tChess Lite remains one of the most respected chess engines on iOS for a reason. While many other chess apps try to overwhelm you with social features, tChess focuses on the purity of the game. The 'Lite' version is incredibly generous, offering a high-quality engine that can challenge even seasoned club players.
The interface is elegant and traditional, providing a clear view of the board without unnecessary clutter. Itβs particularly great for beginners because of its analysis features, which help you understand where a game was won or lost. Even though it's a 'Lite' version, the performance is snappy and the move suggestions are insightful. Itβs a solid, dependable choice for anyone who wants to squeeze in a game of chess without the bloat of modern mobile gaming.
Available on: iPhone, iPad
Version 2.0.1Sat Nov 29 2025
- Updated for the latest version of iOS
- Fixed a bug where the animations would become jerky if the app was open for a long time
tChess Lite is the popular chess game designed just for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. tChess is like a virtual chess board on your device. It's fun and easy to use--perfect for the casual player!
This game features a very clean UI design and beautiful graphics. tChess is a fast and stable program. Pick up a game in your free time... and there's no problem listening to your music while you play.
(tChess Lite is a fully-functional version of tChess for casual chess players. If you're an active player and want enthusiast-level features, take a look at tChess Pro, which is over 1000 ELO stronger and has received rave reviews from Grandmaster Susan Polgar, PE's Chess Cast, and iPhone app critics.)
tChess Lite Features:
- Perfect for 1- or 2-player games (on the same device, no network connection required)
- Tap-tap to move pieces
- Highlights legal moves
- View full game history in the Move List
- Go back or forward move by move and replay completed games
- Built-in chess clock
- "Get hint" feature to improve your game
- Easy to undo moves
- Saves your game automatically if you exit the program or take a call
- Play against any ELO rating from 500 to 1200
- Computer opponent is the most fun and realistic for beginners and casual players
- Use the Profile feature to play rated games and track your progress
- Over 15,000 openings for fresh, varied games
tChess Lite is developed by Tom Kerrigan, author of the TSCP and Stobor chess engines.
Requires iOSΒ 26.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPodΒ touch.tChess Lite is the popular chess game designed just for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. tChess is like a virtual chess board on your device. It's fun and easy to use--perfect for the casual player!
This game features a very clean UI design and beautiful graphics. tChess is a fast and stable program. Pick up a game in your free time... and there's no problem listening to your music while you play.
(tChess Lite is a fully-functional version of tChess for casual chess players. If you're an active player and want enthusiast-level features, take a look at tChess Pro, which is over 1000 ELO stronger and has received rave reviews from Grandmaster Susan Polgar, PE's Chess Cast, and iPhone app critics.)
tChess Lite Features:
- Perfect for 1- or 2-player games (on the same device, no network connection required)
- Tap-tap to move pieces
- Highlights legal moves
- View full game history in the Move List
- Go back or forward move by move and replay completed games
- Built-in chess clock
- "Get hint" feature to improve your game
- Easy to undo moves
- Saves your game automatically if you exit the program or take a call
- Play against any ELO rating from 500 to 1200
- Computer opponent is the most fun and realistic for beginners and casual players
- Use the Profile feature to play rated games and track your progress
- Over 15,000 openings for fresh, varied games
tChess Lite is developed by Tom Kerrigan, author of the TSCP and Stobor chess engines.










tChess Lite is the acclaimed chess game designed for both beginners and experts. Featuring an engine developed by a chess master, it provides a realistic challenge. Players can take advantage of the 'hint' feature to learn new strategies or use the analysis mode to review their games. The app supports both portrait and landscape modes for comfortable play.
Master-level chess engine
Hint and Undo features
Saved game history
Board customization options
After a match, use the analysis feature to see exactly which move turned the tide. The engine will show you the optimal move compared to the one you made.
Over 600 million people worldwide know how to play chess. Now you can learn how to play too, with Learn Chess! Learn Chess is a short, fun,...
AppAdvice - Thu Aug 02 2018
Adjust the ELO rating of the AI to match your skill level, ensuring that every game is competitive but winnable as you improve.
Yes, the app automatically saves your current state, and you can export PGN files in the full version.