Chess from zero
Streak 0 0 XP

Learning path

Learn chess, one clear step at a time

A beginner-friendly path from the first move to confident play.

Continue: What Is Chess? The Goal of the Game
01

The board and the pieces

Get to know the board, the pieces, and how to set up a game.

0 of 6 lessons complete
  1. 01What Is Chess? The Goal of the Game☆☆☆6 minContinue where you left offContinue
  2. 02The Chessboard: Files, Ranks, Diagonals, and Coordinates☆☆☆7 minNot started
  3. 03Meet the Six Chess Pieces: Names, Counts, and Values☆☆☆8 minNot started
  4. 04How to Set Up a Chessboard Correctly☆☆☆8 minNot started
  5. 05Whose Turn Is It? White Moves First☆☆☆6 minNot started
  6. 06Unit 1 Checkpoint: Board and Pieces☆☆☆8 minNot started
02

How the pieces move

Learn how each piece moves, captures, and reaches its targets.

0 of 8 lessons complete
  1. 01How the Rook Moves in Chess☆☆☆8 minNot started
  2. 02How the Bishop Moves in Chess☆☆☆8 minNot started
  3. 03How the Queen Moves in Chess☆☆☆8 minNot started
  4. 04How the King Moves in Chess☆☆☆8 minNot started
  5. 05How the Knight Moves in Chess☆☆☆8 minNot started
  6. 06How the Pawn Moves and Captures☆☆☆8 minNot started
  7. 07How Captures Work in Chess☆☆☆7 minNot started
  8. 08Unit 2 Checkpoint: How the Pieces Move☆☆☆8 minNot started
03

The rules of the game

Understand check, checkmate, draws, and the special rules of chess.

0 of 11 lessons complete
  1. 01Check in Chess: When Your King Is Attacked☆☆☆6 minNot started
  2. 02How to Get Out of Check in Chess☆☆☆7 minNot started
  3. 03Illegal Chess Moves: Keep Your King Safe☆☆☆7 minNot started
  4. 04Checkmate in Chess: How the Game Ends☆☆☆9 minNot started
  5. 05Stalemate in Chess: A Draw Without Check☆☆☆6 minNot started
  6. 06Other Ways a Chess Game Can Be Drawn☆☆☆7 minNot started
  7. 07Castling in Chess: Rules and Safe Squares☆☆☆9 minNot started
  8. 08En Passant in Chess: The Special Pawn Capture☆☆☆8 minNot started
  9. 09Pawn Promotion in Chess: Queen or Underpromote?☆☆☆8 minNot started
  10. 10Winning, Losing, and Reading a Chess Result☆☆☆6 minNot started
  11. 11Unit 3 Checkpoint: Rules That Shape the Game☆☆☆9 minNot started
04

Playing your first game

Make safe choices, use a simple plan, and play a full game with a coach.

0 of 11 lessons complete
  1. 01Chess Piece Values and How to Compare Trades☆☆☆7 minNot started
  2. 02Attack and Defend: Count Pieces Before You Capture☆☆☆7 minNot started
  3. 03How to Stop Hanging Pieces in Chess☆☆☆7 minNot started
  4. 04Chess Opening Principles for Beginners☆☆☆7 minNot started
  5. 05Scholar’s Mate: Spot the Attack and Defend It☆☆☆7 minNot started
  6. 06The Three Phases of a Chess Game☆☆☆6 minNot started
  7. 07Your First Game: Morphy's Opera Game☆☆☆12 minNot started
  8. 08How to Read Chess Notation and a Move List☆☆☆7 minNot started
  9. 09A Simple Chess Thinking Checklist: Checks, Captures, Threats☆☆☆7 minNot started
  10. 10Chess Clocks, Time Controls, and Good Etiquette☆☆☆6 minNot started
  11. 11Unit 4 Checkpoint: Ready for a Full Game?☆☆☆7 minNot started
05

Checkmates and basic endgames

Learn familiar checkmates and how to win basic king-and-pawn endings.

0 of 8 lessons complete
  1. 01How to Checkmate with a King and Queen☆☆☆9 minNot started
  2. 02How to Checkmate with a King and Rook☆☆☆9 minNot started
  3. 03Two-Rook Ladder Mate: Push the King to the Edge☆☆☆7 minNot started
  4. 04Back-Rank Checkmate: The Pawn Wall☆☆☆7 minNot started
  5. 05Smothered and Edge Mates: Read the King’s Escape Squares☆☆☆8 minNot started
  6. 06King and Pawn Endgames: Opposition and the Rule of the Square☆☆☆8 minNot started
  7. 07Pawn Races and Promotion: Who Gets There First?☆☆☆7 minNot started
  8. 08Unit 5 Checkpoint: Mates and Pawn Races☆☆☆7 minNot started
06

Tactics

Spot forks, pins, skewers, and other forcing moves.

0 of 10 lessons complete
  1. 01Chess Forks: Attack Two Targets at Once☆☆☆10 minNot started
  2. 02Chess Pins: Restrict a Piece Behind Its King or Queen☆☆☆10 minNot started
  3. 03Chess Skewers: Attack a Valuable Piece in a Line☆☆☆10 minNot started
  4. 04Discovered Attacks: Move One Piece, Reveal Another☆☆☆10 minNot started
  5. 05Double Check: Two Attacks on the King☆☆☆10 minNot started
  6. 06Removing a Defender or Blocker: Open a Line to Win Material☆☆☆10 minNot started
  7. 07Deflection and Decoy: Make a Defender Leave Its Job☆☆☆10 minNot started
  8. 08Advanced Chess Tactics: Zwischenzug, Desperado, Greek Gift, Clearance☆☆☆12 minNot started
  9. 09Chess Calculation: Choose Candidates and Check the Reply☆☆☆10 minNot started
  10. 10Unit 6 Checkpoint: Tactics Review☆☆☆12 minNot started
07

Strategy and openings

Build a plan with opening ideas, pawn structures, and active pieces.

0 of 12 lessons complete
  1. 01Chess Openings: Learn Plans, Not Long Move Lists☆☆☆10 minNot started
  2. 02The Italian Game: Develop Toward the Centre☆☆☆12 minNot started
  3. 03The Ruy Lopez: Build Pressure on the Centre☆☆☆12 minNot started
  4. 04The Sicilian Defence: Challenge the Centre from the Side☆☆☆12 minNot started
  5. 05The French Defence: Challenge the Centre with a Pawn Chain☆☆☆12 minNot started
  6. 06The Queen’s Gambit: Build a Strong Centre☆☆☆12 minNot started
  7. 07The London System: A Flexible Queen’s Pawn Setup☆☆☆12 minNot started
  8. 08Pawn Structure: Isolated, Doubled, Passed, and Connected☆☆☆10 minNot started
  9. 09Good and Bad Pieces: Improve Your Least Active Piece☆☆☆10 minNot started
  10. 11Rook Endgames: Build the Lucena Bridge and Hold the Philidor☆☆☆14 minNot started
  11. 12Zugzwang and Tempo: Make the Opponent Move First☆☆☆9 minNot started
  12. 12Unit 7 Checkpoint: Strategy Review☆☆☆12 minNot started

Settings

Board, display, and sound

Board colours
Piece set Preview of the white and black knights and kings.
Board, display, and sound