Who this is for: you have never played, or you are still learning how the pieces move.
Goals
- Know the board, the six pieces and how each one moves and captures.
- Understand check, checkmate and stalemate, and the special moves (castling, promotion, en passant).
- Never leave a piece where it can be taken for free.
- Win a game against the easiest bots.
Your first four weeks
Every day (15 to 25 minutes):
- One lesson from Courses, in this order: The chessboard, How the pieces move, Capturing pieces, Check, checkmate and stalemate, Castling, promotion and en passant.
- Five easy puzzles (mate in one is perfect).
- Two games against the friendliest bots, untimed or with 10 minutes.
Once a week: review your best and worst game with Game Review and read the comment on each big mistake.
How to measure progress
- You finish the first five courses.
- You win 3 of 5 games against the lowest bots.
- Your puzzle rating moves past 600.
Common mistakes at this level
- Bringing the queen out on move 2. It gets chased and you lose time.
- Moving the same piece again and again in the opening.
- Not checking what the opponent’s last move attacks. Ask “what does that move threaten?” every time.
- Forgetting stalemate when you are winning: leave the opponent a legal move.
- Playing too fast. There is no prize for speed yet.
Tip: say your move out loud in your head: “my bishop goes there, can anything take it?” This one habit wins more games than any opening.
Next: 400 to 800.
Open in the app: https://chessgm.net/train/courses
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