Free · no account needed
Learn to play chess, free
Short lessons on a real board: each one shows an idea, then gives you a challenge to solve in as few moves as you can. A wrong move tells you why, so you learn the rules by playing them.
Start with how the pieces move and finish delivering checkmate. Stuck on an idea? Leo, our AI chess tutor, can explain it on a call.
What you’ll learn
Unit 1
The board and the pieces
- The board · 64 squares, and how to name each one
- The rook · Straight lines, as far as it likes
- The bishop · Diagonals, always on one colour
- The queen · A rook and a bishop in one
- The king · One square at a time, and never into danger
- The knight · An L-shape, jumping over anything
- The pawn · Forward one (or two at first), taking diagonally
Unit 2
Taking, check and mate
- Taking pieces · What each piece is worth
- Protecting pieces · Defend a piece that is attacked
- Safe captures · Take pieces without losing yours
- Check · Attacking the king, and getting out of it
- Checkmate · Check with no way out wins the game
Unit 3
Special moves
- Castling · King to safety, rook into play, in one move
- En passant · Taking a pawn that rushed past
- Promotion · A pawn that reaches the end becomes a queen
Unit 4
How games end
- Stalemate and draws · When nobody wins
- Your first mates · Queen and king, rook and king against a lone king
- Starting a game well · Centre, develop, castle
Stuck? Ask Leo
Our AI tutor explains any lesson on a voice call, in English or Japanese.
Questions
Is it really free?
Yes. Every lesson and challenge is free, and you can start without an account. Sign up (also free) to keep your stars on any device.
I have never played. Is this for me?
Yes. The course starts with the board and how each piece moves, and builds up one rule at a time to check, checkmate and the special moves.
What comes after the course?
Chess puzzles, openings, famous games and games against the AI, all in the Quiz tab.