Lets take a look at which sites are the best for Chess beginners
Starting out in chess is a fun and exciting adventure, but with so many chess websites out there, it can be hard to figure out which ones are good for beginners. We’ve compiled our top 12 chess websites for beginners, or anyone trying to rediscover chess.
The 12 Best Chess Sites For Beginners 2022
12. ChessTempo
ChessTempo is a new and up-and-coming site focused on children and beginners. It offers tactics, openings explorer and general lessons. Members can play online with other ChessTempo members and earn rating points. ChessTempo also offers something unique in its Chess Books section, which allows you to rent or buy chess books online and read them through their website. Through this portal they have dozens of books for sale from reputable chess writers. For any beginners looking for an up-and-coming site, or who want to focus on learning through books, ChessTempo is a great option.
11. PlayMagnus
PlayMagnus is a unique project brought to market by Magnus Carlsen, current World Champion and highest rated chess player in the World. The app allows you to play against a bot designed to mimic Carlsen’s play at different ages in his career. You can start by playing Magnus at 5 years old, when he would often make mistakes, and progress all the way up until he becomes the highest rated player in the world. This can be great for a beginner as they learn to have a good sense of their progress if they’re not playing competitively for points anywhere. They recently added the option to play other top GMs and fun games like Knight Runner, making it a top contender for websites for beginners. This website is great for anyone wanting to get better by challenging themself.
10. Chesskid
Chesskid is an offshoot of another company on this list, chess.com. Chesskid, as the name implies, is made for kids who want to get better at chess. Chesskid has all the features found on chess.com, like tactics, openings, lessons, but it also contains some great material for kids, like games and unique teachers. It’s also ad-free and chat-free to ensure the child is able to focus on learning. Chesskid also hosts the annual Youth Speed Chess Championship, a tournament just for kids with a $35,000 prize fund. Chesskid is a great website for children who are wanting to get better at chess and have a lot of fun doing it.
9. Chessgames
Chessgames.com is essentially a giant database of all the chess games played by masters. It’s a great tool for a beginner who is looking to learn about a specific opening or master. On Chessgames, you can search a specific game or tournament and get free analysis on any position. Even though the interface looks a little clunky, it’s actually pretty fast for a chess database. Chessgames is a great tool for players of any skill level who want to study something specific.
8. Chessbase
Chessbase is more a news website than a training website, but there are still some great tools for beginners. One unique offering by chessbase is a beginners only game, where both sides are given hints that they can use at the right time. For a beginner, this can help train your sense of when a position requires a bit more calculation. Another useful tool is an openings explorer that has a direct link to reputable books by top chess authors. In addition to some of the free puzzles and lessons online, they also offer a subscription magazine, which has puzzles and lessons by top players. Chessbase is a great tool for players of any skill level who want to get better while learning about current chess events.
7. Twitch
Twitch is a live streaming platform typically used for video games. However, there are hundreds of GMs and IMs who stream regularly on twitch. This can be a great option for players of any skill level, but particularly beginners. One of the best ways to quickly learn chess is by watching grandmasters play games. The more you watch and study games at the highest level, the quicker you will be able to pick up on patterns on the board. At the same time, you’re also learning openings and sometimes given insight into what the top player is thinking while they’re making a move. Some great twitch streamers to learn from are GMHikaru, ChessBrah, or AnnaCramling.
6. Youtube
Just like twitch, there are hundreds of great chess players making content on youtube. Some youtubers will simply recap interesting games and provide computer lines, while others are taking a more educational approach. Youtube is a great place to learn more about chess if you are a more visual learner, or someone who prefers to have someone talking you through puzzles. There are truly so many great chess youtubers, but three entertaining and informative ones are GM Ben Finegold, Agadmator, and IM Eric Rosen.
5. Chess24
Chess24 is another one that is essentially just a news page, but it can’t be left off this list because it’s the primary place to watch current chess matches. Whenever there is an important game or tournament happening, Chess24 is usually the first place to update their games. If you are a beginner getting into chess, it’s important to keep updated on all the current games because it often trickles down, so to speak. Whenever a theme shows up in the top game, it often will work its way into the lower levels as well, just because there are so many people watching and analyzing the top games
4. Masterclass
Masterclass is a program that was started in 2014 in the US with the idea of offering classes from the best of the best. The masterclass for chess is taught by Garry Kasparov, World champion from 1985-2000, and arguably the greatest chess player of all time. Not only do you get to hear deep insights into chess from a former World Champion and all-time great, but Garry Kasparov’s passion for chess is evident and inspiring. Any beginner who watches his masterclass will have a newfound passion for chess, and will be yearning to learn more. This option does cost some money, but it’s worth it if you’re a Garry Kasparov fan or if you’re the type that would benefit from a visual learning experience like this.
3. Chessable
Chessable is a chess training site that promises a more scientific approach than other chess websites. They offer lessons on different subjects and use spaced learning, a different approach than a lot of chess companies. Spaced learning is when you are given new information over time in short doses, and has been shown to improve retention. Chessable does require payment, but they charge by the lesson, so a beginner can purchase a couple beginner packs at first to understand more. Then once you feel confident in the basics, Chessable is an easy and effective way to learn more about specific openings or topics. Chessable is a great tool for players of any level who feel that spaced learning would help.
2. Chess.com
Chess.com is probably the most popular site on this list, hosting millions of dollars worth of tournaments a year and sponsoring events from the top chess content creators. In addition to running most of the chess media, they’re also very popular for online competitions. It’s a top pick for players looking to compete because of their anticheat and the wealth of players meaning a non-stop stream of games ready to go. Arguably one of the best features on chess.com is Puzzle Rush, where you are able to play another person or by yourself and try to solve as many puzzles as possible in one, three, or five minutes. Chess.com also has an incredible lesson feature, with hundreds of lessons available about different topics, openings, players and more. However, the only reason they can’t sit at number one is because you need to buy a subscription to truly get the most of this website. The two features I mentioned, puzzle rush and lessons, require a subscription if you want to do more than one a day. While the pricing is actually not bad and the lessons are top-notch, it simply can’t be the best option for beginners if you’re forced to pay as well. Chess.com is a great option for someone who’s looking to only do a little bit of chess a day or willing to spend some money in exchange for great lessons.
1. Lichess
Lichess is just a great, free option to play chess. Not only does it offer thousands of tactics and free lessons, but it also has an online chess and rating system so you can learn and compete on the same website. Lichess has a selection of unique chess games, like King of the Hill, Three-check, Antichess, and Horde. These special games are a great option to learn more about specific tactics or to better your overall understanding of chess. The best feature on Lichess, however, is the price: It’s completely free! Anyone can go to Lichess today and play games anonymously or with an account to gain rating points. Lichess is a great website for anyone who’s looking to get better at chess, and you won’t run out of ways to train, unlike some of the other websites that charge money.
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