It's a bit embarrassing to share, but in my mid-forties, I've never grasped chess well enough to finish a game. My kids picked it up in elementary school, and although I was proud of them, my busy life as a mother of three left little time for me to dive into the game.

Then came the pandemic, which sparked a chess renaissance. Recent surveys show that 21% of Americans now dabble in chess, especially younger adults. I hadn't given the game a second thought until spring when my 11-year-old son excitedly shared a new feature in his Duolingo app: chess!

As a long-time fan of Duolingo for language learning—boasting a 1,300-day streak—this felt like the perfect opportunity to finally learn chess. I couldn't wait to see what the new chess program had in store.

The Game Begins!

From the get-go, the chess lessons were straightforward. I clicked on a piece and watched dots appear on the board to guide my moves. Duolingo's charismatic mascot, Oscar, guided me, and within days, I was grasping the movement of each chess piece. I progressed rapidly through levels, uncovering strategies for offense and defense—skills I'd never mastered before.

Intrigued by how I was learning so quickly, I reached out to Duolingo's chess team. They revealed their goal: to attract those like me—people who have always wanted to play chess but never fully committed.

Jake Fishman, founder of Mindful Chess, supports this initiative, stating that Duolingo makes chess fun and accessible, particularly for beginners. The gamified lessons help reduce anxiety, similar to learning a new language, allowing players to ease into chess.

Innovative Approach to Learning

Duolingo's chess program fills a significant gap in chess education. As humans, we often see programs catering to those with prior knowledge, but Duolingo's aim is to make chess accessible to everyone.

Given that mastering chess takes time, this approach also benefits Duolingo's long-term business strategy while rewarding users striving toward a challenging goal.

To develop the program, Duolingo assembled a diverse team. For example, when group product manager Edwin Bodge joined, he knew basic chess rules. They even have someone who attends chess tournaments every weekend.

The program suits beginners and intermediates alike. Players with prior experience can jump into advanced levels, but most will find a strong focus on introducing newcomers to the game.

Daily Chess Adventures

Currently, I'm playing chess every day, progressing swiftly through lessons and enjoying matches. It's a refreshing alternative to endless social media scrolling and keeps my brain engaged, even during mundane moments like picking up kids from school.

Oscar is quite the competitor, refusing to let me win easily, and the program cleverly adjusts its challenges based on my skill level. As I improve, I face tougher opponents without feeling overwhelmed.

While I’m eager to explore chess deeper and aim to enhance my Elo score—a global chess ranking system—I’m hovering around 600 but making progress every day.

Family Competition and Future Goals

Now, my kids are also enjoying the app, and we share screenshots of our Elo scores. However, one drawback is the inability to play against each other or friends; you can only compete against Oscar. This option is on Duolingo’s radar, according to product manager Bodge.

For now, I’m fully immersed in the game, learning new strategies daily. The little girl from the '80s who once struggled with chess is finally thriving—and I want to show my kids that it’s never too late to learn something new, even amidst a busy life. Who knows, maybe I’ll even beat them at their own game soon!