Alekhine - Chess Champion

Alekhine - Chess Champion: more than a database

Alekhine - Chess Champion is an Android chess study app built around the games of world champion Alexander Alekhine. It contains about 1,300 annotated games and 200 solving positions. What stands out is that you enter key moves yourself, receive hints on errors, and refutations for typical mistakes. That turns it into a chess trainer rather than a passive archive.

Most databases let you turn pages quickly. This one makes you slow down. In my first session, a single king walk in one of Alekhine's games made me rethink a pattern I thought I understood. Each wrong reply explained why my idea collapsed, which is more than most game collections do.

How the learning flow differs from a puzzle app

The core loop is simple: pick a game, read a short theoretical note, and then try to guess Alekhine's next move. If you fail, the app gives a hint and then shows why your move fails without leaving the board. That matters because a typical chess puzzle app only marks the right line; here, the refutation is built around the mistake you actually made. Once you finish a game, related solving positions appear so the idea gets repeated in a new context.

There are also interactive lessons placed inside the course, not thrown in as unrelated extras. The table of contents groups games by tactical themes such as attacking play, defensive resources, and endgame technique. You can enter a specific theme and work through Alekhine's original games inside it. That structure works especially well if you want to build a repertoire around aggressive play.

Practical details: offline use, device sync, and progress tracking

The app does not need an internet connection. I used it in airplane mode during a long trip, and all lessons, puzzles, and game annotations opened instantly because the course data is stored locally. On a large tablet screen, the layout feels comfortable; on a phone, the board is still usable but you have to zoom occasionally.

The progress tracker records an internal rating based on your attempts. Do not treat that number as a real ELO rating—it is only a training estimate—but it does show whether you are solving tougher tasks over time. Linking the app to a free Chess King account lets you continue the same course on Android, iOS, or the web, which saved me from restarting after I switched from a tablet to a phone.

Limitations to weigh before unlocking the full course

The free sample is fully functional, but it only covers part of the material. Unlocking all 1,300 games and the 600 newly commented games requires a separate purchase, and casual puzzle solvers may not need that much depth. The visual style is also plain; don't expect modern board animations or a flashy interface.

If you are a club player trying to understand attacking chess, Alekhine - Chess Champion gives you a rare chance to work through original games instead of simplified examples. Beginners can use it too, but they need patience because the course expects you to think before every move. The app rewards steady practice more than quick sessions, and that is the main reason I keep it installed alongside other chess tools.