Duolingo, the world’s most popular learning app, is adding a new subject to its curriculum: Chess.
Now in early testing, the Chess course marks the company’s first new subject since launching Music and Math in 2023 and brings one of the oldest games into the world of bite-sized, gamified learning.
Yep, the app that brought you language, math, and music now takes on pawns, puzzles, and full-on gameplay.
With Duolingo’s Chess course, learners can start from square one, learning how each piece moves, how to spot tactical patterns, and how to build a winning strategy. Most lessons focus on solving short puzzles to sharpen your thinking, and learners can apply what they’ve learned in fast-paced “mini-matches” or full games against the in-app chess coach, Oscar, one of Duolingo’s beloved characters.
While many chess platforms cater to those who already know the rules and logic, Duolingo’s course is built for anyone who’s ever been curious about the game or intimidated by it, the company said. By making chess more approachable and accessible, the company aims to introduce it to millions of new learners around the world, just like it has with language, math, and music.
“Chess is an ideal fit for Duolingo,” said Luis von Ahn, CEO of Duolingo, in a statement. “It sharpens your brain, it’s packed with strategy, and like language learning, it’s a skill that gets better with practice.”
The course is currently being tested with a limited number of learners. Duolingo will roll Chess out to learners on iOS in English in the coming weeks, with support for additional operating systems and language interfaces planned in the months ahead.
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