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Chess classroom

Learn Chess

A path for every beginner

Build skills one idea at a time

Use this sequence as a learning checklist, then reinforce each topic through games and puzzles.

1

Board and pieces

Learn how the king, queen, rooks, bishops, knights, and pawns move and capture.

2

Check and checkmate

A king in check must escape. Checkmate ends the game because no legal escape exists.

3

Draws and stalemate

Learn stalemate, repetition, insufficient material, the 50-move rule, and agreed draws.

4

Special moves

Practice castling, pawn promotion, and en passant.

5

Opening principles

Control the center, develop efficiently, castle early, and connect the rooks.

6

Tactics

Train forcing moves—checks, captures, and threats—using forks, pins, skewers, and combinations.

7

Middlegame plans

Improve your least active piece, identify pawn breaks, and attack weaknesses.

8

Essential endgames

Begin with king-and-pawn endings, opposition, basic mates, and rook activity.

9

Chess notation

Record games using algebraic notation so they can be reviewed and shared.