picklechess privacy policy
Last updated: September 8, 2026
picklechess is operated by Alexander Wheelock. This policy explains what information picklechess handles to run the game, accounts, matchmaking, ratings, bots, shared game links, and related support.
Contact
For privacy questions or data requests, email playpicklechess@gmail.com.
What picklechess does not do
picklechess does not include in-app chat, direct messaging, passwords, contact access, camera access, microphone access, or location access. It does not show in-app ads. The Android wrapper declares Internet access only.
Account information
You can play some modes without an account. Ranked play and some account-based features use an email address, username, one-time email codes, session tokens, classic and fairy PvP Elo, classic and fairy Bot Elo, bot-game counts, and rating history. Login codes and session tokens are stored as hashes on the server, not as plaintext codes or plaintext tokens.
Your username and rating may be visible to opponents, spectators, or shared-game viewers in account-based game contexts. Do not choose a username that you want to keep private.
Game and room information
To operate games, picklechess may store room codes, game settings, piece choices, board states, moves and other accepted game actions, draw offers, resignations, outcomes, timestamps, bot level, match type, hashed anonymous visitor and session ids for aggregate funnel analytics, snapshots for undo and review, and analysis summaries used to understand balance and improve the game.
Friend room codes and browser rejoin tokens work like access keys. Shared game links let recipients view a game; controlling a live game requires the original browser token or the signed-in account that owns a seat.
Browser storage
picklechess uses cookies for guest challenge access and Reddit advertising measurement. The app uses browser local storage for room rejoin tokens, account session tokens, parked bot game references, the last active room code, an anonymous analytics visitor id, and UI preferences such as sound, haptics, coordinates, animations, and piece descriptions. The app may use session storage for an anonymous analytics session id and to avoid repeated refreshes while updating the client.
Clearing site data in your browser removes locally stored tokens and preferences from that browser. It does not delete server-side account or game records.
Technical information
Like most online services, picklechess and its hosting providers may process technical information such as IP address, browser or device details, request times, socket connection details, error logs, security logs, and performance diagnostics. This information is used to operate, secure, debug, rate-limit, and protect the service.
Email and external services
Account sign-in and sign-up codes are sent through Resend. picklechess uses the Reddit Pixel to measure page visits, game starts, completed games, account registrations, and other conversion activity from Reddit advertising. Reddit may receive page URL, referrer, browser or device details, IP address, event details, and pixel identifiers. The site's Reddit Pixel event calls do not intentionally include email addresses, phone numbers, or account identifiers, and Auto-Advanced Matching is disabled. picklechess may also link to external services such as Discord and Patreon. If you open or use those services, their own terms and privacy policies apply.
Payments and subscriptions
picklechess does not collect payment information in the app. Voluntary support links, when available, open Stripe-hosted payment pages. Stripe handles payment details on those pages. Supporting the project does not create an in-app account benefit or paid feature.
How information is used
Information is used to provide the game, authenticate accounts, reconnect players, run matchmaking, calculate ratings, support bot play, show shared games, prevent abuse, debug problems, understand new-user activation and retention in aggregate, improve game balance, respond to support requests, and comply with legal or platform requirements.
Sharing
picklechess does not sell personal information. Reddit Pixel information is used for advertising measurement and attribution. Other information may be processed by service providers that help run the service, such as hosting providers and email delivery providers. Information may also be disclosed if required by law, to protect the service or users, or as part of a user-requested action such as opening an external link.
Retention and deletion
Game records may be retained to support game review, ratings, debugging, abuse prevention, and balance analysis. Account records are kept while the account exists. Some technical logs may be retained for a limited time by picklechess or its hosting providers.
To request account deletion, email playpicklechess@gmail.com from the account email address when possible and include your username. Account deletion will remove account-identifying data and anonymize retained game records so they are no longer tied to your account. Some records may be retained when needed for security, fraud prevention, legal compliance, or aggregate/non-personal game analysis.
Security
picklechess uses reasonable technical safeguards for a small online game, including hashed secret tokens, passwordless email codes, server-side action validation, rate limits, security headers, and restricted cross-origin socket handling. No online service can guarantee perfect security.
Children
picklechess is not directed to children under 13 and does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information, contact playpicklechess@gmail.com.
Changes
This policy may be updated as picklechess changes. The date above shows when the latest version was posted.