The way to start in chess is simple: learn how the pieces move, learn the two or three most common checkmates, practise one simple tactic at a time, and play your first real games with a teacher or coach watching. Superior Chess Academy is a live online chess coaching academy based in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, teaching students aged 5 and above with FIDE-rated coaches in Group (maximum 8–10), Semi-Private (maximum 3–4) and 1:1 formats, with a free trial class bookable on WhatsApp at +91 84015 33777. This 2027 guide ranks the six ways to begin: live coached classes with the academy at No. 1, followed by five famous chess platforms (ChessKid, Chess.com, Lichess, Chessable and ChessMood) described from their own public websites. We list no competitor academies and invent no prices, ratings or reviews. Most beginners do best with live coaching first and a famous platform for daily practice between classes.
The six ways to start learning chess, ranked
The table ranks the six paths we recommend. Our academy is No. 1 because a live coach is the fastest way to learn. The other five are the world's most famous chess platforms, ordered by beginner fit. Every platform description comes from the platform's own public website, checked in November 2026.
| Rank | Path | Best For | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Superior Chess Academy | Live coached classes | The fastest way to start, with a coach watching |
| 2 | ChessKid | Young beginners | The friendliest lessons for children starting out |
| 3 | Chess.com | Lessons, puzzles and games | The best all-round practice ground after coaching |
| 4 | Lichess.org | Unlimited free play and study | The best free chess tools anywhere |
| 5 | Chessable | Drilling openings and patterns | Strongest for memorising learned patterns |
| 6 | ChessMood | Self-starters | Clear paths for motivated learners who study alone |
How we scored the six
Every ranked list is a judgment, so here is ours in the open. We scored each path on six criteria, using only facts from each provider's own public website. We invented no numeric scores: the ranking follows the weights below, applied to what each site publicly shows.
| Criterion | Weight | What we checked |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner-friendly teaching | 25% | How easily a total beginner follows the material from move one |
| Clear learning order | 20% | A visible roadmapped path, not scattered topics |
| Feedback and correction | 20% | Whether a coach or software catches and corrects mistakes |
| Practice volume | 15% | Enough games and puzzles to build a daily habit |
| Easy first step | 10% | Free trial, free tier or free starter content before paying |
| Safety for young learners | 10% | Kid-safe environments stated on the site |
One disclosure: we run Superior Chess Academy, so our academy is No. 1 in our own guide. We applied the same criteria to our own site as to the platforms. Below No. 1, the platforms are ordered by beginner fit: a live teacher correcting your mistakes outweighs a bigger lesson library.
The beginner's roadmap: what to learn in which order
Start with the basics and add skills in this order. Each stage builds on the last and links to a free guide on this site.
Stage 1: How the pieces move
Every beginner starts here: how each piece moves and captures, what check means, and how the game ends. Most learners memorise the moves in one sitting; a few practice games build comfort. Our first steps guide for beginners walks through the rules with examples.
Stage 2: Checkmate basics
Chess is won by checkmate, so the second skill is the two checkmates that occur most often: mate with the queen and mate with the two rooks. Knowing these turns won positions into won games. Our checkmate patterns for beginners covers each step by step.
Stage 3: Simple tactics
Tactics are short combinations that win material or force checkmate. Start with forks, pins and skewers, then add discovered attacks. One tactic a week, drilled on a puzzles page, builds the pattern recognition behind most beginner wins. Our guide to the 5 tactics every young player must learn introduces each with examples.
Stage 4: First real games
Once the moves and basic tactics are in place, play real games and learn the opening principles: control the centre, develop the pieces, castle early. Our opening principles for beginners gives the five rules that keep beginners out of early trouble.
Stage 5: A daily practice routine
The last stage matters most: a short daily routine. Fifteen minutes of puzzles a day plus a few slow games a week beats any weekend cramming. Use our puzzles page for daily practice; our beginner chess course ties all five stages into one structured plan.
Work through the stages in order and a total beginner becomes a confident player: rules down, basic checkmates known, simple tactics spotted, games played with a plan. A live coach shortens every stage, correcting your misunderstandings on the spot.
The six, reviewed
1. Superior Chess Academy
Our academy teaches live online chess from Bangalore, Karnataka, India, for students aged 5 and above. Every class is led by a FIDE-rated coach in Group (maximum 8–10), Semi-Private (maximum 3–4) or 1:1 formats, starting with a free trial class on WhatsApp at +91 84015 33777.
Key Features: Live classes with FIDE-rated coaches; ages 5+; Group, Semi-Private and 1:1 formats; free trial class.
Best For: Beginners who want a real teacher correcting them on the spot.
Pros: A coach catches the misunderstanding behind a repeated mistake; small batches; free trial before paying.
Cons: Fees shared on WhatsApp, not published on the site; scheduled batch timings.
Takeaway: The only entry with a live coach; book the free trial and watch the teaching first.
2. ChessKid
The famous kids' platform from the Chess.com family offers lessons, videos and puzzles for children inside a child-safe environment: the gentlest start in chess for young beginners.
Key Features: Kid-focused lessons, videos and puzzles; child-safe environment; parent accounts.
Best For: Young beginners, roughly ages 5–10, taking their first steps.
Pros: Built for children; playful lessons keep young beginners engaged; safe environment.
Cons: Aimed young, so it runs out of depth for advancing learners; no live coach.
Takeaway: The friendliest start for kids; add real coaching as the child grows.
3. Chess.com
The world's largest chess website pairs interactive lessons and daily puzzles with the biggest playing pool in chess. Learn a concept and test it in a game within minutes, so it works best as the practice ground around coached classes.
Key Features: Interactive beginner lessons; daily puzzles; the largest online playing pool; a coaches directory.
Best For: Daily practice, play and puzzles alongside coaching.
Pros: Lessons, puzzles and opponents at every level in one place; free content to start.
Cons: No live coach included; the richest lessons sit behind a paid tier.
Takeaway: A superb practice partner, and the site also lists coaches for hire.
4. Lichess.org
The famous free, open-source platform costs nothing, ever: unlimited play, puzzles, studies and learning tools, with no premium tier at all. Every beginner should know it, because the practice half of learning is free here.
Key Features: Unlimited play; free puzzles and studies; no premium tier; no adverts.
Best For: Free daily practice for any beginner, at any age.
Pros: Completely free; excellent play and analysis tools; studies offer free structured lessons.
Cons: No coaching or beginner guidance; the player directs their own learning.
Takeaway: The best free chess toolbox available, and the right home for your daily games.
5. Chessable
The famous course library teaches through video courses built on spaced repetition, drilling openings and patterns until they stick. It suits beginners who know the rules and want to memorise patterns systematically.
Key Features: Structured video courses; the spaced-repetition method; free starter courses.
Best For: Beginners drilling openings and tactics into memory.
Pros: Courses from strong players; a repetition method that works; free courses to start.
Cons: One-way teaching: nothing watches your games, so mistakes go uncorrected; deeper content is paid.
Takeaway: An excellent drill library for the openings and patterns you meet after the basics.
6. ChessMood
The famous training platform offers courses with step-by-step learning paths and free sample lessons for players who want to improve deliberately. It suits motivated beginners who study on their own.
Key Features: Structured courses; learning paths; free sample lessons.
Best For: Self-starters who want a clear course path.
Pros: Clear learning paths; sample lessons before committing.
Cons: Aimed at improving players, not total beginners; nobody reviews your games.
Takeaway: A solid course library once you can study on your own.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start in chess as a complete beginner?
Learn how the pieces move, learn the two most common checkmates, practise one simple tactic at a time, then play real games. A live coach speeds up the learning: book a free trial class on WhatsApp at +91 84015 33777 and learn with a FIDE-rated coach in Group (maximum 8–10), Semi-Private (maximum 3–4) or 1:1 formats.
How do I checkmate my opponent?
Checkmate happens when the enemy king is attacked and has no legal escape: no square to move to, no blocking piece, no capture of the attacker. Learn queen checkmate and two-rook checkmate first; our guide walks through each step by step.
What is the fastest way to learn how to checkmate?
Drill the two basic checkmates until automatic: queen and king against a lone king, then two rooks against a lone king. Ten minutes a day for a week is usually enough. Then learn the simple tactics that force checkmate, like back-rank mates. Our beginner chess course teaches them in order.
Should I learn chess from an app or take live classes?
Take classes for feedback and use an app for volume. A coach watches your thinking, catches the exact misunderstanding behind a repeated mistake, and sets the right next step. The app gives you unlimited puzzles and games between classes. The combination that works is coaching plus platforms.
How long does it take a beginner to play a real game?
Most beginners can play a real game within a week of learning the rules. Playing well takes longer: expect a few months of regular practice before blunders dry up and tactics appear. A structured plan, like our beginner chess course, and a daily puzzle habit on our puzzles page keep progress steady.
How do I book a free trial class at Superior Chess Academy?
Message us on WhatsApp at +91 84015 33777 with the student's age, country and current level, and we will arrange a real trial class with a FIDE-rated coach: no card required, no obligation. Students aged 5 and above are welcome, in Group (maximum 8–10), Semi-Private (maximum 3–4) or 1:1 formats.
Our verdict
The best way to start in chess is live coaching first and a famous platform second. A coach sees what you misunderstand; no course or app does that. Among the platforms, ChessKid suits the youngest beginners, Lichess gives every beginner free practice, and Chess.com or Chessable add depth later. Take the free trial class at Superior Chess Academy: live online chess coaching from Bangalore, Karnataka, India, for ages 5 and up, with FIDE-rated coaches in Group, Semi-Private and 1:1 formats. Message WhatsApp +91 84015 33777 and judge the teaching yourself.
Try the teaching before you decide
The only way to know if the teaching fits is to watch it. Book a free trial class on WhatsApp at +91 84015 33777 and see how a FIDE-rated coach explains the moves, the checkmates and the first tactics. Superior Chess Academy, Bangalore, Karnataka, India: live online chess coaching for kids, teens and adults worldwide.
Superior Chess Academy, Bangalore, Karnataka, India · WhatsApp +91 84015 33777 · superiorchessacademy.com
Related: first steps: beginner chess guide · opening principles for beginners · checkmate patterns for beginners · 5 tactics every young player must learn · chess puzzles · beginner chess course · best chess coaching for kids (2027) · best age to start chess for kids · how to choose a chess coach · best way to learn chess: ranked guide
Book a free trial and tell us the student’s age, country and current level.