Curriculum

Chess Lessons

23 hand-curated chess lessons covering tactics, endgames, checkmate patterns, and positional strategy. From beginner notation to advanced endgame studies.

Phase 1

10 positions · Learn how to read and write chess moves. Algebraic notation is the universal language of chess and the prerequisite for studying any opening…

Advanced Notation

10 positions · Castling, captures, promotion, check and checkmate symbols. The notation conventions you need to read any chess book or online lesson.

How Pieces Move

41 positions · Learn how each chess piece moves, with exercises from a popular Lichess beginner curriculum. Perfect for absolute beginners.

Phase 2

Beginner: Capturing Free Pieces

10 positions · Learn to spot unprotected pieces and capture them. Puzzles from the Lichess puzzle database (hangingPiece theme).

Chess Principles

11 positions · Essential principles every chess player must know

Checkmate with Two Queens

5 positions · The simplest checkmate pattern in chess. Two queens against a lone king, walked to the edge of the board.

Queen and Rook Checkmate

7 positions · Coordinating queen and rook to drive the lone king to a corner and deliver mate.

Checkmate with Two Rooks

3 positions · The ladder mate. Two rooks alternating ranks to push the king down the board.

Phase 3

40 positions · The fundamental tactical motifs every chess player must recognise on sight: forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks, and back-rank mates.

Queen Checkmate

3 positions · Mating with king and queen versus lone king. Avoid stalemate; box the enemy king to the edge.

3 positions · Mating with king and rook versus lone king. The opposition and the box technique.

Phase 4

Positional Strategy

12 positions · Pawn structure, piece placement, and long-term planning

Basic King & Pawn Endgames

19 positions · Key squares, opposition, and essential pawn endgame patterns

Phase 5

7 positions · Queen and pawn endgames are the most complex in chess. Key patterns for converting and defending.

Middlegame Tactics

14 positions · Strategic middlegame concepts: piece activity, open files, space, pawn weaknesses, and attack techniques.

Bishop Endgames

4 positions · Same-coloured and opposite-coloured bishop endings. Drawing tendencies and winning techniques.

Rook Endgames (Phase 5)

9 positions · The most common endgame in chess. Lucena, Philidor, and the basic rook endgame techniques.

Phase 6

Knight Versus Pawn Endgames

6 positions · Knight versus pawn is tricky because knights cannot lose a tempo. Key squares and patterns.

Intermediate King & Pawn Endgames

4 positions · Beyond opposition: triangulation, outflanking, and the rule of the square in advanced pawn endgames.

Rook Endgames (Phase 6)

17 positions · Master the Lucena bridge technique, Philidor defense, Vancura position, and essential rook endgame patterns used in tournament play.

Phase 7

55 Tactical Motifs

55 positions · 56 essential tactical patterns every chess player should know, from attraction to zugzwang.

Advanced Tactics

22 positions · Higher-level tactical positions requiring deep calculation, quiet moves, and combined motifs.

Phase 8

Advanced Endgame Studies

7 positions · Classic endgame studies every strong player should know

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