DUEL / ACADEMY

Learn to play chess

From your first move to checkmate and tactics. Try each idea on the board.

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LESSON 1 OF 20 · 2 min

First move

Goal · Take the centre with a pawn

White to move

Tap a piece, then its destination square.

How to solve

A pawn moves one square forward, or two from its starting square if the path is clear. Select the pawn on e2 and move it to e4: it controls more space in the centre.

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From rules to your own ideas

Chess

Start with the centre and development: pawns open lines, a knight can jump over pieces, and a bishop needs a clear diagonal. Then learn to protect your king by castling and consider the opponent’s reply before capturing.

Checkmate, stalemate and promotion are different challenges. The course includes knight promotion, en passant and both castling moves. Tactical lessons introduce forks, pins, double attacks and discovered checks. An exercise helps you see an idea; one correct move does not promise a won game.

Understand the rules
Learning path

Course contents

All lessons · 20 lessons
  1. 01
    First moveTake the centre with a pawnBasics · 2 min
  2. 02
    Bring the knight into playDevelop toward the centreOpening · 2 min
  3. 03
    The bishop’s diagonalSpot a capture with checkCaptures · 2 min
  4. 04
    Take an undefended pieceCheck the rook’s straight pathCaptures · 2 min
  5. 05
    A safer kingCastle kingsideBasics · 3 min
  6. 06
    En passantA special pawn captureSpecial moves · 3 min
  7. 07
    A pawn becomes a queenReach the final rankPromotion · 2 min
  8. 08
    The king helps its pawnThe king fights in the endgame tooEndgame · 3 min
  9. 09
    Back-rank checkmateFind the decisive rook moveCheckmate · 3 min
  10. 10
    The open fileInvade with the rookCheckmate · 3 min
  11. 11
    A pinPin the knight to its kingTactics · 3 min
  12. 12
    A knight forkAttack the king and queen togetherTactics · 4 min · Plus · free preview
  13. 13
    Queenside castlingMove the king and rook to the queensideSpecial moves · 3 min
  14. 14
    En passant with checkOpen the rook’s file with a special captureSpecial moves · 3 min
  15. 15
    Choose your promotionA knight avoids stalematePromotion · 4 min
  16. 16
    Stalemate is a drawNotice the danger of a move without checkEndgame · 3 min
  17. 17
    A queen’s double attackCheck the king and attack the rookTactics · 4 min
  18. 18
    Discovered checkMove the bishop off the rook’s fileTactics · 3 min
  19. 19
    Capture against a pinned defenderCheck whether the rook can replyTactics · 4 min
  20. 20
    Mate with the king’s supportPlace a protected queen beside the kingCheckmate · 3 min

How to learn

  1. 01

    Read the goal and find the piece on the board. Tap it, then its destination: dots show legal moves.

  2. 02

    Each exercise has a specific goal. A legal move may not solve it — try again or open the hint. For a checkers capture sequence, choose the final square of the whole path.

  3. 03

    After solving, read the explanation. Repeat the move without a hint and describe its idea in your own words; then move to the next lesson.