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The Zen Chess icon: a white knight inside an open brushed circle on a dark ground Company31 · Zen Chess

Chess as a path of calm attention.

Zen Chess teaches the game the way a patient master would. Master Kū guides you through eight stages, from how the pieces move to strategy and calm under competition, with lessons, puzzles, a short breathing practice and a trial game at each step. No account, no ads, nothing to buy.

Coming soon to the App Store
  • iPhone and iPad
  • Free · no ads
  • Data not collected
Fig. 1 · Getting it

For iPhone and iPad

Zen Chess for iPhone and iPad

One app for iPhone and iPad, free, and coming soon to the App Store. There’s no account, no ads and no in-app purchases: nothing to sign up for and nothing to buy.

iOS 26 or later · iPadOS 26 or later · free · coming soon

Fig. 2 · The path

Eight stages, one calm step at a time

The journey runs in eight stages, from the rules of the game to strategy and competitive calm. Master Kū walks beside you the whole way. Each stage is built from the same four parts:

  • Learn

    LessonsShort teachings from Master Kū, on the board, one idea at a time.

  • Solve

    PuzzlesPositions to work through yourself. Every answer is checked by the chess engine.

  • Pause

    A breathing practiceA short practice of breath and attention for each stage, before you return to the board.

  • Prove

    A trial gameA game to close the stage and show what you have taken from it.

Fig. 3 · At the board

Play at your own pace

Eight opponents

Eight opponents that play on your device, from about 400 to about 2200 Elo. Start gently and move up when you’re ready.

A master with a voice

On devices that support Apple Intelligence, it gives Master Kū a voice, on the device, while the chess engine supplies the facts. Without it, the master speaks from built-in teachings, and everything works the same.

Your board, your way

Six board themes and piece sounds, so the board looks and sounds the way you like to practise.

Fig. 4 · Optional

Bring your own AI master, if you like

Apple Intelligence is the default, and you never need anything else. If you have your own API key for ChatGPT (OpenAI), Claude (Anthropic), Gemini (Google) or DeepSeek, you can add it in Settings and choose that AI as your master before a game.

When you do, the app sends the current position, the moves of the game and any question you type to the master, directly from your device over HTTPS to that provider and no one else. Your key is kept in the iPhone Keychain on that device only. Company31 runs no server and never sees your key, your games or your questions. Remove the key in Settings and it stops.

Fig. 5 · Privacy

Your practice stays on your device

  • Data Not Collected
  • No account
  • No ads
  • No analytics
  • No tracking
  • No third-party SDKs

Your progress, settings and game records stay on your device. There is no account, no analytics, no advertising, no tracking and no third-party SDK. Its App Store privacy label reads Data Not Collected, because Company31 collects nothing.

The only time anything leaves the device is if you choose to add your own AI provider’s key, and then only to that provider. Settings › Reset my progress starts you over; deleting the app removes everything.

The full detail is in the Zen Chess privacy policy.

Fig. 6 · One honest thing

A practice, not a health service

Zen Chess is a way to learn chess with calm and attention. The breathing practices are part of that practice of attention at the board. They are not a health service, and the app makes no health claims.

Fig. 7 · Requirements

What you’ll need

Devices
iPhone and iPadOne app for both.
System
iOS 26 or lateriPadOS 26 or later on iPad.
Apple Intelligence
OptionalWith it, Master Kū speaks in its own words on the device. Without it, the master uses built-in teachings and everything works.
Account
NoneNothing to sign up for, and nothing to buy.

Before your first move.

Do I need to know chess already?

No. The first stage starts with the rules, and the path builds from there to strategy and calm in competition. If you already play, the opponents go up to about 2200 Elo.

Do I need an AI key?

No. Apple Intelligence is the default on devices that support it, and without it Master Kū uses built-in teachings. Adding your own key for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or DeepSeek is entirely optional.

How do I start again?

Open Settings › Reset my progress. It clears your progress on the device. Deleting the app removes everything.

Is it a health app?

No. It teaches chess as a practice of calm attention. The breathing practices belong to that practice; they are not a health service, and the app makes no health claims.

Fig. 8 · Support

If something is wrong, write to a person

Zen Chess is made by one small practice in Sydney. There is no ticket queue and no bot: mail reaches a person. A puzzle that seems wrong, a lesson that didn’t land, an idea for the path — all genuinely welcome.

Email
— for support, bug reports and suggestions.
Who makes it
Company31 Pty Ltd, ACN 698 697 166, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Privacy
The Zen Chess privacy policy covers the app for iPhone and iPad. The website policy covers this site.
Credits
Chess pieces “cburnett” by Colin M.L. Burnett, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.