Privacy notice

What ChessBuddy processes

ChessBuddy is a free chess practice and replay app operated by Hamed Bahadorzadeh. It processes the moves, positions, game and replay IDs, timings, PGN headers, and other chess information you provide to run games, replays, and teaching features. No ChessBuddy account or purchase is required. Imported records may contain player names or other text you include.

Temporary storage

Solo live games use bounded server memory with a seven-day expiry from the last committed move. Replays expire seven days after import. Server restarts or capacity limits may remove records sooner; this is not permanent storage or a seven-day availability guarantee.

Two-human multiplayer games use bounded app memory and expire seven days after creation, even if players keep moving. A restart, deployment or request routed to another Vercel instance can make them unavailable sooner. No shared database is used. Multiplayer stores move history, timestamps, coaching preferences and hashes of random player/spectator codes; it does not collect player accounts or email addresses.

Where supported, your browser and ChatGPT widget state also store game history, IDs, timing, expiry, or replay selection to restore the view. Multiplayer also saves your private access code on this device or in supported widget state until expiry so you can resume. Player codes may pass through your own ChatGPT conversation and tool calls; they are not included in shared URLs. Expired game snapshots are ignored and cleaned when accessed. You can clear local browser data and use ChatGPT’s controls for its stored app or conversation data.

ChatGPT and hosting

Tool requests, results, and selected position context pass through ChatGPT. Vercel hosts ChessBuddy and may process technical request information and logs. These providers have their own privacy practices and retention settings, separate from the game expiry above. The ChessBuddy application code does not include an additional analytics SDK or an external game database.

Use appropriate chess data

Use ChessBuddy only if you meet ChatGPT’s eligibility requirements, with parent or guardian permission where required. Do not upload secrets or sensitive information. Solo game and replay IDs are anonymous access references, not account authentication. Multiplayer invitations let the first accepter claim the other seat. Private player codes authorize that seat; anyone holding one can act as that player. Spectator links grant read-only viewing and can be replaced or revoked by the creator. Share invitations and spectator links intentionally, and keep player codes private.

Questions and privacy requests

Contact h.bahadorzadeh@gmail.com for questions or requests about data processed by ChessBuddy. Describe your request and include only information needed to identify it; do not post active game IDs publicly. Records are anonymous and temporary, so locating a particular record may not always be possible. Requests concerning your ChatGPT account or its conversations should also use OpenAI’s privacy controls. Applicable privacy rights remain unaffected.

Updates

This notice describes the current app. If its data practices change, this page will be updated and material changes will be explained where practicable or required by law.