Notation: Play & Learn Chess

AI Coach · Famous Games · iPad

$1.99 · Designed for iPad

NEW: Watch history's greatest chess games with live commentary. Coach Mode helps you improve in real-time. 17 curated classics from Morphy to Gukesh. No ads. No tricks. Notation is a premium chess app built for iPad. Play against AI opponents, learn from the greatest games ever played, and improve with a real-time chess coach — all with no ads, no subscriptions, and no data collection. PLAY Five AI opponents with distinct personalities, powered by Fairy-Stockfish, Maia-2 (human-like AI), and Stockfish. Each opponent plays differently — from beginner-friendly to engine strength. Play rated games to track your Elo, or switch to training mode for pressure-free practice. Online multiplayer via Game Center. No account required. COACH MODE Toggle on Coach Mode and get real-time guidance as you play. The coach suggests openings, highlights better moves, catches your blunders and offers take-backs, and spots checkmate patterns before you do. A progressive hint system gives you as much or as little help as you want. Coach Mode disables ratings — it's training, not competition. CLASSIC GAMES Watch 17 of the most famous chess games in history, narrated with full broadcast-style commentary at three detail levels. From Morphy's Opera Game (1858) to Gukesh's World Championship victory (2024), each game features expert analysis, board highlights, and historical context. Pause any game and jump in — take over as either player and see if you can do better. Featured classics include: • The Opera Game — Morphy's 17-move masterclass • The Immortal Game — Anderssen sacrifices everything and wins • The Game of the Century — 13-year-old Fischer stuns the world • Kasparov's Immortal — the greatest king hunt in modern chess • The Youngest Champion — Gukesh's historic 2024 victory ...and 12 more, spanning 1750 to 2024. LEARN Daily puzzles, an openings trainer, chess fundamentals for beginners, and coaching drills based on your personal weakness patterns. Notation tracks your playing style and identifies areas to improve. POST-GAME ANALYSIS Every game gets automatic analysis: move classifications (brilliant, great, good, inaccuracy, mistake, blunder), an evaluation graph, best-move arrows, and an influence heatmap showing who controls each part of the board. LIVE COMMENTARY Turn on broadcast commentary and hear your games narrated in real-time by two AI voices — a coach who explains the chess and a colour commentator who brings the drama. DESIGNED FOR iPad Notation is built iPad-first. The board fills the screen with a side panel for controls, analysis, and navigation. No phone UI stretched to fit. Dark theme. Clean design. Beautiful to look at, intuitive to use. AMBIENT SOUNDTRACK A procedurally generated ambient soundtrack creates a calm, evolving atmosphere while you think. Inspired by Brian Eno's generative music — it never repeats and never distracts. NO ADS. NO TRACKING. NO TRICKS. Notation is a one-time purchase. No subscription, no ad tier, no in-app currency, no data collection. Your games stay on your device. Made by an independent developer in the UK who loves chess and thought iPad deserved better.

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NEW IN THIS UPDATE: Classic Games Collection Watch 17 of history's greatest chess games with full broadcast commentary. From the Opera Game to Gukesh's 2024 World Championship victory. Pause and jump in as either player. Coach Mode Real-time coaching while you play. Hints, blunder detection with take-backs, mate spotting, and proactive suggestions. Disables ratings for pressure-free training. Live Commentary Two AI voices narrate your games in real-time — a coach for the chess, a commentator for the drama. Three detail levels from beginner to expert. Improved AI Opponents Fairy-Stockfish configuration updated for more realistic play at all levels. No more robotic king shuffling. UI Refresh Streamlined navigation with four clear sections: Play, Learn, Classics, and Profile. The board stays front and centre.

Version 2.0

The developer, Darren Cox, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

  • Data Not Collected

    The developer does not collect any data from this app.

    Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

    Accessibility

    The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More

    Information

    • Seller
      • Darren Cox
    • Size
      • 1 GB
    • Category
      • Board
    • Compatibility
      Requires iOS 18.6 or later.
      • iPhone
        Requires iOS 18.6 or later.
      • iPad
        Requires iPadOS 18.6 or later.
      • Mac
        Requires macOS 15.6 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.
      • Apple Vision
        Requires visionOS 2.6 or later.
    • Languages
      • English
    • Age Rating
      4+
    • Copyright
      • © 2026 Darren Cox
  • Privacy Policy

    • Supports

    • Game Center

      Discover new games and play with friends.

    • Family Sharing

      Up to six family members can use this app with Family Sharing enabled.

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