Free online chess academy
Learn chess like a real school — not an endless puzzle feed
ChessSchool is a premium chess-learning academy: structured classes, coach narration, placement tests, bot play, and live multiplayer. Graduate from the board and pieces to openings, tactics, and endgames — free in your browser or as an app.
No credit card · Works offline as a PWA · Android & iOS apps available
How ChessSchool works
Enroll free
Create a student account — progress syncs across web and app.
Placement test
Eight puzzles place you in Elementary, Middle, or High School.
Campus journey
Unlock classes on the campus map and pass exams to graduate.
Play & improve
Bots, assisted play, arena, and review — all in one academy.
Everything in one academy
Structured curriculum
Graduate through schools — Pre-School to University — with semesters, classes, and exams.
FEN-verified puzzles
Thousands of rated tactics and homework drills, tagged by concept and stage.
Play vs bots
Adaptive AI from 300–2000 ELO, clocks, material tracking, and match review.
Live multiplayer
Share a link and play a friend online — clocks, resign, and realtime sync.
Assisted play
Coach explains every move — full games and puzzle drills tuned to your rating.
Arena & shadow
Round-robin bot tournaments and rematch saved games move-for-move.
6 schools — one clear path
From Pre-School (board setup and piece moves) through Elementary, Middle School, High School, and University — each stage unlocks when you graduate the last.
Pre-School
Optional · board → pieces → moves → rules → notation
Elementary School
Classes 1–5 · the essentials
Middle School
Classes 6–8 · tactics & endgames
High School
Classes 9–12 · openings & checkmates
University
Advanced tactics & combinations
Master Program
Famous checkmates & immortal games
Pick your coach
Five coach personalities narrate lessons, matches, and assisted play — with optional voice playback.
Popular classes to start
- Pre-School: The Chess BoardSquares, setup, files, ranks, and coordinates — perfect if you've never played.
- Foundations: Piece MovementPawns, knights, rooks, bishops, queen, king — and your first checkmates.
- Opening PrinciplesDevelop pieces, control the centre, and castle safely every game.
- Tactics LabForks, pins, and combinations — win material with real-game puzzles.
- Essential EndgamesPromotion, opposition, and converting a winning advantage.
- Play Chess OnlineAdaptive bots by rating, pass & play, and live share-link multiplayer.
Browse the full lesson library or open the campus map.
Chess school FAQ
Is ChessSchool free to learn chess?
Yes. ChessSchool is a free online chess school. You can play lessons, puzzles, and bot games without paying. Create a free account to save progress across devices.
How do I learn chess as a complete beginner?
Start with Pre-School — board setup, how pieces move, check, checkmate, and chess notation (like Nf3 and Qd5). Then graduate into Foundations, openings, tactics, and endgames at your own pace.
What makes ChessSchool different from other chess apps?
ChessSchool is structured like a real school: semesters, classes, lessons, and exams — not an endless puzzle feed. Every position is FEN-verified, with coach narration and a clear path from beginner to advanced.
Can I play chess online with a friend?
Yes. Create a live game from the Play tab, share the invite link, and your friend joins as Black. Games support clocks and work in the browser — no download required.
Do I need to download an app?
No. ChessSchool runs in your browser as a progressive web app (PWA). You can install it to your home screen for offline access. Android and iOS apps are also available.
How long does it take to learn chess basics?
Most beginners finish Pre-School in a few sessions (board, pieces, and rules). The placement test then recommends Elementary, Middle, or High School based on your puzzle score.
Ready to graduate?
Join ChessSchool free — save progress, earn achievements, and play across web and mobile.