Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 11, 2026

Hearth Chess is a personal chess trainer. This page explains what information it keeps about you, why, and the choices you have. We have kept it short and plain on purpose.

What we collect

• Account details. Your username and a scrambled (hashed) version of your password. We cannot read your password. If you choose to add one, your email address.
• Your chess activity. The games you play, each move and how long you took, Stockfish's grade for each move, the commentary and coaching notes shown during your games, your rating, your training progress (puzzles, drills, openings), and your answers to coaching questions such as "is this how you like to play this position?".
• Your settings. Board and piece style, coaching and commentary preferences, and who may see your profile.
• Technical records. Our server keeps log files with the time, the page requested, your IP address and your username for sign-ins and errors. It also keeps a sign-in record: each sign-in, failed sign-in, sign-up and password change, with the IP address and the browser, system and kind of device it came from. These are used to keep the site and your account secure (for example to spot someone guessing passwords) and to keep it working. They are rotated, and the oldest ones are deleted automatically.
• Messages you send us. If you use the Contact us form, we keep your message, the email address you give, your username if you are signed in, your IP address, your browser and device, and a few details your browser shares (time zone, screen size, language) so we can answer and look into problems.

What we do not do

• We do not show ads, sell your information, or share it with advertisers.
• We do not use analytics or tracking scripts. The site loads nothing from other websites.
• We do not send marketing email. The only emails are password reset links and a notice when your password changes.

How we use it

To run your account, play and grade your games, personalise your coaching and training, show leaderboards and friends (only as you allow), keep the site secure, and fix problems.

Who can see what

By default other members can see your username, rating and summary statistics on leaderboards and your profile. They never see your individual games or moves. In Settings → Privacy you can show yourself to everyone, to friends only, or to nobody. The site administrator can see member accounts and statistics in order to run and support the site.

Cookies and local storage

We use one essential cookie that keeps you signed in. It is not used for tracking. Your browser's local storage keeps a few conveniences on your own device, such as an unfinished game and your chosen voice. Because these are strictly necessary for the site to work, no cookie banner is needed.

Spoken commentary

Voice commentary uses the speech voices built into your browser or device. Depending on your browser, some voices may send the text being spoken to the browser maker's service. Choose a device voice or turn voice off if you prefer.

Email

If you add an email address, it is used only for password resets and the password-changed notice. Those messages are delivered through the mail service the site owner has set up.

How long we keep it

We keep your information until you delete your account. Server log files are kept for a limited time and then removed. The sign-in record is kept for 90 days. Contact messages are kept until we have dealt with them and delete them. Password reset links expire after one hour.

Your choices

• See and download your data: Settings → Account → "All my data (JSON)" or "Games (PGN)".
• Correct it: change your password, email and settings at any time in Settings.
• Delete it: Settings → Account → "Delete my account" removes your account, games, coaching notes and training history permanently.
• Coaching memory: Settings → Coaching profile lists everything the coach has learned from your answers and lets you change or forget each one.

Depending on where you live you may have further rights, such as asking us to restrict processing or to complain to your local data protection authority. Contact us and we will help.

Security

Passwords are stored hashed, connections should be encrypted (HTTPS), sign-in attempts are rate limited and sessions can be ended by logging out. No system is perfectly secure, so please use a password you do not use anywhere else.

Children

This site is not for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their information. If you believe a child has signed up, contact us and we will remove the account.

Changes

If we change this policy in a meaningful way we will update the date above and, where appropriate, tell members on the site.

Contact

Questions or requests about your information: .