Chess is a game that has been played for centuries and has gained massive popularity among people of all age groups. It requires various skill sets, including patience, consciousness, and strategic thinking. Chess helps in improving concentration, memory, as well as problem-solving skills.
With the rise of online learning, it’s now easier to learn Chess from home and under the guidance of the best chess coach.
Learning Chess can be intimidating, especially for beginners who are not familiar with the game’s rules and strategies. However, there are a plethora of resources available to learn Chess online that can help to learn at your own pace.
We will be exploring the 11 Best Online Chess Classes (free & paid) in this blog. You can pick the best suitable course for yourself, ranging from beginner to advanced level, and improve your skills.
List of Free Online Chess Classes
Here are the best online chess classes and courses that will help you hop on board in no time:
1. Chess University’s Intro To Chess Crash Course [Udemy]
If you wish to learn Chess, then Udemy’s this course is just for you. Over 18K students have been enrolled in the course. It covers all Chess’s rules and basics and introduces more advanced topics such as tactics and strategy. Once students complete this course, they will be ready to start playing Chess over the board and ready to participate in tournaments.
Curated by Chess University, this online course contains on-demand videos by 4 instructors. This course caters to players of all ages whose chess strength is below the rating of 900 Elo (novices and beginners)
Topics Covered:
- Introduction to Chess
- Special Rules
- Types of Advantages
- Logical Thinking
- Tactics
- Chess Vocabulary
- Concepts and Ideas
- Phases of the Game
Prerequisites: None
Rating: 4.8
Duration: 5.3 hours
Certificate: No
Pros: Helpful, beginner-friendly, and popular
Cons: Some reviewers cite explanations as vague.
2. Kids Learn Chess the Fun & Easy Way! [Udemy]
Udemy’s course, Kids Learn Chess the Fun & Easy Way, offers engaging animated chess lessons for kids.Mike Klein is the instructor of this course; The course covers the basics and tactical tricks of the game.
With this course, kids will learn the basic rules of Chess and more advanced strategies through fun and interactive lessons. The course includes a variety of games and puzzles to help children develop their chess skills and apply what they have learned.
Overall, this course is an excellent option for parents looking to introduce their children to the world of Chess in a fun and engaging way.
The course has 27 lectures and is for children aged between 5-13. It has around 30K enrolled students.
Topics Covered:
- Introduction to Chess
- Movements of each piece
- Most common checkmate patterns
- Special moves
- Counting Material
- Five most common tactical tricks
Prerequisites: None
Rating: 4.7
Duration: 2.4 hours
Certificate: No
Pros: Animated chess lessons, kid-friendly, and highly rated.
Cons: Some reviewers cite the course as too fast.
3. Chess Lessons [Chess.com]
Chess.com has a collection of chess lessons for beginners to intermediate to advanced mastery levels. You can not only learn Chess but play online as well with other players. You can also watch other gamers’ chess events and live streams.
Chess.com is a popular online chess platform that allows players of all levels to play Chess, improve their skills, and connect with a global community of chess enthusiasts. With a wide range of features, including daily puzzles, lessons, and tournaments, Chess.com provides a comprehensive and engaging experience for players of all ages and abilities. So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, Chess.com offers something for everyone to enjoy and learn from.
The lessons are from the best chess coach, including Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, and many more.
Topics Covered:
- How to Play
- Fundamentals
- Key Concepts
- Taking Control
- Tactics
- Play Like a world champion
Prerequisites: None
Rating: N/A
Duration: N/A
Certificate: No
Pros: Helpful, multiple lessons, learn from experts
Cons: N/A
4. Fundamentals of Chess: Tactics [Alison]
Alison’s Fundamentals of Chess: Tactics provides knowledge of strategic moves in Chess, demonstrates the working principles of using them, and gives a fundamental understanding of chess tactics. It is designed for intermediate players and provides in-depth information for your assistance.
The course covers essential topics such as forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks, and double attacks. Learners can improve their chess skills and strategic thinking with interactive activities and practice exercises. This course can help you develop your chess knowledge and tactics.
Topics Covered:
- Basics of Chess
- Chess tactics
- Fundamentals of chess strategies
- Techniques to apply
Prerequisites:None
Rating: N/A
Duration: 3-4 hours
Certificate: No
Pros: Thorough, engaging, knowledgeable.
Cons: N/A
5. Learn Chess By Playing! [Lichess]
Lichess.org is a free, open-source online chess platform that allows players to play, learn, and analyze games. It offers a variety of features such as puzzles, practice exercises, tournaments, and computer analysis. Lichess.org has a user-friendly interface and can be accessed from any device without the need for any downloads or installations. As a result, it is a popular choice among chess enthusiasts of all levels, from beginners to advanced players, and offers a welcoming and supportive community.
Topics Covered:
- Chess pieces
- Fundamentals of Chess
- Board set-up
- Evaluate piece strength
- Test you skills
Prerequisites:None
Rating: N/A
Duration: N/A
Certificate: No
Pros: Short; engaging; interactive
Cons: N/A
List of Paid Online Chess Classes
While free classes might be good at the start, you will need more in-depth knowledge and advanced training in the game in order to become the best at it. These classes typically provide in-depth analysis of games, personalized training plans, and access to exclusive learning resources.
In this list of the top 6 paid chess classes online, you’ll find an incredible range of options from some of the most rated online classes and highly qualified coaches.
6. Complete Chess Training by a Chess Grandmaster [Udemy]
This course promises to help students improve their chess skills through comprehensive and structured training. The course is taught by a Chess Grandmaster who shares extensive knowledge and game experience. It covers a wide range of topics, including opening theory, middlegame strategies, endgame techniques, and tactical motifs. With a focus on practical exercises and game analysis, the course is designed to help students become more confident and successful chess players.
Topics Covered:
- To take is a mistake
- The offense is the best defense
- Attacking moves
- Attacking replies
- Tasks
Prerequisites: None
Rating: 4.1
Duration: 1 hour
Certificate: Yes
Pros: Professional, advanced level, and popular
Cons: Some reviewers cite the course as too short and less descriptive.
7. Unleash Your Inner Grandmaster [MasterClass]
Unleash Your Inner Grandmaster is a comprehensive online course offered by Masterclass, taught by the world-renowned chess player Garry Kasparov. In this course, Kasparov shares his expertise and strategies for mastering Chess, covering topics such as openings, middlegame tactics, endgames, and analysis.
This course is designed to help players of all levels improve their game and take their skills to the next level. With interactive lessons, helpful tips, and engaging exercises, this course is the perfect choice for anyone looking to enhance their understanding of Chess and become a stronger player.
Topics Covered:
- Chess Fundamentals
- Chess Strategies
- Openings
- Middlegames
- Endgames
- Mental Toughness
Prerequisites: None
Ratings: N/A
Duration: 7.2 hours
Certificate: Yes
Pros: N/A
Cons: N/A
8. Understanding chess openings | How to play ANY opening well [Udemy]
Understanding chess openings is crucial for any chess player, whether you are a beginner or an advanced player. This Udemy course offers a comprehensive guide on how to play any opening well, covering the basic principles of chess openings, common variations, and strategies for both White and Black.
An experienced chess coach taught this course to help you understand the underlying principles of each opening rather than just memorizing moves. So whether you want to improve your chess skills or compete at a higher level, this course can help you unleash your potential and take your game to the next level.
Topics Covered:
- General rules/guidelines of opening play
- Principles of playing the opening
- Analyze famous games
- Suggested opening repertoire
Prerequisites: Basics of Chess.
Rating: 4.7
Duration: 3.5 hours
Certificate: Yes
Pros: Clarity, beginner-friendly, interactive.
Cons: Some reviewers cite the course as unuseful.
9. The Complete Guide to Chess Tactics [Udemy]
This comprehensive course on Udemy covers all the essential tactics and strategies required to become a proficient chess player. The course is designed for players of all levels, from beginners to advanced players, and is taught by an experienced chess coach.
The lessons include various tactical motifs, such as pins, forks, skewers, discovered attacks, and more.
The course also provides guidance on identifying and exploiting weaknesses in your opponent’s game. With the help of this course, you will be able to improve your tactical skills and outsmart your opponents in no time.
Topics Covered:
- Chess tactics
- Art of calculation
- Various patterns
- Applying Chess Tactics in Real Games
- Advanced Tactical Patterns
Prerequisites: Basics of Chess.
Rating: 4.5
Duration: 21.5 hours
Certificate: Yes
Pros: Well-explained, practical, insightful.
Cons: N/A
10. Chess [Udemy]
“Chess – How to become a Chess Master” is an extensive Udemy course designed to take your chess skills to the next level. The course covers everything from basic chess rules and strategies to advanced tactics and techniques used by chess masters. With the help of this course, you can learn how to think like a grandmaster and improve your decision-making skills.
The course includes video lectures, practical exercises, and quizzes to help you reinforce your learning. So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, this course can help you develop your skills and become a chess master.
Topics Covered:
- Tactical training
- Strategic training
- Board Vision
- Practical guidelines
- Principles
- Exercises
Prerequisites: None
Rating: 4.4
Duration: 33 hours
Certificate: Yes
Pros: Knowledgeable, beginner-friendly, and interactive.
Cons: Some reviewers cite the course as slow.
11. Chess For Everyone! [Udemy]
This course is offered by Udemy and aims to teach the fundamentals of Chess to beginners. The course is designed to make Chess accessible and enjoyable for anyone interested in learning the game, regardless of their prior experience. It covers the basics of Chess, including rules, tactics, strategy, and common mistakes to avoid. The course also includes practical exercises and quizzes to help learners practice their skills and measure their progress. By the end of the course, learners should be able to play Chess confidently and competently.
The course is curated by Robert Gumerlock, a chess teacher and coach with 50 years of playing experience.
Topics Covered:
- Basics of Chess
- Strategic thinking
- Chess tactics
- Endgame
- Tips and tricks for improving your game
Prerequisites: None.
Rating: 4.5
Duration: 2.5 hours
Certificate: Yes
Pros: Beginner-friendly, interactive, good approach.
Cons: Some reviewers cite background music as a distraction.
Conclusion
Chess is a popular game, and with the rise of online learning, it is now easier to learn Chess at home from the best chess coach. In this article, we have explored the 11 best online chess classes (free and paid), ranging from beginner to advanced levels.
All these courses cover a wide range of topics from chess fundamentals to advanced strategies, openings, middlegames, endgames, and mental toughness, and offer certification upon completion.
Overall, learning Chess can be a fun and rewarding experience for all ages, and these online courses can be an excellent way to start your journey in Chess.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Online Chess Course?
The best online chess course depends on your level of knowledge, expertise, learning style, and specific needs. Some popular options include courses from Chess.com, Udemy, MasterClass, and Lichess.org.
Are Online Chess Courses Effective for Improving My Game?
Yes, online chess courses can be very effective for improving your game, as they offer structured lessons, practice exercises, and feedback from experienced coaches.
How Much Do Online Chess Courses Cost?
Online chess course costs can vary widely, ranging from free to a few hundred or thousand rupees. Some popular options include free courses on Chess.com and Lichess.org and paid courses on Udemy, MasterClass, and other platforms.
What Topics Are Covered in Online Chess Courses?
Online chess courses can cover a wide range of topics, including chess basics, tactics, openings, endgames, strategy, and more. The specific topics covered will depend on the course.
