Chess Lessons

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Chess Basics: Pins and Skewers

Chess Basics: Pins and Skewers

Two of the most popular (and powerful) tactics players can add to their chess repertoire are pins and skewers. Learn what these tactics are and how to use them in...
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Chess Basics: Greco's Great Game

Chess Basics: Greco's Great Game

In this lesson, we analyze one of Gioachino Greco's famous games to see how a chess master uses the opening principles to get off to a strong start and secure...
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Chess Basics: The Four-Move Checkmate

Chess Basics: The Four-Move Checkmate

The four-move checkmate, commonly known as the Scholar’s Mate, is one of the most popular opening strategies among beginner chess players, but attempting it can cause players to make costly...
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Chess Basics: Winning a Won Endgame

Chess Basics: Winning a Won Endgame

How do you convert a winning chess position into an actual win? This guide to playing the endgame helps players learn how to use their remaining pieces to pull off...
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Chess Basics: Piece Values

Chess Basics: Piece Values

Learn how many points each chess piece is worth and how players can use those values to make better choices on the board. 
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Chess Basics: Ladder Checkmate with Two Rooks

Chess Basics: Ladder Checkmate with Two Rooks

The ladder checkmate gives chess players a simple but powerful way to turn a big advantage into a win. Learn how to win a game using two rooks, two queens,...
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Chess Basics: Castling

Chess Basics: Castling

To avoid an early loss, new chess players need to protect the king as soon as possible. A special move called castling can help secure his safety. Learn how to castle...
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Chess Basics: How To Move the Pieces

Chess Basics: How To Move the Pieces

There are two things every chess player needs to learn before they can start playing games: how to name the squares on a chess board and how to move the...
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Chess Basics: Stalemate

Chess Basics: Stalemate

One way a chess game can end is a draw, the chess term for a tie. Learn the definition of a special type of draw called a stalemate and what...
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Chess Basics: Back Rank Checkmate

Chess Basics: Back Rank Checkmate

Chess games are won by checkmates, but figuring out how to pull one off is often a huge challenge for new players. Learn how to start winning games with one...
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Chess Basics: Check and Checkmate

Chess Basics: Check and Checkmate

Once a chess player is comfortable moving each piece, the next skills they need to master are how to attack their opponent's king (check) and win a game (checkmate). Let's...
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