Play Magnus??

It's a great app, are you kidding? Optime Software's Chess app is horrible, in comparison. What does it matter that there's no time control and only one board set? The app is still relatively new, and they're still working on it! At least it's currently playable. My favorite chess app by far.

at ages 11 and up he will eventually resign (except for one occasion against age 12, where he didn't resign and I checkmated him).

I agree. Of course the machine don't play like Carlsen because he is a human, and change mind, do different things, especially in a chess game. Engines always play the same "best move". Probably the engine play with the "same rating" that Carlsen had at that time. This is the most acceptable...

This app is very good! I am a big fan of Magnus Carlsen! This app has precious version of Stockfish Chess! And I think it has a rating of 3000. And this app is not only for fun! Because of it you cant choose the colur and so on...

I'm actually confused as to why there's no android or proper ipad version of the app, because it's not difficult to adapt an app to different devices (except in some cases of functions not existing in either andriod or apple, similar to web programming across different browsers).  Depending on how and in what language(s) the program was written, you can just query for the resolution of the device running it and alter the appearance accordingly.  The only reason to have multiple versions of the same app then is if you want to have unique functionality for different carriers.

The app is good, in my opinion. It starts getting really strong at around age 13. I've only beaten it once at this age.

personally really like this app :P

Hi... I'm really curious what the app's ELO is for the first levels...Could you help me fill this chart?

Age - ELO

5 -

6 -

7 -

8 -

8.5 -

9 -

10 -

11 -

Based on the information we have or your experience playing against it...

                   Magnus Carlsen Scale of Awesomeness

5-1500

6-1600

7-1700

8-1900 

8.5- 2000

9- 2200

10-2300

10.5-2400

11-2500

12-2550

13-2600

14-2650

15-2700

16-2725

17-2750

18-2775

19-2790

20-2800

21-2825

22-2850

23-2875

How do we know ur being truthful

Those are my estimates.

I tried the app on my android. Nice little app. Simple and free. It gives an interesting timeline of Carlsen's chess career.

On Android you can have it only if you are a beta tester, on my phone I have it, but not on the tablet.

I played a couple of games, and still didn't discover how to change the color.

Again, it is not user friendly for what regards sending the PGN through email like other chess program do.

While I believe the app has been made for gathering data, since the first thing asked is my facebook account, in order to sense my friend list, and likely sell it for advertisement purposes.

Compared to other chess apps in android, I'd say this has been made for making money, not for encouraging someone to learn chess or play chess.

If like someone else said in this thread, that the engine is Stockfish, then it is really sad to see a world champion prey on android users for money.

How about you enjoy the app or play something else.  This is why people give up and stop doing nice things for other people.  

He's literally a multi-millionaire, and stands to win another million or so from this current match with Anand

The Play Magnus app is excellent!! 

I installed it 3 days ago on my Android and I'm riveted - also my daughter is.

I was pretty much breezing through the 8-year-old range, averaging like 10 minutes per game, and conceding one draw and one loss (the loss at 8 years and 11 months!) while beating all 12 levels...

However 9-year old is totally a different story.

At nine year old sharp, I played many games, and couldn't lift my score any beyond 50%

Then afterwards, some "month" levels I beat with one game, some with two or three...

Nine-year-six beat me three times and drew me twice before I managed to win and move on...

Now, after my first loss to nine-year-seven, I have a winning position - but it's winning with difficulties (+3.0 Solsky Scale - if you don't know what that is, read my article on the subject).

Magnus is a HUGE ambassador for chess. He does everything to promote the game everywhere. He goes out of his way to make it friendly and accessible to amateurs of all levels.

Children and sane adults will have tons of fun with this app.

In addition, look at the huge sense of humor that a 23-year-old world champion must have, with all of his brilliance, to release an app where he plays like a total clueless patzer at the basic levels - just in order to encourage you, the user, to take him on.  

I am enjoying the app a lot. It seems to play a nice variety of openings and has sort of a human quality, so far. I have played up to 10 years old and drew on a threefold repetition. I thought I was only repeating my move once but it was drawn. After doing some computer analysis it seems I had a +8 before the end. My only complaint is there is no move order tally. If I could view that I wouldn't have three folded. Either way I am amazed at this app

Absolutely!! :-)

Seven days after my previous post - and I'm now getting myself severly tortured at the ten-years-one level. Magnus is now 5:0 against me, after going 14+ 1= 1- at age 10 flat and 17+ 1= 1- at age 9 years 11. 

After winning once you get a nice cup - it looks like the program edges you on, to the next levels...

But suddenly it feels like I should prepare the way they do (or almost) for the world championship matches... not just play casually in a few minutes. He's getting way too good for that!

By the way - the program is definitely not easy to beat!

Just like Magnus himself - everything seems so placid, so peaceful, so neutral, and suddenly... where he finds these ideas, these maneouvers, these combinations - I really don't know. No position seems to be safe from his wrath - and yes, even at age 10 and 1 month. Just lost another 4:0 series against this level. 

My daughter's bet was that I will be able to beat him all the way to 11 years six. My prediction was a bit more sober - I think I will still be able to take him at 10 years five. After that everything would be a surprise. 

I drew him at age 14 once. But I can't seem to win past 12.