Children aged 3 to 12. Everything is read aloud and early games are short, so even pre-readers can play, and the curriculum goes all the way to club-level ideas, so older children keep growing.

Yes. Every child starts by meeting the six pieces one at a time and learning how each moves, with voice-over and simple tasks. The School has extra practice on every topic, and children who find a level hard are guided there before moving on.

It was built for beginners and young children. The first levels are about having fun and winning games, to get children hooked. After that, one idea is introduced at a time, in the order children are ready for it: first the rules and safe habits, then principles like taking the centre and developing pieces, then tactics such as forks, pins and skewers, and later checkmate patterns, openings, middlegame strategy and endgame technique.

Each lesson is a few short screens and exercises, followed straight away by games where the new idea is put to use. Big ideas come back again and again across the saga, so they stick. See the full curriculum.

No. Tock helps children think for themselves. When they're stuck, he gives a nudge first ("look at your knight"), then highlights a square, and only shows the move if they still need it. He also nudges them towards good habits, such as taking the middle, waking up their pieces and checking whether a square is safe, often before the lesson that names the idea.

The aim is a strong, correct playing style that is still their own: children choose their moves, try their own ideas and learn from what happens. Warnings only appear when a piece can really be lost, never to tell them what to play.

Yes. Every game uses the full rules of chess, including castling, en passant, promotion, check, checkmate and stalemate. The board, the pieces and the rules are exactly what your child will meet at a chess club.

The saga takes children from their first moves to club-level ideas: tactics and checkmate patterns, opening principles, middlegame plans and endgames such as the Lucena and Philidor positions. How far each child goes depends on them, and the ChessMons get stronger as they do.

Yes. The full ChessMons adventure runs in your web browser as well as on iPhone and iPad, with the same worlds, lessons and monsters.

Monster Meadow, all of How to Play, unlimited piece practice, daily puzzles and Tock's help are free forever. The Family Pass opens all seven worlds, every School course, endless puzzles and more, for up to four children. See pricing.

There are no ads, no chat and no online play with strangers. Coins are earned only by playing and can't be bought. Purchases and settings sit behind a grown-up gate.

Grown-up settings and all payments sit behind a grown-up question that young children can't answer. From there you can set:

• How much help your child gets in games: Off, Little, Some or Lots, or Auto, which follows the adventure and gives less help as your child grows.
• Danger warnings ("Who's watching?"): show them, make them a detective game, or turn them off.
• Healthy play: Tock suggests a break after a time you choose, and you can set a daily game limit.
• Fun level and sound: full, subtle or calm effects, plus music, sounds, vibration and character chat.
• Players: add up to four child profiles with the Family Pass, or remove a profile or start it over.
• Payments: the Family Pass, the free trial, restoring purchases and gift codes. Children only ever see "Ask a grown-up".

With the Family Pass you also get a weekly report showing what your child learned, their puzzles, games and time played.

A few minutes is enough. "Today's 3" is a quick daily set of three puzzles that brings back what your child learned earlier, and a lesson plus a game fits easily into ten minutes.

Music makes progress something children can hear. Every Chessmon plays a part of its world's song, so each win adds to the band. The songs use made-up languages, so any child can sing along.

The first version is in English. More languages are coming.

Email us at [email protected].. To report a problem with a puzzle or lesson, use the Report link next to it in the app (behind the grown-up gate).