Carrom and chess skills you can build on your phone
Carrom and chess are both learned best with a board. A phone version lets you build the skills before you play at a table. Where to start.
Carrom and chess are both games you learn best with a board in front of you. A phone can still help. You can practise the angles in carrom and the moves in chess without setting anything up. Here is how to build the skills before you sit down to a real game.
Carrom: angles and force
Carrom is about the angle of the striker and the force of the flick. Practise the same shot from several positions until you know how much force it takes. Board Adda from Live Game Labs includes carrom alongside Ludo and chess.
Chess: the moves first
Learn how each piece moves before you think about strategy. Our chess guide covers the rules, including castling and the difference between checkmate and stalemate. Once the moves are automatic, start paying attention to the centre and to your king's safety.
Where to practise
Board Adda covers carrom, chess and Ludo. Board Club from Play Boom Games has many more classics. Check each listing for offline play, so you can practise on a train.
Keep the board in mind
A phone helps with the rules and the feel of the game. A real board still matters for the touch of a carrom striker and for the pace of a chess game. Use the phone to learn, then play on a board when you can.
Questions people ask
What is carrom?
A board game where you flick discs into corner pockets with a striker. Players aim for their own colour.
What is the first skill in chess?
Knowing how each piece moves. Our chess piece guide covers it.
Can I learn carrom on a phone?
The phone version lets you practise angles and force. It does not replace a real board for feel.
Which apps have both?
Board Adda from Live Game Labs includes carrom and chess. Board Club from Play Boom Games has many classics.
How long does it take to learn chess?
The moves take an afternoon. Strategy takes much longer, and playing regularly is what builds it.
Are these apps offline?
Board Club is described as offline by Play Boom Games. Check Board Adda's store listing.