Privacy Policy

Welcome to TacticChess ("the App"), a chess learning and online multiplayer application developed for Android. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and safeguard your personal information when you use our App.

By downloading, installing, or using TacticChess, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.

We collect the minimum information necessary to provide the App's features:

• Account information — your display name and email address, provided when you sign in with Google or register with email and password.
• Profile data — your chosen country, avatar initial, and online rank/rating.
• Lesson progress — lessons completed, categories studied, and progress within each lesson.
• Online game data — game results, moves played, wins/losses, and rating changes from online matches.
• Tournament & leaderboard data — tournament participation, scores, and placement on global and country leaderboards.
• Subscription information — your active subscription plan (Starter, Gold, or Premium) and subscription SKU identifier via Google Play. We do not store payment card details.
• Device information — device type and Android OS version, used only for compatibility and crash reporting.

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, operate, and maintain the App and all its features.
• Track and save your lesson progress across sessions and devices.
• Enable online multiplayer chess games and matchmaking.
• Display your rank and rating on global and country leaderboards.
• Manage tournament entry, scoring, and results.
• Manage your subscription and control access to Starter, Gold, and Premium lessons.
• Send account-related communications (e.g. password reset, account deletion confirmation).
• Improve the App based on aggregated, anonymised usage patterns.

All user data is stored securely using Google Firebase Firestore, hosted on Google's cloud infrastructure with enterprise-grade security. We apply industry-standard measures including:

• Encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS) for all network requests.
• Firebase Security Rules restricting data access to the authenticated account owner only.
• No plain-text storage of passwords — authentication is handled entirely by Firebase Auth.

TacticChess uses the following third-party services. Each operates under its own privacy policy:

When you use TacticChess's online features — including Play Online, Play with Friends, Tournaments, and Leaderboards — the following applies:

• Your display name, country flag, and online rank are visible to other players on leaderboards and during games.
• Game moves and results are stored in Firebase to update ratings and leaderboard standings.
• Your online presence (active/idle status) is used for real-time matchmaking and is not stored permanently.
• Friend game invite codes are temporary and expire after the game ends.

TacticChess includes the Stockfish 18 chess engine for the "Play vs Computer" feature. The engine is downloaded to your device on first use and runs entirely locally.

• No move data or game information from offline games against the computer is transmitted to any server.
• Stockfish is open-source software licensed under the GNU GPL. It operates fully offline.
• The engine file is stored locally on your device and is removed when you uninstall the App.

We retain your data for as long as your account is active. When you delete your account:

To delete your account, go to Profile → Delete Account in the App.

TacticChess is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately at support@tacticchess.com and we will delete the information promptly.

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction — update your display name and profile details directly in the App.
• Deletion — permanently delete your account and all associated data via Profile → Delete Account.
• Withdrawal of consent — stop using the App and delete your account at any time.
• Data portability — request an export of your data by emailing us.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at support@tacticchess.com.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the App or applicable laws. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of TacticChess after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

This Privacy Policy is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any disputes arising under or in connection with this policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of South Africa.