Chess: a guide to learning, playing and improving
Do you want to learn to play chess but don’t know where to start? You’re in the right place. Chess combines calculation, memory, technique and decision-making, and the best part is that the basics can be learned in a few hours. From there, you have a game for life.
What chess is
If you’ve never played, here it is in one sentence: it’s a strategy game for two players where the goal is to trap the opponent’s king. That’s called checkmate.
Every game starts with a board of 64 squares and 16 pieces per side:
- 1 king
- 1 queen
- 2 rooks
- 2 bishops
- 2 knights
- 8 pawns
White moves first, and from there turns alternate. The basic rules are learned quickly. But the game has enormous depth, which is why it works both for starting from scratch and for studying for years.
How a game is won
The main way to win is by delivering checkmate. You can also win if your opponent resigns or runs out of time in positions where mate is still legally achievable.
What if neither side manages to win? Many games end in a draw: by stalemate, threefold repetition, insufficient material, or agreement between the players.
The three phases of chess
Every game goes through three distinct moments. Each has its own goals and its own style of play. Let’s look at them.
Opening
This is the start of the game. Your goal here is to develop your pieces, control the center of the board, and get your king to safety. A good opening doesn’t guarantee victory, but it puts you in a position to fight.
Start here:
Middlegame
This is where most of the action happens. The middlegame is full of tactical and strategic decisions: attacks, sacrifices, piece plans, weak pawns and the fight for key squares.
See an opponent’s piece that can’t move? That’s a pin. Attacking two pieces at once with a knight? That’s a fork. Tactics are the language of the middlegame, and learning them will skyrocket your level.
Useful resources:
Endgame
When few pieces remain, every detail counts. King activity, pawn structure and technique are worth a great deal. Endgames are the part of chess that rewards independent study the most, because the same principles repeat over and over.
To continue:
Where to start if you’re a beginner
If you’re just starting out, here’s an order that works very well:
If you’d prefer something more structured, we have a free course that guides you step by step from scratch.
How to actually practice
Theory alone isn’t enough. To really improve, combine three things:
- real games
- tactical puzzles
- reviewing your mistakes
On this site you already have all the tools you need:
Don’t know what ELO is? It’s the standard way of measuring your level. Once you know it, you’ll want to improve it. It’s addictive.
What to study next
Once you master the basics, chess opens up. You can dig deeper into specific openings, learn tactical patterns, or start studying technical endgames.
If you’re looking for a more guided path, continue with learning chess or go straight to basics to start from scratch.
Preguntas frecuentes
What is chess?
It's a strategy game for two players on a 64-square board. The goal is to checkmate the opponent's king.
Where do I start learning chess?
The best place to start is the initial setup, how the pieces move, the basic rules, and a few simple tactical patterns.
What phases does a chess game have?
Opening, middlegame and endgame. Each phase has its own ideas and goals.