As a 1900-rated player on my journey toward 2200, I’ve tried just about every chess learning resource under the sun. Physical books gathering dust on my shelf, PDFs that require a separate board setup, Kindle editions where I lose my place trying to follow variations—you name it, I’ve struggled with it. Then I discovered ForwardChess, and honestly? It felt like someone finally understood what chess readers actually need.
In this comprehensive ForwardChess review, I’m going to break down everything you need to know about this interactive chess e-book platform. We’ll explore the good, the bad, and whether it deserves a place in your chess improvement toolkit. Fair warning: I own over 30 books on this platform, so I’ve got some strong opinions.
What Exactly Is ForwardChess?
ForwardChess is an interactive chess e-book reader available on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and web browsers. Unlike traditional e-readers or even publisher-specific apps, ForwardChess has partnered with virtually every major chess publisher to create a unified platform where you can read chess books while simultaneously playing through moves on an embedded digital board.
The concept is elegantly simple: tap any move in the book, and the board instantly snaps to that position. Want to explore your own variation? Just make moves on the board. Need engine analysis? Stockfish is built right in. It’s like having a book, a chessboard, and a world-class chess engine all in the palm of your hand.
Publishers and Library: The Platform’s Key Advantage
This is where the app absolutely destroys the competition. As of 2025, the platform features nearly 500 titles from the following publishers:
- Quality Chess
- New In Chess
- Chess Stars
- Chess Informant
- Russell Enterprises
- Mongoose Press
- Thinkers Publishing
- Chess Evolution
- Everyman Chess
- British Chess Magazine
- Dover Books (recently added)
No other chess e-book app comes close to this library size. Gambit Studio offers around 100 titles, and Everyman Chess Viewer has roughly 300—but they’re limited to their own publisher’s books. ForwardChess’s publisher-agnostic approach means you build one unified library instead of juggling multiple apps.
My Personal ForwardChess Review: The User Experience
The Good Stuff
Let me start with what ForwardChess gets right, because there’s plenty.
The Interactive Board Is Phenomenal
The core functionality—tapping moves to jump to positions—is absolutely seamless. I’ve used this ForwardChess feature extensively with books like Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual and The Woodpecker Method. Playing through dense variations that would take minutes to set up on a physical board happens instantly. The “guess the move” feature is particularly brilliant for studying annotated game collections; you can hide the next move, try to find the best continuation yourself, and then reveal what the grandmaster played.
Cross-Device Syncing
I read on my iPad at home, my Android phone during commutes, and occasionally on my Windows desktop. The app syncs your library, bookmarks, and reading position across all devices. This sounds basic, but it’s remarkably well-implemented. I’ve never lost my place or had sync conflicts.
The Engine Integration
Stockfish is available at the tap of a button. When an author claims a variation is winning for White, you can verify it instantly. More importantly, when you want to explore “what if I played this instead?” you can make the moves and get immediate feedback. This transforms passive reading into active analysis.
Ergonomic Design
The Previous and Next buttons are large and easy to reach, which sounds trivial until you’ve spent an hour playing through games. The resizable board, customizable pieces, and night mode show that someone actually thought about how chess players use these apps.
Tactics Trainer
The platform has a built-in tactics trainer for selected books like The Woodpecker Method, 1001 Chess Exercises for Club Players, and Practical Chess Puzzles. You can solve positions and track your progress through the book—a feature that transforms puzzle books from passive reading into active training.
Desktop-Only Features
The Windows and Mac versions include an opening book database and games search feature that assists with opening preparation. This isn’t available on mobile, but it’s a nice bonus for serious students.
The Not-So-Good Stuff
Now for the honest criticism, because no thorough review would be complete without addressing the platform’s weaknesses.
No Spaced Repetition
This is the elephant in the room when comparing the platform to Chessable. ForwardChess is fundamentally an e-book reader, while Chessable is a training platform built around spaced repetition. If you want to memorize opening lines long-term, Chessable’s MoveTrainer technology is objectively superior. The app lets you read and play through content, but it doesn’t drill you on it repeatedly.
Software Quirks
Some users report frustration with the quiz mode randomly switching to read mode, or the app losing their position when reopened. One reviewer, a former software developer, described the interface as “relatively amateurish” compared to Chessable. While I haven’t experienced severe issues, the UI isn’t as polished as some competitors.
Long-Term Viability Concerns
This concern appeared in an early Chess.com review and remains relevant. Books purchased here can only be read within the app. If the company ever shuts down, users might lose access to their entire library. Unlike Amazon’s Kindle ecosystem backed by a trillion-dollar company, this is a startup operation. They’ve survived and thrived since their founding, but it’s a consideration for anyone building a substantial digital library.
Redundant Diagrams
Physical chess books include frequent diagrams because readers can’t easily visualize positions. The digital books retain these diagrams, which becomes redundant when you have an interactive board right there. They waste valuable screen real estate, though this is arguably a publishing issue rather than a platform problem.
Missing Publishers
Despite the impressive library, some notable publishers remain absent. Gambit Publishing, for instance, maintains its own app and hasn’t partnered with the platform. If your favorite author publishes exclusively with Gambit, you’re out of luck.
ForwardChess Pricing: Is It Worth the Money?
ForwardChess books typically range from $1.99 to $24.99, with most titles falling between $11.99 and $19.99. This is generally comparable to or slightly cheaper than physical editions—and you’re saving on shipping.
Several pricing advantages deserve mention in this review:
- New book discounts: All new releases get 15% off for a limited time
- Regular sales: Holiday sales (50% off), International Chess Day promotions (20% off), and Black Friday deals occur throughout the year
- Coupon codes: The code “WELCOMENEWUSERS” reportedly offers 30% off
- FIDE Trainer discounts: Licensed trainers get exclusive pricing through a partnership with FIDE
- Free samples: Most books offer free sample chapters, and two complete books (On Life and Chess by Shipov and True Lies in Chess by Fabrego) are included free with the app
Compared to Chessable, the platform is significantly cheaper. Many titles available on both platforms show substantial price differences. For example, Improve Your Chess Pattern Recognition sells for $17.99 here versus $26.95 on Chessable. My First Chess Opening Repertoire for White is $13.99 compared to $21.95 on Chessable.
ForwardChess vs. Chessable: Which Should You Choose?
This comparison deserves its own section because it’s the question I get asked most often.
Choose ForwardChess if:
- You want to read traditional chess books digitally
- You prefer author explanations over pure move drilling
- You’re studying game collections or middlegame/endgame concepts
- Price matters to you
- You want a unified library across publishers
Choose Chessable if:
- Your primary goal is memorizing opening lines
- You believe in spaced repetition for long-term retention
- You want video content integrated with training
- You’re willing to pay premium prices for the training methodology
The honest answer? Many serious players use both. I use the interactive e-book platform for game collections and strategic/positional books (where understanding matters more than memorization), and Chessable for opening repertoires (where memorization is essential). They serve different purposes.
The Future of Chess Books: Where Does ForwardChess Fit?
Let me step back and address the broader question: what is the future of chess books, and how does ForwardChess fit into it?
Pros of Digital Chess Books
Portability: Your entire chess library travels with you. I’ve done opening preparation while waiting at customs offices, studied endgames during flights, and reviewed games during lunch breaks. Physical books can’t compete.
Interactivity: The ability to play through moves without setting up a board, explore variations, and get instant engine feedback fundamentally changes how we study. Dense variations that were painful to follow in physical books become effortlessly navigable.
Updates: Digital books can receive corrections and updates. If an author discovers an improvement to a recommended line, the e-book can be updated rather than requiring a new print edition.
Cost Savings: No shipping costs, instant delivery, frequent sales, and generally lower base prices make digital more economical over time.
Environmental Impact: No paper, no shipping, no physical storage required.
Cons of Digital Chess Books
Ownership Questions: You don’t truly “own” digital books the way you own physical copies. Platform changes, company closures, or DRM issues could theoretically impact access.
Screen Fatigue: Extended screen time affects some readers more than others. The tactile experience of a physical book has undeniable appeal.
Focus Challenges: Phones and tablets bring notifications and distractions. A physical book commands undivided attention in ways digital devices don’t.
Technical Barriers: Older players or those uncomfortable with technology may find the learning curve frustrating.
Conversion Quality: Not all books convert equally well to digital format. Some older titles have formatting issues or lack proper interactive elements.
The Verdict on Digital Chess Books
Digital chess books aren’t replacing physical books entirely—they’re creating a parallel ecosystem. Many players maintain physical libraries for classic titles while using digital platforms for new releases and portable study. ForwardChess represents the best current implementation of what interactive chess e-books can be, even if it’s not perfect.
Three Key Takeaways for Amateur Players
After extensive use of ForwardChess across dozens of titles, here are my three key takeaways:
1. ForwardChess Excels for Active Reading, Not Memorization
If you want to genuinely understand chess concepts—positional themes, endgame techniques, annotated master games—ForwardChess provides an exceptional reading experience. The interactive board transforms dense variations from obstacles into learning opportunities. However, if your goal is drilling opening lines into long-term memory, you’ll need to supplement with Chessable or old-fashioned repetition.
Resource for improvement: For understanding how to approach chess study methodically, I recommend Jeremy Silman’s How to Reassess Your Chess, available on the platform. It teaches you how to think about positions rather than memorize moves—exactly the type of content where interactive e-books shine.
2. The Library Depth Justifies the Platform
No other interactive chess e-book platform offers this breadth of content from this many publishers. Whether you want Quality Chess’s rigorous theoretical works, New In Chess’s tournament coverage, or Chess Informant’s encyclopedic databases, the platform has you covered. Building your library here means never juggling multiple apps or accounts.
Resource for improvement: Check out the chess book reviews on BetterChess.net for guidance on which titles deserve your attention. Not every book is worth your study time, and curated recommendations help you invest wisely.
3. Digital Study Requires Deliberate Practice Strategies
Simply reading through books—even interactive ones—won’t maximize improvement. Develop active study habits: use guess-the-move for game collections, solve positions before checking solutions, create your own notes and bookmarks, and return to key concepts repeatedly. ForwardChess provides the tools; you provide the discipline.
Resource for improvement: The Chessentials honest review of ForwardChess offers additional perspectives and study methodology suggestions worth considering.
My ForwardChess Rating: 82/100
After weighing everything in this ForwardChess review—the exceptional library, seamless interactivity, cross-platform syncing, competitive pricing, minor software quirks, lack of spaced repetition, and long-term ownership concerns—I’m giving ForwardChess a rating of 82 out of 100.
Breakdown:
- Library depth and publisher partnerships: 95/100
- Core reading/interactive functionality: 90/100
- Cross-device experience: 85/100
- User interface polish: 70/100
- Training features (vs. competitors): 65/100
- Value for money: 90/100
- Long-term viability assurance: 75/100
This is a strong recommendation. ForwardChess excels at what it sets out to do—provide an interactive chess e-book reading experience—better than any alternative. It falls short only when compared to purpose-built training platforms like Chessable, and that’s not entirely a fair comparison.
Recommendations and Next Steps
If you’ve made it through this entire ForwardChess review, here’s your action plan:
If You’re New to ForwardChess:
- Download the free app on your preferred device (iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, or use the web version)
- Read the free books included with the app to test the interface
- Browse sample chapters of books you’re interested in before purchasing
- Start with one book that matches your current study focus
- Sign up for their newsletter to catch sales and discount offers
If You’re Already Using ForwardChess:
- Explore the desktop features if you haven’t—the opening book database is valuable for preparation
- Try the Tactics Trainer on compatible puzzle books
- Use the note-taking feature to create personalized annotations
- Consider the Author Tool if you’re interested in creating your own content
General Chess Improvement Advice:
- Don’t get caught in “acquisition mode” buying books you’ll never study thoroughly
- One book studied deeply beats ten books skimmed superficially
- Use ForwardChess for understanding, supplement with tactics trainers for calculation, and consider Chessable for opening memorization
- Review your own games—no book substitutes for analyzing where you actually make mistakes
ForwardChess won’t magically make you a better player. No tool will. But it removes friction from the study process, makes dense material accessible, and puts a comprehensive chess library in your pocket. For serious improvers willing to put in the work, it’s an invaluable resource.
Now stop reading reviews and go study some chess. Your rating won’t improve itself.
Have you tried ForwardChess? What’s your experience been? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear whether your ForwardChess review matches mine.