Item: Chess Openings Explorer Pro
Rating: 78
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

78/100

As a chess coach, I find Chess Openings Explorer Pro to be an invaluable reference tool rather than a 'game' in the traditional sense. It's essentially a digitized encyclopedia of the first dozen moves of any serious chess game. The interface is clean, and the database is expansive, covering everything from the common Ruy Lopez to obscure gambits you'll rarely see in club play.

The real value here is the statistical data. Seeing the win/loss percentages for specific moves at the Grandmaster level helps you understand why certain lines are preferred. It doesn't have the flashy tutorials of some newer chess apps, but for a player looking to build a serious opening repertoire, this is a professional-grade tool that fits in your pocket.

Reviewed on: Tue Feb 24 2026

Dinsun Review

Is this a game? No. Is it useful? If you're tired of losing in the first ten moves, then yes. It’s an encyclopedia for the chessboard. Dinsun doesn't usually review textbooks, but here we are. It’s dry, it’s technical, and it’s about as exciting as reading a dictionary. However, the data is accurate and the interface is clear. It’s for people who treat chess like a second job. If you’re looking for 'fun,' go play Mario. If you want to study, this is fine.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Extensive database
Clear notation
Good for serious study

Zero entertainment value
Expensive for a database
No interactive AI to play against

Technical Report

Performance: Very efficient; handles large databases without stuttering.

Accessibility:

High contrast board

Audience Fit

Buy if: You are a competitive chess player looking to memorize theory.

Skip if: You are a casual player who just wants to play a game of chess.

Similar Games:

Chess.com
Lichess

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old conservative critic
Hardware: iPad Pro
Playtime: 3 hours
Status: Studied King's Gambit lines

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

1083431778

$3.99 4+★4.5 343 reviews

Author : Emmanuel Mathis

Pubish Date : Tue Apr 17 2018

Last Update Date : Sun Apr 12 2020

Support Languages : English, French, German

Genres :

Version 1.11Sun Apr 12 2020

Improved dark mode support
Explore chess openings and their variations through a simple and friendly interface, and learn the follow-ups from 2 million+ Grandmaster games!
Main features:
- Complete dictionary of chess openings and their variations
- Browse Grandmaster games associated with each opening
- Test your knowledge with various Quiz modes: The app picks an opening and your goal is to either find its name, find which move is best, or play the moves that leads to the opening
- Accurate stats for each position: % of wins, losses, draws
- Powerful built-in Chess engine (2800+ Elo) to analyze any position
- Games can be exported to other apps (PGN format)
- Search openings by name or ECO code
- Easy to use, simple and clean interface
- Full translations in French and German, including opening names
- And of course, new features will be added over time!
Requires iOS 10.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Explore chess openings and their variations through a simple and friendly interface, and learn the follow-ups from 2 million+ Grandmaster games!
Main features:
- Complete dictionary of chess openings and their variations
- Browse Grandmaster games associated with each opening
- Test your knowledge with various Quiz modes: The app picks an opening and your goal is to either find its name, find which move is best, or play the moves that leads to the opening
- Accurate stats for each position: % of wins, losses, draws
- Powerful built-in Chess engine (2800+ Elo) to analyze any position
- Games can be exported to other apps (PGN format)
- Search openings by name or ECO code
- Easy to use, simple and clean interface
- Full translations in French and German, including opening names
- And of course, new features will be added over time!

Ratings & Reviews

4.5 out of 5 with 343 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Chess Openings Explorer Pro is the ultimate companion for serious chess players looking to master the initial phase of the game. This app provides a comprehensive, searchable database of chess openings, featuring win/loss statistics from millions of high-level games. Users can follow branching paths of theory, learn the names of obscure variations, and analyze the best responses to any move. Whether you are preparing for a tournament or just want to understand the 'why' behind the moves, this tool provides the data-driven insights needed to improve your ELO.

Features

Massive opening database

Grandmaster win/loss statistics

Searchable ECO codes

Interactive move tree

Clean, ad-free interface

Tips

Exploring the Tree

Make a move on the board to see all possible responses. The list below the board will show the names of the openings and the success rate for White, Black, and Draws.

Using the Search

You can search for specific openings by name (e.g., 'Sicilian Defense') to jump straight to the starting position of that variation.

Gameplays

Move Analysis

The app tracks the popularity and effectiveness of every move, allowing players to distinguish between 'book moves' and blunders.

Q&A

This app is primarily a database explorer. While it shows statistical evaluations, it is designed for studying theory rather than engine-based calculation.