Mini Chess on Watch

Name: Mini Chess on Watch
Price: 0.99 USD
Rating: 2.2 (41 reviews)
Author: Golmium

Minimalistic and speedy

Only for Watch

$0.99

41 Ratings
Ages

4+
Years
Category

Board
Developer

Golmium
Language

EN
English
Size

1.4
MB

Apple Watch

Experience Chess in a fresh way — a 5×5 board that’s not easier or harder, just as strategic and exciting as the classic. Fast, fun, and perfect for quick mental battles! Mini Chess is a simplified, modern variant of the classic Chess. Played on a 5 x 5 board, with fewer pieces (one rook, knight and bishop and 5 pawns), each game can be played in minutes. Castling and pawn double-move are not allowed. Players have the option to face off against AI with 3 levels of difficulty. The game combines the fun and convenience of other play-while-you-wait games with intellectual stimulation of real Chess and is also a great way to introduce kids to the basics of Chess. This fast paced game is a perfect take on the timeless classic for our fast paced world.

Ratings & Reviews

2.2

out of 5

41 Ratings

Annoying !!
08/11/2020

Cierraseals
At first it was a great, challenging way to spend time. However, I soon noticed it would glitch and i wouldn’t be able to make specific moves that would otherwise tip the game in my advantage. For example, my bishop wouldn’t move in a certain diagonal direction when it should, or my pawn wouldn’t move forward into an empty space. It’s incredibly annoying.It also frequently freezes and I end up having to delete the app and redownload for it to work again.
Annoying !!
08/11/2020

Cierraseals

At first it was a great, challenging way to spend time. However, I soon noticed it would glitch and i wouldn’t be able to make specific moves that would otherwise tip the game in my advantage. For example, my bishop wouldn’t move in a certain diagonal direction when it should, or my pawn wouldn’t move forward into an empty space. It’s incredibly annoying.It also frequently freezes and I end up having to delete the app and redownload for it to work again.
AI issues
09/13/2020

Gary Rabinovich
Though the game is great at the start and deserves 5 stars, by a week later I can continually beat the game by performing the same 8 moves. At the start I thought the AI was reacting to my moves based on previous moves and at least somewhat looking forward. Instead the AI reacts to all moves the same way. This is how I realized the 8 moves that will always lead to a checkmate.1) (W) Queen Pawn move forward (B) reacts with Bishop Pawn takes Queen Pawn2) (W) Knight to Queen Pawn’s starting square (B) reacts with Rook Pawn forward3) (W) King Pawn takes pawn (B) reacts with King Pawn takes pawn4) (W) Bishop Pawn takes pawn (B) Knight Threatens Queen5) (W) Knight Pawn takes Knight (B) Queen Pawn takes pawn5) (W) Queen put King in check (B) King moves in front of Queen6) (W) Knight puts King in check (B) Queen takes Knight7) (W) Queen moves up in line with King (B) CheckmateIf you want I can send you a video. Please make AI somewhat smarter and get 5 stars from me.(Edit) I didn’t know that there was an expert level. I have now set it to expert to see what happens. I added a star now that I know this.I tried Intermediate and can beat the game using the same combination of moves.I will now move on to expert.I finally won in Expert mode. If you’re willing to sacrifice important pieces you can in fact win. 5 stars.Ok Expert is tougher.
AI issues
09/13/2020

Gary Rabinovich

Though the game is great at the start and deserves 5 stars, by a week later I can continually beat the game by performing the same 8 moves. At the start I thought the AI was reacting to my moves based on previous moves and at least somewhat looking forward. Instead the AI reacts to all moves the same way. This is how I realized the 8 moves that will always lead to a checkmate.1) (W) Queen Pawn move forward (B) reacts with Bishop Pawn takes Queen Pawn2) (W) Knight to Queen Pawn’s starting square (B) reacts with Rook Pawn forward3) (W) King Pawn takes pawn (B) reacts with King Pawn takes pawn4) (W) Bishop Pawn takes pawn (B) Knight Threatens Queen5) (W) Knight Pawn takes Knight (B) Queen Pawn takes pawn5) (W) Queen put King in check (B) King moves in front of Queen6) (W) Knight puts King in check (B) Queen takes Knight7) (W) Queen moves up in line with King (B) CheckmateIf you want I can send you a video. Please make AI somewhat smarter and get 5 stars from me.(Edit) I didn’t know that there was an expert level. I have now set it to expert to see what happens. I added a star now that I know this.I tried Intermediate and can beat the game using the same combination of moves.I will now move on to expert.I finally won in Expert mode. If you’re willing to sacrifice important pieces you can in fact win. 5 stars.Ok Expert is tougher.
Difficult gameplay
12/06/2022

marcintosh
One of two things happen when I play this game. 1) I lose. Even the Novice setting is difficult with so little room to move around and only one of each back row piece. 2) It locks up. I’ve been stuck many times with every move I try being illegal. I’ll keep playing and update my review if it gets any better, but overall it’s not as much fun as I was led to believe.
Difficult gameplay
12/06/2022

marcintosh

One of two things happen when I play this game. 1) I lose. Even the Novice setting is difficult with so little room to move around and only one of each back row piece. 2) It locks up. I’ve been stuck many times with every move I try being illegal. I’ll keep playing and update my review if it gets any better, but overall it’s not as much fun as I was led to believe.
Impossible
02/02/2020

AppStoreUser2024
Impossible to beat even on the easiest difficulty. The game also always forces you to start which puts you at a disadvantage. It runs nicely on my watch but I have lost every single game I’ve playedUpdate: (Added a star) Developer responded with proof that you can beat the game even if you start every time. It would be even better if the difference between the difficulties was even more substantial.

Developer Response
If you are playing white you are not in a disadvantage. Mehdi Mhalla and Frederic Prost weakly solved Gardner minichess in 2013 and proved the game-theoretic value to be a draw (https://arxiv.org/abs/1307.7118).
Impossible
02/02/2020

AppStoreUser2024

Impossible to beat even on the easiest difficulty. The game also always forces you to start which puts you at a disadvantage. It runs nicely on my watch but I have lost every single game I’ve playedUpdate: (Added a star) Developer responded with proof that you can beat the game even if you start every time. It would be even better if the difference between the difficulties was even more substantial.
Developer Response 01/29/2020
If you are playing white you are not in a disadvantage. Mehdi Mhalla and Frederic Prost weakly solved Gardner minichess in 2013 and proved the game-theoretic value to be a draw (https://arxiv.org/abs/1307.7118).