# Looking for a chess app that has exercises **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** chess\ **Created:** [September 25, 2025, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-chess-app-that-has-exercises/1023398 "2025-09-25T21:14:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-chess-app-that-has-exercises/1023398/1 "2025-09-25T21:14:21Z")
I’m looking for a chess app for my tablet. I would like one that has exercises. I downloaded one from [chess.com](http://chess.com), but they charge $60 or so a year. I don’t mind paying for an app, but I’d rather not have a yearly subscription. Can anyone recommend a good app for chess? ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-chess-app-that-has-exercises/1023398/2 "2025-09-25T21:47:16Z")
Duolingo has just brought out a Chess option. Not sure how good it is, but it’s free. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-chess-app-that-has-exercises/1023398/3 "2025-09-25T23:11:38Z")
What kind of exercises? Lichess is free and has unlimited puzzles and a good set of lesson material. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-chess-app-that-has-exercises/1023398/4 "2025-09-26T09:39:09Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > I downloaded one from [chess.com](http://chess.com), but they charge $60 or so a year. Doesn’t the free version have exercises? ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-chess-app-that-has-exercises/1023398/5 "2025-09-26T11:20:25Z")
> [@Staggerlee](#): > > Duolingo has just brought out a Chess option. Not sure how good it is, but it’s free. I have been using that, but they repeat a lot of the exercises. > [@Jas09](#): > > What kind of exercises? Lichess is free and has unlimited puzzles and a good set of lesson material. I don’t really know what they are called, but type they used to make books about, find mate in 2, what’s the best move, those types of things. I’m not very good, but I do sometimes like figuring things out. > [@Bullitt](#): > > Doesn’t the free version have exercises? I got Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf and there were free exercises until you played a few games then it goes to paid. Someone else who uses the normal app said they had to pay too. I haven’t tried so I don’t know for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-chess-app-that-has-exercises/1023398/6 "2025-09-26T13:13:38Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > I don’t really know what they are called, but type they used to make books about, find mate in 2, what’s the best move, those types of things. I’m not very good, but I do sometimes like figuring things out. I think [Lichess.org](http://Lichess.org), particularly the website but also the app, would fit your needs nicely. And it’s entirely free, and never asks for money at all. It has puzzles that can be filtered by type (Mate in 2, forks, sacrifices, etc…) and lessons on all of those things from beginner “how to play” stuff to advanced tactics and mating patterns. And of course you can play the computer at any level of difficulty or real people at all variety of time controls. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-chess-app-that-has-exercises/1023398/7 "2025-09-26T19:14:04Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > I think [Lichess.org](http://Lichess.org), particularly the website but also the app, would fit your needs nicely. And it’s entirely free, and never asks for money at all. I just downloaded it, and this does look like it will fit what I’m looking for. Depending on how much I like it I will probably donate a bit as well. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2025, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-chess-app-that-has-exercises/1023398/8 "2025-09-26T21:07:38Z")
I’ve used Elementary Chess Tactics 1 by Chess King: [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chessking.android.learn.elementaryct1](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chessking.android.learn.elementaryct1) There is a lot of repetition in the exercises, but that can be helpful for drilling the patterns. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-chess-app-that-has-exercises/1023398/9 "2025-10-01T14:29:15Z")
I’m using Duo Lingo, as mentioned it’s free and has lots of drills. One that I particularly like are these time puzzles in which you try to capture as many points as possible while also trying not to lose points. Each time you take a piece another appears on the board. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-chess-app-that-has-exercises/1023398/10 "2025-10-08T01:04:28Z")
Think Like a King uses chess puzzles and exercises. Assigns points to motivate the student. There is a example on this page. > **[SchoolChess.com's Think Like a King School Chess Software System](http://schoolchess.com/SoftwareHome.asp)** ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-chess-app-that-has-exercises/1023398/11 "2025-10-16T17:26:58Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > I got Learn Chess with Dr. Wolf and there were free exercises until you played a few games then it goes to paid. Someone else who uses the normal app said they had to pay too. I haven’t tried so I don’t know for sure. I have been fascinated with chess for years but never really did much about it. My dad gave me a chess set when I was maybe 10 years old. He told me how the pieces move and not much more. My elementary school had a “chess club” which was just an hour or two after class once a week where they took out a bunch of cheap chess sets and let us have at it with no lessons of any kind. I just downloaded the Dr Wolf app because it starts at the literal beginning (like a rook goes vertical and horizontal) and builds from there. I plan to get to the point of being able to play games online to keep my brain sharp. I’ll probably eventually get the Bobby Fischer book when appropriate. Today is Day 1. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2025, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-chess-app-that-has-exercises/1023398/12 "2025-10-16T17:36:15Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I just downloaded the Dr Wolf app because it starts at the literal beginning Hope it works well for you. I still sometimes use it to play games, but haven’t paid for it. I did download Lichess and have been using it a bit. I play around with them a bit, but not as much the last week or so. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-chess-app-that-has-exercises/1023398/13 "2025-10-20T19:25:42Z")
I’m having fun with it (and some frustration). It’s a great app and I have already learned a lot. I am 12-0-1 on the early beginner level which is nothing because it plays really horribly and allows take-backs. What’s great is that it analyzes the games afterwards explains what you did incorrectly. When it deems you ready, you can start a new lesson. I figure that I am at least a month away from playing a live online game. My biggest handicap is that I have aphantasia which is the inability to visualize in my head. Great chess players must have fantastic spatial ability. My goal is a four digit Elo rating on a competitive online chess site.