About

I started ChessFiddle with a passion for both programming and chess. I was especially eager to teach my kids how to play, and show them what personal programming can accomplish. Around 2010, I created a virtual chess sandbox for myself, a place where I could experiment, solve puzzles, and explore the game I love. However, it wasn’t until the 2020 pandemic that I decided to turn it into something I could share with others. This site was born out of a desire to offer something useful to the chess community and provide a space where anyone could play, learn, enjoy and explore their chess games & skills.

Since its inception, I’ve been supporting and maintaining the site in my spare time. As life has gotten busier, my kids have gotten older, and time more limited, my commitment to the site hasn’t wavered. The current version of ChessFiddle is just a good start, and I plan to continue improving and expanding it. I’m always open to feedback, so if you have any ideas or suggestions, or just want to reach out, I’d love to hear from you!

As for why ChessFiddle costs money, it’s simply because there are daily costs to maintain the service and continue developing it on my own. I made a conscious decision not to place advertisements on the site, as I didn’t want to compromise the experience for users. I also prefer not to rely on third-party monetization platforms like Apple or Patreon, which would only add extra costs and complexity. By keeping the site ad-free and focusing on direct support, I can ensure ChessFiddle remains a resource that’s both functional and enjoyable for everyone who uses it.

- Tucker, Head of Fiddling