A path from your first game to a daily routine

Stage 1 of 5

Start here

How to improve from scratch and what to think about on every move.

1. 1.1How to Get Better at Chess for BeginnersA four-week beginner chess plan for how to get better at chess. Read the whole board, ask one safety question per move, play slow games and log each loss.7 min read · ends with 4 pieces, 10 seconds
2. 1.2How to Think in Chess for BeginnersLearn how to think in chess with three questions asked in a fixed order, a one-sentence rule for when to move, and a clock budget for 10-minute games.5 min read · ends with 6 pieces, 20 seconds

Check where you stand first: play a 6-piece round

Stage 2 of 5

Board vision and blunders

See every piece, read squares at a glance, and stop dropping material.

1. 2.1How to Stop Blundering in ChessLearn how to stop blundering in chess with a five-step scan before every move, a check for loose pieces, and drills built from your own lost games.6 min read · ends with 6 pieces, 10 seconds
2. 2.2Why Puzzle Rating Doesn't Transfer to GamesWhy puzzle rating doesn't transfer to games: four things a puzzle gives you that a game takes away, and a five-game test to find which one costs you.6 min read · ends with 12 pieces, 8 seconds
3. 2.3Chess Coordinates Practice for Faster Board AwarenessChess coordinates practice in three steps. Learn eight anchor squares and a colour rule, then name every square in Memory Chess rounds with labels on and off.5 min read · ends with 4 pieces, 12 seconds
4. 2.4How to See the Whole Board in ChessLearn how to see the whole board in chess with a sweep that starts at the edges. See why an unmoved bishop wins material, then try a 12-piece drill.5 min read · ends with 12 pieces, 8 seconds

Watch your recent accuracy as the scan becomes a habit

Stage 3 of 5

Visualization and calculation

Hold a position in your head and move pieces there without losing it.

1. 3.1Chess Visualization Training: 2 ExercisesChess visualization exercises built on a four-minute test that shows whether pieces vanish, drift or change identity, and a cover-and-move drill to fix it.5 min read · ends with 6 pieces, 10 seconds
2. 3.2Chess Calculation Exercises for BeginnersChess calculation exercises for beginners: compare two candidate moves two plies deep, ask who can capture on each landing square, then check on a board.7 min read · ends with 8 pieces, 10 seconds
3. 3.3Blindfold Chess Training: A 4-Stage Beginner PlanBlindfold chess training in four stages, from two kings held without a board to a full game. Each stage has a pass mark that tells you when to move on.7 min read · ends with 2 pieces, 10 seconds

Stage 4 of 5

Memory and patterns

Recall positions square by square and learn shapes worth remembering.

1. 4.1Chess Memory Training: A Scored LadderChess memory training you can score. Rebuild boards from 6 pieces to 12, with a clear rule for when to add pieces and what each result message means.7 min read · ends with 6 pieces, 10 seconds
2. 4.2Chess Pattern Recognition Drills, From MemoryChess pattern recognition drills for four tactics: the exact squares, the one condition each needs, and a six-minute rebuild routine that makes them stick.6 min read · ends with 12 pieces, 8 seconds

Track your memory span as you climb the ladder

Stage 5 of 5

Practice and review

Short routines, puzzle counts and how to learn from your own games.

1. 5.120-Minute Daily Chess Study Plan for BeginnersA 20-minute daily chess study plan in four fixed blocks. Three memory rounds, six slow puzzles, one of your own games, and one written line for tomorrow.5 min read · ends with 6 pieces, 10 seconds
2. 5.2How to Analyze Chess Games for BeginnersLearn how to analyze chess games for beginners in ten minutes. Find the move that decided the game, explain it before the engine does, and label the mistake.6 min read · ends with 8 pieces, 10 seconds
3. 5.3How Many Chess Puzzles a Day Should Beginners Do?Work out how many chess puzzles a day to do from your minutes. Get a count for each kind of session, four signs of too many, and a check for when to stop.4 min read · ends with 6 pieces, 10 seconds