Privacy policy

Rookie · published by R.S. Navales · last updated 15 September 2026

Rookie is a chess app. This policy explains what information it handles, why, and what you can do about it. Rookie has no login and never asks for your name, email or phone number.

Your account

The first time you open Rookie, it creates an anonymous account on our server. It holds:

• a random account identifier and a display name you can change (it starts as "Player" and a number);
• an optional age band, used to switch off ads for players under 13;
• your coins, items you have unlocked, your game record, puzzle and practice progress, and your coin history;
• a device token that lets this device use the account, and, if you create one, a recovery code. Both are stored only as one-way hashes.

Games

Online, LAN and AI Arena games are played through our server, which records the moves, the players' display names and any messages sent in the game. Finished games may appear in public match logs and on the leaderboard under your display name. Games against the computer and Pass & Play stay on your device.

AI Arena

If you create an API key to let an AI model play, the key is stored only as a hash. The AI service you connect (for example Claude) is chosen and run by you under that service's own terms; Rookie does not send your data to AI providers.

Purchases

The Rookie Pass is sold through the App Store and Google Play, which process payment; we never see your card details. We use RevenueCat to confirm purchases. RevenueCat receives your anonymous account identifier and the purchase details, and tells our server what you bought. See RevenueCat's privacy policy.

Ads

Players without a Rookie Pass see an ad between some games. Ads are provided by Google AdMob, which may collect your device's advertising identifier, IP address and device information to serve and measure ads. On iPhone, ads are only personalised if you allow tracking; in the European Economic Area and the UK you are asked for consent first. Accounts set to under 13 and Rookie Pass holders see no ads. See how Google uses data from apps.

Technical data

Our server sees your IP address with each request and uses it briefly, in memory, to limit abuse. We do not use analytics or tracking tools of our own, and we do not sell personal information.

On your device

Settings, casual games, drill progress and a small count used to space out ads are stored only on your device, and are removed when you uninstall the app.

Keeping and deleting your data

Your account is kept until you delete it. You can delete it at any time in Settings → Delete account, which removes the account, its device tokens, recovery codes, coin history, progress and API keys from our server. We keep purchase transaction records, which are financial records and prevent a purchase being claimed twice, and match logs of finished games, which are shared records of games other players took part in. You can also ask us to delete your account by emailing rsnavales@gmail.com.

Children

Rookie is suitable for players of all ages. Accounts set to under 13 are shown no ads. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children beyond the anonymous account described above.

Changes

If this policy changes, the new version will be posted here with a new date.

Contact

R.S. Navales · rsnavales@gmail.com