Chess Notation Fluency

Chess Notation Fluency Support

For help, feedback, or feature requests, email Mark Harris at trickfest@gmail.com.

Include your device, operating-system version, app version from Settings, and a short description of what happened. A screenshot can help. Please leave out passwords, payment details, and private information unrelated to the problem.

Getting started

Open Practice to choose your mode, perspective, answer method, starting phase, and session length. Your choices are saved as you change them. Choose Start Practice when you are ready.

Board to SAN asks you to watch a move and enter its notation. SAN to Board asks you to read the notation and make the move. Mixed practice combines both.

To practice a particular game, select it in Library and choose Practice This Game. Use Customize to adjust the settings first.

Unlocking the full library

The free app includes two starter games with all practice modes. A one-time Full Game Library purchase unlocks the complete 5,000-game catalog and PGN import. There is no subscription. The price is shown before you purchase.

If you have already purchased the unlock but still see only the starter games, connect to the internet and choose Settings → Restore Purchases. Check that you are using the Apple Account that made the purchase for App Store purchases. Allow the purchase check to finish. If access is still missing, contact support.

If the purchase is temporarily unavailable, check your connection and use Try Again in Settings. Your starter games remain available.

Importing your games

PGN is the text format commonly used to export chess games.

Choose Import PGN in the app.
Paste PGN text, or choose Choose PGN File to fill the text box from a file.
Choose Import to validate and save the games.
Read the result message. The import screen stays open so you can import more games. Close it when you are finished.

Choosing a file alone does not import it. The app checks the moves before saving and reports malformed or unsupported games. Imports must use standard chess and start from the normal starting position. Chess variants and games starting from a custom position are not supported.

Use the Imported filter in Library to find your games. Importing the same normalized game again does not add another copy. Games with different metadata may be treated as separate imports.

To remove one, open its details and choose Delete Imported Game. Your original PGN file is unchanged. PGN import and practicing imported games require the Full Game Library unlock.

Synchronizing across devices

Practice history and imported games use your private iCloud storage when available. Use the same iCloud account on each device and check that iCloud Drive is enabled for the app. Settings shows the app's current storage location.

Synchronization is not instantaneous. After using the app on one device, allow time for iCloud to transfer changes, then reopen or return to the app on the other device. Offline changes can synchronize after you reconnect.

For the most predictable results, finish a session and let it synchronize before continuing on another device. Simultaneous or offline changes can cause an older history to replace a newer one. Avoid deleting the app as a first troubleshooting step, particularly if it is using local storage.

Resetting statistics

Choose Settings → Reset Statistics and confirm. This clears exercise history and recent sessions while keeping your practice settings, imported games, and purchase. Finish or end any active practice session before resetting.

Offline use and system requirements

You can practice with the bundled catalog offline. Previously downloaded imported games can also be used while their purchase access is available. Purchasing, restoring purchases, downloading cloud files, and synchronizing changes require an internet connection.

The app requires iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26 or later.