The game is filling a hole for this type of instruction; there aren\u2019t many programs that teach basic chess. \u201cMany of the products that were on the market catered to someone who knew chess already, and we really saw an opportunity to bring it more to the masses,\u201d says Edwin Bodge, group product manager on Duolingo’s chess team.<\/p>\n
Another appeal for creating the chess program is that chess takes a long time to master, which benefits the folks at Duolingo who are building a long-term business but also the user, who is working toward a long-term goal that takes patience and thought.<\/p>\n
A Few Steps Ahead<\/p>\n
To create the game, Duolingo hired people with a range of experiences to work on the format. For example, when Bodge joined the team, he says he knew how the pieces moved and that’s about it. The company also has someone on staff who takes his son to chess tournaments every weekend.<\/p>\n
The program is also suitable for individuals at an intermediate level. \u201cIf you have previous chess experience, you can test into a later part of the course,\u201d he says. \u201cBut for the most part, we’ve really gone after making chess much more accessible for people who either don’t know about it or just barely do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fishman agrees. While the Duolingo app \u201cis great for generating interest and embedding the fundamentals of chess, it does not replace structured learning or the richness of learning with a teacher,\u201d he says. \u201c An app can highlight rules and simple tactics, but it also does not have the personalized feedback and motivation that comes from a coach.\u201d<\/p>\n
While I would love to consider getting more serious about chess in the future, for now the app has me playing chess every day. First I play a few lessons and am surprised how quickly I\u2019m moving through the levels. Then I play a few matches. It\u2019s a nice break from scrolling social media, and it keeps my mind busy when I\u2019m in a car pickup line waiting for the kids. Unlike the language-learning modules, I don\u2019t have to read or write. I can just focus on the pieces.<\/p>\n
Oscar is a sore loser when I take his queen, and it\u2019s fun watching him get frustrated. He\u2019s clearly programmed to be a good competitor, and he never just lets me win. The program knows my familiarity with the game and how to challenge me without overwhelming me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you’re first starting out, Oscar will go pretty easy on you,\u201d says Sammi Siegel,\u00a0staff software engineer on the chess team at Duolingo. \u201cIn the beginning, you need an easier experience and more hints. As you win, the program will scale you up in difficulty, so you’ll get slightly harder and harder bots, and then, if you lose, we’ll scale you back to be easier as well.\u201d<\/p>\n