Eat Chess

Support

Capture is built to work entirely offline. If something does go wrong, the fastest fixes usually start with which mode you were in and a bit of context about the device.

Direct line to the kitchen

Email is the fastest way. We answer in English. Replies typically come within a few business days.

When reporting a problem

Including a few details up front makes it much easier to reproduce and fix what you're seeing.

  • Your device model and operating system version.
  • The app version, shown on the in-app Settings screen.
  • Which mode you were in: Real Board or On Screen play.
  • For real-board capture: lighting condition, board style, and how the phone was mounted.
  • For play modes: which opponent profile, and whether the issue happened on a specific move.
  • A short description of what you expected vs. what actually happened.

Real-board capture tips

  • Mount the phone overhead. A phone holder or stand pointing straight down at the board works far better than handholding.
  • Even lighting beats bright lighting. Strong overhead glare can wash out piece tops; a desk lamp angled to one side often helps.
  • Move pieces deliberately. Rapid swaps or hands lingering over the board can confuse the recognizer; a brief pause after each move keeps the notation clean.
  • If the app loses track, you can reset the recognized position from a known starting point and continue.

Common questions

Does Capture work without the camera?

Yes. On-screen play against the computer or another local player does not use the camera at all. Camera permission is only requested when you start real-board capture.

Where do my games go?

Into a local library on your device. There is no cloud library and no account. You can browse your games, review them move by move, and export each one as PGN.

How do I export a PGN?

Open the game from your library and use the in-app share sheet. The app produces standard PGN that opens in any chess tool.

What computer opponents are included?

Six fixed profiles span roughly 250 to 1400 Elo: Practice Pawn, Michelle, Emmy, Theo, David, and Abby. Nib has a custom-strength slider from about 100 to 3000. These are presentation targets, not official ratings. All of them run locally on your device.

Will real-board capture always be perfect?

No. Lighting, board style, piece shape, and hands near the board can all matter. Capture is designed to show uncertainty and let you correct the position instead of silently inventing a game.

Where is my progress stored?

On your device only. There is no cloud sync. If you delete the app, your library and settings are removed with it.

Will there be online play, cloud library, or Game Center?

Not in the planned first release. Capture ships as a single-device chess companion with local play, real-board capture, and a local library.

Which devices are supported?

Capture is coming soon to iOS and Android. Final device requirements will be listed on the store pages when the app is live. For real-board capture, a phone is usually easier to mount overhead than a tablet.

Is the app free?

The planned first release is free, with no ads, subscriptions, or paid unlock path exposed in the launch UI.

I have a feature request or feedback.

We genuinely want to hear it. Send a note to [email protected], especially if a particular board style, lighting condition, or play moment caused trouble.

Press, partnerships, and other inquiries

For press kits, partnership questions, or anything else, the same address works: [email protected]. Include a one-line description of what you're after and we'll route it from there.