A practical chess improvement plan for one week
Use a small weekly cycle of master games, tactics, endgames, and review, then adjust it to the evidence from your games.
4 min read · one exercise
↗ A chapter of the Academy
How to learn
Study complete games, review your decisions, and build a practice routine you can keep.
14 original lessons · Free to read
Chess books for beginners: choose the teaching you need
Use a move-by-move game book, a tactics resource, and a basic endgame guide for different jobs instead of buying a whole shelf.
4 min read · one exercise
Chess psychology: make decisions from the board
Manage confidence, frustration, and the urge to prove an idea by returning to threats, candidates, and evidence.
3 min read · one exercise
Chess visualization training: keep track of what changes
Practise short lines accurately, update occupied squares after every move, and build distance only when the picture stays reliable.
4 min read · one exercise
Common chess mistakes: connect the symptom to a better habit
Early queen trips, automatic exchanges, and unexamined pawn moves share a problem: making a move without checking its consequences.
3 min read · one exercise
How to analyze your games before switching on the engine
Record your decisions, find the turning points, and use an engine to test explanations instead of replacing them.
3 min read · one exercise
How to deal with chess tilt: interrupt the next rushed decision
After a frustrating loss, use a pause and one concrete review question before deciding whether to play again.
4 min read · one exercise
How to get better at chess: fix the mistake that keeps returning
Improvement starts with a repeatable thinking routine, games you can review, and practice aimed at a real weakness.
3 min read · one exercise
How to stop blundering: inspect the board after your move
Use a brief safety check that looks at the opponent's reply, especially checks, captures, and newly loose pieces.
3 min read · one exercise
How to study chess: make every session ask something of you
Combine complete games, calculation, and your own mistakes in a routine that produces decisions rather than passive reading.
4 min read · one exercise
How to use a chess engine without losing the lesson
Analyze first, ask a concrete question, and translate the engine's line into a reason you can recognize at the board.
4 min read · one exercise
The Chernev method: learn the reason behind every move
A practical guide to studying chess move by move: explain, predict, compare, and revisit the ideas in your own games.
6 min read · one exercise
Time management in chess: spend thought where choices matter
Use the clock deliberately: recognize critical moments, avoid repeating calculations, and leave time for the final safety check.
3 min read · one exercise
What should an online chess trainer help you do?
Look for a clear explanation, a chance to make your own decision, and a way to revisit the idea after the lesson.
3 min read · one exercise