Answers to what we get asked most often — sorted by audience. Can't find what you need? Email us.
Schackappen is a Swedish chess program for kids aged 6–11 (preschool to grade 5). It consists of the game (skola.schackappen.se) and a portal for teachers and principals (portal.schackappen.se). The game includes sagas that teach the pieces, classic chess against AI opponents, 2,000 puzzles, 16 openings and endgame training.
Schackappen is built by Ulf Austin Cato. The idea came when his daughter Isa was seven and wanted to learn chess — patience was short, interest was high. Schackappen is developed in dialogue with kids, parents, teachers and Swedish chess clubs.
Preschool to grade 5 (about 6–11 years) is our main audience. The youngest use sagas and visual exercises; older kids use classic chess, puzzles and openings.
Schackappen is built for kids who are learning, not for serious adult players. The whole experience — pace, tone and content — is made for someone taking their first steps on the board.
Not to get started. The first sagas and exercises are largely visual — pieces show themselves where they can move, and encouragement is spoken rather than text-based.
The Catch Words mode is actually built to support early reading and keyboard skills in a playful way.
No. Open skola.schackappen.se in any browser (Safari, Chrome, Edge, Firefox) and you're up and running. Want it as an app: tap the share icon and choose "Add to Home Screen".
iPad, iPhone, Android, Chromebook, Mac and Windows PC. The screen adapts automatically to the device size. We recommend Chrome or Safari for the best experience.
Yes, after the first connection. The whole game (including the AI opponent) is downloaded so the child can play without internet — perfect for bus rides, flaky school networks or the summer cottage.
For teachers and principals: the portal for administration requires internet because it reads from the database.
Automatically. When the child is online next time, new versions download in the background. No "update Schackappen" buttons.
For students in a class: only first name (or nickname) and chosen avatar. Plus stats from the game (number of games, playing strength, completed sagas). No email, no personal ID, nothing else.
For teachers and principals with portal accounts: email and password (encrypted) plus name.
Data is stored with Supabase in the EU. We never sell or share data, and the sub-processors we use to run the service are bound by data processing agreements. Read the privacy policy for details.
No, never. Schackappen is completely ad-free: no ads, no ad pixels and no third-party cookies. There are no in-app purchases and no data is ever sold on, a safe space where kids are left to just play.
Yes. We minimize personal data deliberately: only first name and avatar for students, with their data stored in the EU.
For schools that need formal documentation, we have a data processing agreement (DPA) that you can read, print and sign.
No. There is no chat function at all. Children play against AI opponents. The only "social" element is that a teacher sees their students' stats — students don't see each other.
Unlimited. You can create multiple classes and each class can have any number of students — for the same flat price.
First you are connected to a school: the principal creates the school in portal.schackappen.se and invites you, and you create your account via the invitation. If you are a teacher without a school, sign up as principal, then you are both principal and teacher for your own school. Then click "Create new class", name it, and you get a code like PTSZ-5886. Students go to skola.schackappen.se, choose "I have a class code" and enter it.
In the teacher portal, under the class. Each student has a card with number of games, wins, playing strength, completed sagas, stars and last active. Updates automatically every 30 seconds so you follow in real time during a chess lesson.
We use Stockfish — the world's strongest open chess engine. Default is unforgivingly hard, but we've throttled it down so it matches the child's playing strength dynamically, from beginner up to tournament level.
If the child wins the level rises, if the child loses the level drops. Never frustrating, never boring.
Yes. See the teacher manual (in Swedish) with lesson suggestions, pedagogical principles and tips.
Schools & clubs: 449 SEK/month for the whole school, unlimited students. Billed once a year.
No setup fee and no lock-in. See the pricing page for details.
Yes, 14 days free and no card required. You get started yourself: create an account in the teacher portal (portal.schackappen.se) and the trial starts right away — no demo to book, no waiting. Tell us if you want to continue after 14 days, otherwise nothing happens.
The subscription renews one year at a time. We always remind you in good time before each renewal, and you can cancel whenever — access then runs to the end of the period. No lock-in, no notice periods.