If you’re anything like me, you might have always disregarded chess as a boring game with overly complicated rules. But in reality, this complex game of tactic and strategy is chalked full of drama and excitement– chess is an epic tale that has withheld the test of time.
Discover chess’s epic tale that has withheld the test of time with the help of Dark Chess Tournament. While it may seem counterintuitive to play this ancient game from your mobile device, this mobile game is here to change your mind, especially when you hear about the real-world prizes that Dark Chess Tournament offers.
We implore you, our humble reader, to indulge in this Dark Chess Tournament App Review to see if this modernized rendition of chess can redefine your definition of this classic board game.
What is Dark Chess Tournament?
Dark Chess Tournament is a mobile gaming app that brings chess into the 21st century!
Developed by Tall Troll Games and powered by Skillz, Dark Chess Tournament presents new and accomplished chess players with opportunities to make a quick buck.
Some popular games you might recognize by Skillz include:
Compatible with iOS and Android devices, Dark Chess Tournament is a user-friendly game that simplifies this often complicated board game so anyone, no matter their experience level, can enjoy this game.
People wanting to play Dark Chess Tournament for its potential riches should note that you must be at least 18 years old. Residents of the following states are ineligible to access the cash tournaments on the app: AZ, AR, CT, DE, LA, MT, SC, SD, and TN.
Regardless of these requirements, Dark Chess Tournament can still be enjoyed for free using the app’s virtual currency.
Dark Chess Tournament App Reviews
Dark Chess Tournament currently has a smaller audience base. With nearly 50 user reviews, a 4.7-star rating on the App Store, and zero Android-specific views available on Skillz, it is hard to determine if the app is the real deal.
For a better insight into Dark Chess Tournament, we’ll go over what some of these users are saying about the game.
OkayCBJ said, “This game is very fun! I love the fog of war feature, and the art is beautiful.”
HuntAHome said, “Nice game from Skillz. I am addicted to this game now.”
QAname said, “I liked playing Dark Chess Tournament. It was a good challenge.”
These five-star reviewers don’t go too in-depth into the game, but overall, they highlight Dark Chess Tournament’s seamless and enjoyable design.
Is Dark Chess Tournament Legit?
After downloading Dark Chess Tournament for ourselves, we determined that this app was legit regarding its gaming experience.
Unfortunately, we were not impressed with its current cash payouts. Neither Tall Troll Games nor Skillz are to blame for this assessment. Instead, Dark Chess Tournament’s small user base is more at fault.
With a lack of users, cash prizes are far and few between. That said, your money is undoubtedly in good hands with Skillz. However, we note this more as a recommendation to be mindful of the amount of money you deposit into the app.
If you have experience playing other more popular Skillz games, you might be inclined to deposit larger amounts of money into the app as per usual. Unlike these other games, Dark Chess Tournament doesn’t present as big of an opportunity for making a decent profit.
As Dark Chess Tournament continues to grow and become more popular, we will likely update this review to include the opportunities to earn money from beating your opponent on the app. But at this time, we only feel confident recommending this game more for its freeplay rounds and virtual currency.
While we don’t recommend playing Dark Chess Tournament for its cash prizes, there are tons of other High Paying Apps to Make Extra Money you should check out.
How to Play Dark Chess Tournament
Dark Chess Tournament is easier to pick up than standard chess rules, but that doesn’t make the game a walk in the park– it still takes strong determination and strategy to win.
The best way to perfect your game is through practice, but don’t click out of this Dark Chess Tournament review just yet because practicing on the app is not as boring as you might think. With fast-paced play, you will have less than five minutes to receive as many points as possible.
Although it may be initially confusing, Dark Chess Tournament features intuitive gaming that helps map all the possible moves available for all your pieces. When tapping on the piece you want to use, potential spaces will light up green, helping you decide where each piece is best suited. We found this particularly helpful, especially as new chess players.
Ultimately, the goal of the game is not to checkmate the king but to capture it. It’s important to plan out your moves to not only capture your opponent’s king but also to protect your king, which can be a tricky task, especially with the Fog of War feature.
We found that scouting was an extremely crucial aspect of the game. Our biggest tip is to send your weakest piece, the pawn, out to broaden our vision through the fog. Through scouting, you will have a better understanding of the attacks that are coming our way.
Opt into the new user tutorial if you need a refresher. This detailed tutorial will go over everything you’ll need to know about the different pieces and rules of this game.
Here’s a quick overview of what these instructions will cover:
The Pawn:
Pawns can move one square or two squares forward if it has not moved yet. The pawn cannot move backward. They capture enemy pieces on the two squares diagonally in front of them. However, the pawn cannot move diagonally if these spaces are vacant. Pawns that make it to their opponent’s edge of the table will be promoted into a queen, rook, bishop, or knight. Use your pawns to clear your fog and get a broader range of vision, so you aren’t left in the dark.
The Rook:
Rooks can move and attack any number of vacant squares vertically or horizontally. They are also important to make castling moves. Castling is best done early on in the game and helps protect and surround your king– aside from queens, they are the most powerful piece.
The Knight:
Knights move multiple squares with each move. It will either move up or down one square and over two squares. This movement can be laid out horizontally or vertically and is known for the ‘L’ or ‘7’ shape they make. Knights will also attack in a similar pattern. Use your knights to capture your opponent’s king.
The Bishop:
Bishops can move and attack any number of vacant squares in any diagonal direction. Bishops are easy targets for pawns and knights, but they can create a powerful defensive wall to protect your castling.
The Queen:
Queens can move and attack any number of vacant squares diagonally, horizontally, or vertically. They are the strongest pieces in chess and are the best way to protect the king from oncoming enemies.
The King:
Kings can move and attack exactly one square horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Your king must be protected at all costs to ensure your opponent doesn’t capture him.
By keeping note of these pieces’ different movements and attacks, you’ll have the best chance of beating your opponent and stealing their king.
How Much Money Can You Win Playing Dark Chess Tournament?
As a smaller game, we don’t recommend playing Dark Chess Tournament for its potential winnings. However, if you decide to do so, it’s important to be careful about how much you deposit into your account.
Like any app by Skillz, cash prizes on Dark Chess Tournament are not guaranteed. While the app does have secure, safe, and legitimate payouts, there’s a possibility of losing money through deposits due to a lack of money-earning opportunities.
For those looking to profit from the game, it’s best to enter smaller-risk tournaments and only deposit the amount necessary to pay the available entry fees on the app. Ultimately, you’ll never be scammed out of the cash you deposit into the app, but you might not profit from it as fast as you would prefer.
Despite the app highlighting up to $550 in prize pools, on average, you can expect to make anywhere from $1 to $20 playing Dark Chess Tournament.
Related Readings: Best Games That Pay Real Money (Play Games, Earn Cash)
How to Get Started
Follow along with these three simple steps to get a head start on Dark Chess Tournament.
Download
Dark Chess Tournament is free to be downloaded from the App Store for iOS devices and Skillz for Android devices (currently unavailable on the Google Play Store).
Start Playing
Play and practice for free on the app to perfect a winning strategy. We recommend using the pawn to scout and get a better view of the board and what your opponent is planning.
Withdraw Your Money
Safe and secure withdrawals are available via PayPal and your bank account. As a reminder, yes, cash prizes can legitimately be won on Dark Chess Tournament; however, you should be realistic about your expectations.
Dark Chess Tournament Pros and Cons
Pros:
- 24/7 access to chess tournaments.
- Play against real opponents.
- Fast-paced and entertaining rounds.
Cons:
- Not available in all states and locations
- A lack of players resulting in a smaller amount of cash tournaments.
Chess Apps Like Dark Chess Tournament
If you enjoy playing Dark Chess Tournament, check out some of our other favorite chess apps. At this time, our top recommendation is Chess Payday.
Despite not having more chess apps like Dark Chess Tournament, here’s a quick look at more of our favorite games that pay real cash prizes:
Check out The Best Games That Pay Real Money roundup for more recommendations.
Dark Chess Tournament App Review: Final Thoughts
To sum things up, yes, Dark Chess Tournament is a 100% legit mobile gaming app. However, the app’s cash tournaments have yet to receive the Real Money Gamer stamp of approval due to a smaller user base and fewer opportunities to profit from the money you deposit into your account.
As detailed throughout this Dark Chess Tournament App Review, this mobile game does offer a new modern feel to this classic game. While the opportunities to earn real cash from the app may be slim, it does act as an entertaining pastime.
Do you have what it takes to reign king in the wondrous world of Dark Chess? Install the app onto your iOS or Android device for free to find out today!
Although Dark Chess Tournament doesn’t offer cash payouts, these Top Reward Apps Pay Users Cash and Gift Cards.
This page may include links to our sponsors. We may receive compensation if you click on a link and download an app from one of our sponsors. Real Money Gamer provides information about and reviews of various apps and games, based on the opinions of our writers. We do not own or operate the apps and games. If you have questions or need assistance with a particular game or app, please contact the developer directly.
