Duolingo has launched a course to teach chess to newcomers, aiming to make playing chess easier and more fun. Starting with a test version on the iOS platform in English.
Duolingo targets beginners as the main group, teaching everything from the basics of each piece’s movements to the techniques of capturing pieces, checkmate, and various puzzles. Similar to learning languages on Duolingo, the course adapts to the learner’s knowledge, allowing everyone to start at a suitable level. While other apps focus on teaching chess for medium to high-level players.
Users will practice playing the game with Oscar, Duolingo’s quirky chess coach character, who adjusts the difficulty level to match the user’s abilities. If a move is missed, the app provides hints or shows where the piece should be moved, teaching in a relaxed manner without pressuring the player.
Additionally, the chess course is divided into categories that align with Elo ratings used to measure actual chess playing skills, allowing users to track their progress like in real-life chess competitions. Users can only play with Oscar for now, as playing with other users is not yet available.
This is another new course from Duolingo after recently introducing courses in math and music. The team stated that the chess course was developed rapidly since the idea was proposed in August 2023. The first engineer began working on it in November, and within a few months, testing began with the assistance of AI to speed up course development.
Duolingo mentions that one reason for choosing to create a chess course is to encourage younger generations to become more interested in this classic game. With Duolingo’s fun, simple, and accessible teaching style, this chess course could be a great starting point for anyone looking to try their hand at the game. Whether you’re a complete beginner or just want to casually improve your skills, you can learn through one app.
TLDR: Duolingo introduces a chess course for beginners, teaching everything from basics to advanced techniques with a fun and accessible approach, aiming to spark interest in the classic game among younger generations.
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