Learn chess for beginners: free interactive lessons
24 short lessons that take you from "what is a rook?" to your first checkmate. You play every step on a 3D board with cats and dogs, right in your browser. No signup, no download, free.
Read one short idea.Each step is a few plain sentences. The board shows the idea with arrows and highlights.
Then you try it.Move the real pieces. Tap a piece to see where it can go, then tap a square.
Mistakes are fine.A wrong move tells you why, and you can try again. A hint button shows the answer when you are stuck.
Earn stars.Finish a lesson with no mistakes for 3 stars. Your progress is saved on your device.
What you will learn
The board
Meet the boardSquares, files and ranks · 2 min
The armiesWho stands where at the start · 2 min
The pieces
The rookMoves in straight lines · 3 min
The bishopSlides on diagonals · 3 min
The queenThe strongest piece · 2 min
The knightJumps in an L · 3 min
The kingSlow, and never in danger · 2 min
The pawnSmall, but it can become a queen · 3 min
Piece valuesIs that trade good? · 2 min
Special rules
CastlingMove the king to safety · 3 min
En passantThe sneaky pawn capture · 2 min
PromotionTurn a pawn into a queen · 2 min
Check and checkmate
CheckWhen the king is attacked · 3 min
CheckmateHow you win the game · 3 min
StalemateA draw, not a win · 2 min
Basic checkmates
Queen and kingYour first real checkmates · 3 min
Two rooks: the ladderPush the king off the board, rank by rank · 3 min
Tactics
ForksAttack two pieces at once · 3 min
PinsA piece that cannot move · 3 min
SkewersA pin in reverse · 3 min
Discovered attacksMove one piece, reveal another · 3 min
Hanging piecesFree pieces: spot them · 3 min
Opening principles
Four opening rulesCenter, develop, castle, queen later · 3 min
Play the first movesA guided opening, move by move · 3 min
Questions beginners ask
Is it really free?
Yes. All lessons, puzzles and the coach game are free. There is no signup and no app to install.
How long does it take to learn chess here?
Each lesson takes 1 to 3 minutes. The whole path takes about an hour, then you can play a full game with the coach.
Do I need to know anything first?
No. The first lesson shows the board, the squares and how the armies line up.
What happens when I make a wrong move?
The lesson tells you why it was wrong, shows an arrow or a highlight, and lets you try again. Hints are always one tap away.
What is the coach?
A real game against an easy computer player. The coach shows the squares you can move to, warns you before you leave a piece hanging, and tells you in one line why each move was good or bad.
Where do the puzzles come from?
The tactics puzzles come from the free Lichess puzzle database (CC0). We pick easy ones for each lesson.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. It is made for phones first, with big buttons. It also works on a laptop.