Verbal Chess2.3.2 - App Store

Play chess using only your voice!

Are your hands busy making dinner? Or are you relaxing in a tub? Exercising on a treadmill? With Verbal Chess, you can play against computer engines or against players around the world using only your voice. There's no need to touch the screen.

Have trouble interacting with the piece images on the screen? With Verbal Chess, the entire app is controllable by your voice. Physical limitations aren't a barrier to your playing chess.

And for blindfold chess, you can lean back in your recliner, close your eyes and play the entire game. Since Verbal Chess announces your opponent's moves, you never have to look at the screen.

Verbal Chess is unique in that every part of the program (except login passwords) can be controlled by your voice - every screen, every option and every move. Even program navigation can be done with only your voice. Once connected, you never have to touch the screen to enjoy every aspect of Verbal Chess.

If working with the screen because of a physical handicap is a problem, with Verbal Chess you can have fun playing chess. Or are your hands busy? Maybe something simple like holding a sloppy burger and you would like to play a game while eating, Verbal Chess can do that for you.

Verbal Chess comes from the creator of Chessvis.

Download it today.

Terms of Use URL:
https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Version History V2.3 adds integrated access to "Verbal Chess on the web" on the main menu. So if want to use one of the 5 non-english languages or Cloud AI voices, you can do that right inside the IOS version. All hands-free both into the web version and back to the native version. 2.3.2 Mar 20 V2.2.2 enables you to switch from the device's microphone to bluetooth and back. (Note: the switch happens on the next screen page transition so you might have to make one transition manually but after that it will pick up the new microphone.)

In V2.2, the explanation text has been greatly improved for playing against the computer, blindfold and on Lichess. 2.2.2 09/02/2025 In V2.2, the explanation text has been greatly improved for playing against the computer, blindfold and on Lichess. 2.2.1 08/29/2025 For V2.1, I'm starting to change the way the "explanation" pages appear. For this release, an initial explanation screen has been added. Also, I fixed a bug in the move "take back" code.

And to reiterate the features added to Verbal Chess V2.0:

1. Select the "Voices" you want for both the player and opponent moves

2. Change the chess board background colors to the two dark modes found in "Chessvis"

3. The "take back" operation has changed. It is no longer "times out". Clicking the button or saying "command takeback", will remove the pair of last moves - the engine's and your's.

4. Hate having to keep saying "play" before each move? Now, for both "engine" and "Lichess" games, you can optionally either: remove the need to say "play" or a middle ground of having to say the piece name (including the word 'pawn'). Why the middle ground? Don't forget, the speech recognizer is always listening and trying to make sense of what it hears. If you're willing to say: "pawn e 4" then that eliminates the more easily and possibly accidentally overheard "e 4".

5. A new keyword "describe" can be used to get verbal feedback describing where pieces are on the board. (This works against the engines and on lichess.
describe rank number -- describe rank 3
describe file letter -- describe file echo
describe square letter # -- describe square b 2
describe location color piece -- describe location white bishop

6. I've added the FIDE recommended words for file letters: Anna, Bella, Cesar, David, Eva, Felix, Gustav, Hector 2.1.1 08/25/2025 I'm very excited about Verbal Chess V2.0. Here are the new features:

1. Select the "Voices" you want for both the player and opponent moves

2. Change the chess board background colors to the two dark modes found in "Chessvis"

3. The "take back" operation has changed. It is no longer "times out". Clicking the button or saying "command takeback", will remove the pair of last moves - the engine's and your's.

4. Hate having to keep saying "play" before each move? Now, for both "engine" and "Lichess" games, you can optionally either: remove the need to say "play" or a middle ground of having to say the piece name (including the word 'pawn'). Why the middle ground? Don't forget, the speech recognizer is always listening and trying to make sense of what it hears. If you're willing to say: "pawn e 4" then that eliminates the more easily and possibly accidentally overheard "e 4".

5. A new keyword "describe" can be used to get verbal feedback describing where pieces are on the board. (This works against the engines and on lichess.
describe rank number -- describe rank 3
describe file letter -- describe file echo
describe square letter # -- describe square b 2
describe location color piece -- describe location white bishop

6. I've added the FIDE recommended words for file letters: Anna, Bella, Cesar, David, Eva, Felix, Gustav, Hector

7. Oh, I found a bug in the existing code that interferred with specifying moves with only single letter file names. It's still hard to differentiate letters but obviously, it is better without a bug. 2.0.7 08/22/2025 V1.18 adds a piece name filter to the "command speak moves" option on play computer/blindfold. For example, to hear the bishop moves, it would be: "command speak moves bishop". This makes the spoken list more focused.

As a reminder, the 'My Account' menu enables you to force the speaking of the words for the letters. As in, 'Bishop Golf Four'. 1.18.1 02/11/2024 V1.17 adds 'Reveal' to blindfold play and 'Replay' for computer/blindfold play so you can 'get back into the game' after stepping away. If you find the 'file letters' hard to understand, the 'My Account' menu has an option that enables you to force the speaking of the words for the letters. As in, 'Bishop Golf Four'. The problem with "Connect to Lichess" seems fixed. 1.17.2 02/03/2024 V1.16.1 fixes a problem with "Connect to Lichess". Also, the board coordinate location can be set by everyone. 1.16.1 01/25/2024 V1.15 adds support for "enhanced voices". For the "Player's Voice", the American female voices: Ava, Allison, Nicky, Samantha, Susan will be checked to see if the "enhanced" versions are available. The first one alphabetically will be used. For the "Opponent's Voice", the British male voices: Daniel and Oliver will be checked to see if the "enhanced" versions are available. The first one alphabetically will be used. (Note: you have to install the voices manually in the "Accessibility" section of the "Settings".

(V1.15.1 fixes a "connect to Lichess" issue) 1.15.1 05/16/2023 V1.15 adds support for "enhanced voices". For the "Player's Voice", the American female voices: Ava, Allison, Nicky, Samantha, Susan will be checked to see if the "enhanced" versions are available. The first one alphabetically will be used. For the "Opponent's Voice", the British male voices: Daniel and Oliver will be checked to see if the "enhanced" versions are available. The first one alphabetically will be used. (Note: you have to install the voices manually in the "Accessibility" section of the "Settings". 1.15.0 05/13/2023 The internals of how play on Lichess.org is managed has been changed. It should be faster and more reliable. Note: IOS V15 is now required. (V1.14.2 fixes a problem with 5+5 Lichess games.) 1.14.2 03/05/2023 The internals of how play on Lichess.org is managed has been changed. It should be faster and more reliable. Note: IOS V15 is now required. 1.14.1 03/05/2023 In V1.13, you can get a list of your available moves while playing the computer or on Lichess. Just say "command list moves" or "command speak moves" to see and/or hear the list of moves you can make. 1.13.1 02/10/2023 You can now say the "from & to" squares to make moves. For example, in addition to saying "play Nf3" you can say : "play g1 f3". (You can also say the piece name but that's not necessary.)

Also fixed the problem: if the opponent wins their last move is verbalized and played. 1.12.1 01/25/2023 Sync version number across devices. 1.11.1 01/05/2023 Saying 'command repeat' while playing a game will say the engine's move again. (Also applies to Lichess play.) This is the #1 requested new feature!!

(Also, for Lichess a change was needed to get your 'Friends List'. Please 'Disconnect' and 'Connect' to get that working.) 1.9.0 09/18/2022 V1.8 enables users to "continue" an open game against the engines. With this update, you don't have to play the entire game in one sitting. 1.8.0 02/20/2022 V1.6.1 routes sound through the big speaker instead of the small "ear speaker". Also, wireless bluetooth headphones are supported. 1.6.1 01/22/2022 V1.6.0 adds control over "board coordinates" as a subscriber benefit. You can set an option so the file & rank coordinate labels appear just outside the board area or remove them. For everyone, the "inside" coordinates are placed better. (This option is in the "my account" menu.)

Also, moves that you say and are invalid are now displayed and spoken so you know what the parser is hearing. 1.6.0 01/16/2022 1.5.3 01/10/2022