user150: I play chess very infrequently. Whenever I restart, I take a bit of time to get up to speed. Which chess playing apps are best for a beginner? I would prefer apps that scale up in diifficulty according to a player's skill.

user501: If you want to improve your skills, maybe gamezer.com is useful. It's not an app, but a website you can visit with an iphone, ipod, or whatever smartphone. It also provides skill  levels.

user497: If you have a Microsoft Windows-based PC or laptop then there is no problem. They provide a very good chess game with different skill levels and appearances. 

user142: Back in the day, I found Chessmaster to be very beginner friendly, with a variety of AIs to choose from. It also had some instructional segments included, which were good at the time.
Now I lose against Stockfish whenever I'm looking for a good beating. I don't think it's very good for beginners, even if you constrain its skill quite a bit.

user500: Shredder is an awesome Chess Program.  If you have an IPhone or Android Shredder is present and if you want for Computer along with Shredder you can use Fritz also.  I personally like both of them.

150: <p>I play chess very infrequently. Whenever I restart, I take a bit of time to get up to speed. Which chess playing apps are best for a beginner? I would prefer apps that scale up in diifficulty according to a player's skill.</p>
 501: <p>If you want to improve your skills, maybe <a href="http://gamezer.com/" rel="nofollow">gamezer.com</a> is useful. It's not an app, but a website you can visit with an iphone, ipod, or whatever smartphone. It also provides skill  levels.</p>
 497: <p>If you have a Microsoft Windows-based PC or laptop then there is no problem. They provide a very good chess game with different skill levels and appearances. </p>
 142: <p>Back in the day, I found Chessmaster to be very beginner friendly, with a variety of AIs to choose from. It also had some instructional segments included, which were good at the time.</p>

<p>Now I lose against Stockfish whenever I'm looking for a good beating. I don't think it's very good for beginners, even if you constrain its skill quite a bit.</p>
 500: <p>Shredder is an awesome Chess Program.  If you have an IPhone or Android Shredder is present and if you want for Computer along with Shredder you can use Fritz also.  I personally like both of them.</p>
