Few programs teach basic chess, and many existing products assume prior knowledge. Duolingo designed a chess course to make fundamentals accessible to beginners while allowing experienced players to test into advanced sections. Chess's long learning curve aligns with long-term user engagement and business goals. The development team combined diverse chess experience to shape course format and lessons. The app effectively generates interest and embeds basic tactics and rules but lacks the personalized feedback and motivation that come from a human coach. Daily lessons plus match play provide a convenient practice routine for casual users.
"Many of the products that were on the market catered to someone who knew chess already, and we really saw an opportunity to bring it more to the masses," says Edwin Bodge, group product manager on Duolingo's chess team.
"If you have previous chess experience, you can test into a later part of the course," he says. "But for the most part, we've really gone after making chess much more accessible for people who either don't know about it or just barely do."
"is great for generating interest and embedding the fundamentals of chess, it does not replace structured learning or the richness of learning with a teacher," he says. " An app can highlight rules and simple tactics, but it also does not have the personalized feedback and motivation that comes from a coach."
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