Privacy Policy

This policy explains how Ponderchess handles information when you browse, learn, play, or use interactive features. Ponderchess is based in the United States. Privacy questions can be sent to contact@ponderchess.com.

This policy covers Ponderchess, not websites or services you visit through external links.

Ponderchess uses browser storage to remember settings, saved games, puzzle progress, learning progress where supported, and saved discoveries. The current experience does not require an account, and browser-stored information does not automatically sync between devices.

This storage remains until you remove it, the feature replaces it, or your browser clears it. Private browsing may discard it when your session ends. Other people using the same browser profile may be able to see saved information.

Your browser sends technical information needed to load pages and use services, which can include your IP address, requested URL, browser information, and request time. Hosting and infrastructure providers may process request and error logs to deliver, secure, and troubleshoot the site.

Explore searches send your search text, filters, and relevant saved-discovery identifiers to our server to retrieve matching content. Opening and endgame features send the chess position needed for the requested result. Avoid entering private or sensitive information in search fields or chess annotations.

If you email us, we receive your email address and message and use them to respond and handle your request.

Opening statistics and endgame results may use Lichess services. Our server sends the chess position and relevant query settings to those services; their availability and processing practices are governed by their own terms and policies.

Computer move calculation using Stockfish runs in your browser. This does not mean every interactive feature operates offline: content searches, opening statistics, and tablebase results may require a server request.

Coach controls are currently hidden from the site. The existing coaching endpoint, if directly used and configured, can send submitted positions, questions, conversation history, and supporting chess information to Anthropic to generate an explanation. It also uses temporary server-memory response caches and IP-based rate-limit records. Do not submit personal or sensitive information to that endpoint.

Ponderchess itself uses local browser storage for functional preferences and progress, not for advertising. The advertising described below uses cookies and similar technologies, such as device identifiers, set by Google and its partners. You can manage or delete cookies and site data in your browser’s settings.

Infrastructure providers may also process technical data as part of serving the site.

Ponderchess shows ads served by Google AdSense to help keep the site free. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this website or other websites.

Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to Ponderchess and/or other sites on the Internet. Google may collect and process information such as your IP address, device and browser information, and the pages you view. Learn how Google uses information from sites that use its services at https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.

You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google’s Ads Settings at https://adssettings.google.com. You can also opt out of some third-party vendors’ use of cookies for personalized advertising at https://www.aboutads.info/choices. If you opt out, you may still see ads, but they will not be personalized.

Where the law requires it, including in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, we ask for your consent before personalized ads are shown, and you can change your choice at any time through the privacy and cookie settings link on the site. Depending on your US state of residence, you may also be able to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information for targeted advertising through the same settings.

Browser-stored data remains under your browser’s control. Some chess results and generated responses are cached on servers to avoid repeated calculations or requests. Temporary in-memory caches can be cleared when a server restarts; this is not a promise of immediate deletion from infrastructure logs.

We use information for providing the service, responding to requests, preventing abuse, and maintaining reliability. Log and email retention can depend on the hosting or email service and the reason the information is needed. Contact us for details relevant to a particular request. No online service can guarantee absolute security.

You can remove locally saved information through your browser’s controls for this site. Doing so may reset progress and preferences or remove games; export games you want to keep first. You can also choose not to use features that request external information.

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or obtain a copy of personal information, or object to or restrict certain processing. Contact contact@ponderchess.com to make a request. We may need proportionate information to verify it. Rights and exceptions depend on the law that applies; you may also contact your local privacy regulator.

Chess can be enjoyed at any age. Parents and guardians should supervise children’s use of online services and avoid allowing children to submit personal information. If you believe a child has provided personal information to Ponderchess, contact contact@ponderchess.com so we can investigate and address it.

We may update this policy as the service changes. The date above identifies the latest revision. Material changes will be explained on the site, and additional notice or consent will be provided where applicable law requires it.