Chess piece values: a guide, not a price list
Use the familiar 1–3–3–5–9 scale, then adjust your judgment for activity, king safety, and the position.
4 min read · one exercise
♙ A chapter of the Academy
The essentials
Learn the rules, read the board, and give your first moves a purpose.
8 original lessons · Free to read
Chess rules: checks, legal moves, and draws
The essential rules of chess, including the difference between checkmate and stalemate and when a draw must be claimed.
4 min read · one exercise
Chess terms explained: tempo, zugzwang, zwischenzug, and more
Translate the vocabulary into a decision you can see on the board, so a new word becomes a useful idea.
3 min read · one exercise
En passant: the pawn capture that lasts one move
Understand when en passant is available, where the capturing pawn lands, and why king safety still matters.
4 min read · one exercise
How to play chess: your first complete game
Learn the board, the pieces, and the goal, then use a simple thinking routine to play your first game with a plan.
4 min read · one exercise
How to set up a chessboard correctly
Light square on the right, queens on their own colours, and a quick check of every starting square.
4 min read · one exercise
Pawn promotion: why the queen is not always best
A pawn reaching the last rank must become a queen, rook, bishop, or knight. Choose the piece that solves the position.
4 min read · one exercise
What is castling, and when is it legal?
Learn the king-and-rook move, the squares that must be safe, and why castling is a plan rather than a reflex.
4 min read · one exercise