be able to draw arrows on the board during calculations on mobile devices.
  • New Themes: Users are requesting new and more diverse board themes.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Comprehensive Chess Platform: Users appreciate the app's wide range of features, including online play, tactics puzzles, lessons, and computer opponents.
  • Large Online Community: The large and active online community is a major draw, providing opportunities to play with players of all skill levels.
  • Educational Resources: Users value the quality chess lessons and videos made by masters, as well as the interactive tutorials.
  • User-Friendly Interface: The app is generally considered easy to use and has a good interface.
  • Variety of Game Modes: The availability of different chess variants (chess960, blitz, puzzle rush, etc.) adds variety and keeps the game engaging.
  • Good Graphics: Some users appreciate the graphics and visual appeal.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Cheating Concerns: Implement more robust anti-cheating measures and improve the reporting and review process for suspected cheaters. This is critical for maintaining fair play and user trust.
  • Fix Bugs and Glitches: Prioritize bug fixes, particularly those affecting gameplay (time glitches, broken game review features, bot issues) and connectivity.
  • Improve Opponent Matching: Refine the opponent matching algorithm to provide more balanced and challenging games.

Medium Priority:

  • Re-evaluate Free Tier Limitations: Consider offering more game analysis features to free users to enhance their learning experience and encourage upgrades.
  • Add Requested Features: Implement popular feature requests like Stockfish 17 integration, ACPL measurement, and arrows feature for calculations.
  • Enhance Connectivity: Investigate and address connectivity issues to minimize lag and disconnections during online games.

Low Priority:

  • Add More Themes: Expand the selection of board themes to cater to diverse user preferences.
  • Implement Custom Time Options: Add custom time options to avoid misclicks.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • AI-Powered Anti-Cheating Solution: A startup could focus on developing advanced AI algorithms specifically designed to detect and prevent cheating in online chess platforms.
  • Personalized Chess Coaching App: An app that uses AI to analyze a player's games and provide personalized coaching and training plans, focusing on specific weaknesses and areas for improvement.
  • Chess Variant Platform: A platform dedicated to offering a wide range of unique and innovative chess variants, catering to players seeking new and unconventional challenges.
  • Chess Social Network: A social network specifically for chess players, allowing them to connect, share games, discuss strategies, and participate in online tournaments.

Trends and Observations

  • Language Preferences: While most reviews are in English, there are also reviews in other languages, including Arabic, indicating a global user base.
  • Feature Requests: A common theme is the desire for more advanced features and greater flexibility, suggesting that experienced chess players are a significant user segment.
  • Subscription Value: Some users feel that the value proposition of the paid subscription could be improved by offering more benefits, particularly in terms of game analysis and engine options.
  • Positive Sentiment Despite Issues: Even users who report problems often express overall satisfaction with the app, suggesting that its core features are highly valued.

Conclusion

Chess - Play and Learn is a popular and well-regarded chess app with a strong foundation. Addressing the key user pain points related to cheating, paywall limitations, bugs, and connectivity issues will significantly enhance the user experience and improve user retention. Implementing frequently requested features and exploring new opportunities for innovation will further solidify the app's position as a leading chess platform. The app should prioritize addressing cheating and improving the free tier offering to remain competitive.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chess