Members of the Antioch Community High School Chess Team enjoy practicing with chess.com because they can see themselves improving on their own strategy. Members of the chess team are expected to practice regularly on the game’s mobile app; many come to appreciate it as a powerful motivator.
The website and corresponding mobile app, which have over 31 million users across the globe, offer a variety of appealing features.
“The great thing about chess.com is [that is has] virtually all the resources you could possibly want,” Chess coach and Math teacher Jake House said. “It’s got game analysis, it’s got tactics, it’s got the ability to challenge anyone on the other side of the planet; it’s a fantastic resource.”
Although use of the app outside of practice is required, team members agree that it’s fun to use rather than a boring assignment.
“I hate to say it, but during school I play a few games when I’m not supposed to be,” freshman Justin Pedersen said. “I’m not addicted, but it’s pretty fun.”
Players also believe that the free analysis of the game provides plays a role in their game development.
“After you play a game you can go through a play-by-play,” Pedersen said. “[You can] see what might have been a better move and see where you might have messed up. That can help me more than face-to-face [game play].”
Despite the overall appreciation of chess.com, many members of the chess team expressed frustration at the price of the app’s premium features.
“All of the great stuff they’ve got is locked behind a paywall,” House said. “I’d change that or at least make a student discount rate.”
Overall, players favor chess.com over face-to-face games because the tangible evidence of improvement serves as a motivator to get better.
“I’m seeing results,” senior Rusty McQueen said. “I can see my ranking going up. Other people see that I am making development. I’m getting better. That’s what’s keeping them going.”
