Lantern Chess - ICC Online 2.79

Play, watch, and chat on the Internet Chess Club either as a member, for a trial, or as a guest without the need for sign-up. The 'Connect as Guest' option allows anyone to play unrated games.

• 50 current In-App Chess Videos
• Opening Explorer
• Dark Mode
• Support for Blackboard background choice with or without Dark Mode
• Tournament Support
• Sign up or play without signing up
• Engine Analysis
• Seek Graph
• Rated Pool Options
• On-board Pulse Chess Engine with levels and Chess, Chess960, and variants
• Watch FIDE Master, International Master, and Grandmaster games
• Open PGN Game collections shared with the App
• Save To PGN
• Log played games
• Chat and Channels
• Custom Colors or Preset Board Choices

In terms of gameplay, the 'Find a Game' option presents a three-tabbed view with a Seek Graph, Seek Form, and Pool Options like 5-minute games. Another feature is the ability to join Tournaments. Unrated games with no sign-up requirement can be played across all game types. Many of the features are entirely free and accessible without registration.

The engine analysis capability is available during game observation and review. Even guests can analyze games using the Action menu on the board. Moreover, members and those on trial have access to various features such as 50 current chess instructional videos available for in-app viewing. Typically lasting between 45-50 minutes, many of these videos are presented by grandmasters. Users can also stay updated through a list of top games to watch or observe live international chess broadcast games for later review. Lantern strives to offer a comprehensive chess app tailored for studying and enhancing chess skills.

CHESSCLUB.COM stands out as one of the longest-standing online chess clubs, having produced chess videos for over 15 years. Currently, members and those on trial can benefit from a searchable library containing 3000 videos dedicated to chess learning, with numerous videos featuring Grandmasters.

• Lantern offers computer play against the Pulsar Chess Engine supporting chess, chess960, various levels, and other game variants. This feature is available offline without an internet connection.
• An Opening Explorer view is also provided with engine analysis and the ability to load PGN files, accessible offline without sign-up requirements.
• All in-app games are auto-saved to PGN files which can be shared through the app without needing to register or be connected to the internet.

The settings section provides options for choosing board and pieces styles while allowing settings adjustments such as pre-move options or toggling between touch and drag moves.

For members, there's a channels window for quick access to chat rooms. Advanced users can convert this window to a Split Chat format in console settings. The console enables chatting or sending commands if needed.

Noteworthy is Lantern Chess's 'play bots' option on board available for guests and members alike, alongside tactical and endgame training opportunities.

Lantern's chessboard is designed keeping accessibility in mind for the visually impaired through VoiceOver compatibility. Enabling VoiceOver in device settings allows users to tap on a square to hear its contents while double-tapping selects pieces. Moves are verbally announced as they occur. The app supports five languages including Spanish; VoiceOver adapts based on the device's language setting.

The integrated chess engine provides various game modes including chess960 at multiple levels and five engaging variants: Crazyhouse, Loser's Chess, Atomic Chess, Three Checks, and Giveaway/ Suicide Chess. Switching between chess variants or adjusting difficulty can be managed in the engine board's "Game" menu - new game section.

The Opening Explorer is fueled by high-rated FIDE games (both players rated over 2300) allowing users to annotate positions and color-code moves (green, yellow, red). These features are accessible through the control bar on the Openings Board.