Making More Out of Chess with the Monarch

The Monarch Chess App was developed as the first digital, refreshable braille display chess game, making it possible for any Monarch user to play chess easily and on the go. 

On a physical game board, the game of chess is made up of multiple moving pieces, meaning that the pieces can be knocked over, slid, or unintentionally messed with. This can pose its own issues for someone who is blind or low vision who is relying on feeling the physical pieces. A tactile chess board, however, is often complex, and rarely portable. Making a chess board that was tactile, easy to travel with, and simple to understand, Monarch Chess App was able to provide a solution for both of these problems. But that was just the beginning.  

The upcoming Chess App update, expected to release in the fall of 2025, will allow users to continue playing the classic game with ease, but with even more possibilities. There will now be a number of new game modes, making it possible for Monarch players to join online multiplayer, invite others to games, accept challenges from other players, and more.  

The most exciting piece of this new update is the option for multiplayer games on the Monarch. This multiplayer mode spans from digital to physical games in several different ways. Monarch users will be able to play with other Monarch Chess users, competing in real time with online gameplay. Not only will this bring together Monarch users, but chess players of any kind.  

The Monarch Chess App will be available for download through the iOS store, so it can be played by anyone with an iOS device. The app is being created to be accessible for users who are blind or low vision, meaning all users can access Monarch Chess from their home devices.  This means parents, peers, and friends have the ability to play alongside the Monarch users in their life. Students who are blind or low vision can play alongside sighted classmates, teachers, or at home. The opportunity for connection through fun and learning has never been greater. “We want more than just Monarch users to be able to play,” said Jason Martin, Technical Innovations Product Manager at APH. 

This update also opens up a whole new possibility for players who are blind or low vision to participate in chess competitions and clubs. Through the Monarch software, users can play against anyone with a physical chess board that contains the smart capacity to connect to the Lichess Server. Meaning smart chess boards in competitions, can also play online with the Monarch. “If you can play on the Monarch, and compete alongside a physical chess board, there’s a lot more opportunity to be taken seriously as a chess player,” said Jason.  

This update will bring Monarch Chess out of the Monarch, and into the hands of anyone who is interested in playing. It allows for students who are only able to play chess on the Monarch the opportunity to reach a world of competitors and peers. The Monarch Chess App will be another piece of the Monarch that ensures those who are blind and low vision get closer to bridging the gap between themselves and their sighted peers. It allows Monarch to bring us closer together, through games, competition, and shared experiences.