@zlefin (again): If you have a similar rank/xp as another player and there is no one else to face with a close rank/xp, you will match up with them. That's just how it has to work, unless you want to match up with opponents of a completely different rank or wait 10 minutes for a game.
@deusicarus: There is a certain devbot that copies your army.
@PsyGuy1: Some of them may be AIs. All AIs are private accounts, but not all private accounts are AIs. First, if it's an AI you will have 10 minutes of time while they will have 4. Second, you will be unable to report them. That means there will be no red "X" under their avatar. And third, they will usually move instantly and be bad. To make yourself a private account, select the eye icon above your avatar on the home screen.
@renel123: That is simply untrue. While some run a classic setup due to their experience and comfort with it, other setups can be far better or worse.
@zlefin: While it may seem completely overwhelming when you start, it's better to match you up with better opponents than to have you sit there for 10 minutes waiting for another beginner to come on. Pretty soon everything gets more balanced. After all the max army cap is only 25% higher than the minimum army cap.
@Rallas12345, @DeuteriumTritium: That refers to a bug where if envy copied a dove dove would move forward as if envy died (because transform counts as a death and then a summon), causing envy to copy the space where dove was, transforming it into an empty space.
@zlefin (again): You can use AI only to make sure you don't match up with Hell and Infernal. Think of them as a game feature in the "plot". Hell and Infernal were created to attempt to compensate for the AI's lacking intelligence. Eventually there will be a token system with them.
@Zankastia: The game was announced for steam and greenlit but has so far not been released. As far as we know TheGrandestine is working on new features for the release.
@Kromon: New pieces are always being released each update. Remember, it's a solo developer with a big game.
@Wolfhound9: This is a topic for the Argue About Balancing Thread: http://www.kongregate.com/forums/32630-chess-evolved-online/topics/699979-argue-about-balancing-thread?page=13. Ninja is a solid quick mater at low ranks but is less effective if you see it coming.
@benderboyboy: It's not a problem. They'll lose a little rep and you will lose a little less, but it's an insignificant amount. The idea is that repeat offenders will end up with negative rep and actually lose coins each game.
CEO provides a new spin on chess and is almost addictive when you really start to get better. It has an interesting blend of pieces, and I would recommend it to anyone.