5 Tips to Start Learning Chess as a Beginner - A Map to Navigate a World of Information Overload

💨 5-Bullet Summary

• Play frequently.

• Learn tactical patterns.

• Pick an opening you enjoy.

• Master basic endgames.

• Join a chess club.

 ⚓ Going Deeper

WHY IT MATTERS:

The set of problems beginner chess players face today is very different from the problems 10 years ago. The main difference being that there is simply too much content out there. I hope to share some practical advice and resources in this blog post.

STORYTIME:

#1 Play frequently

When I first started out, I would spend hours after school playing against my granddad. Eventually, he stopped wanting to play with me (probably because I was starting to beat him frequently), so I played against myself. This initial intense playing and exposure to chess led to my earlier success in winning junior events.

These days, you can play with anyone on the Internet. There are people all over the world waiting for a game. So, get yourself an account on Chess.com (affiliate link), lichess.org or Chesskid.com (for kids) and start playing.

#2 Learn tactical patterns

I was very fortunate that one of my dad's friends is an avid chess player. He lent me books which are essentially lots and lots of puzzles. Now instead of spending time playing by myself, most of that time goes to doing these exercises instead.

There is the Custom Puzzle function on Chess.com for you to start practicing tactical patterns.

Or Puzzle Themes on lichess:

Not sure where to start? I recommend working on these themes first:

• Forks

• Pin

• Skewer

• Discovered Attack

• Discovered Check

• Removing the Defender

• Checkmate in 1 and 2

Spending 15-20 minutes a day working through a theme at a time will go a long way.

#3 Pick an opening you enjoy

Openings is one of my least favourite areas because I find it difficult to memorise the different variations. However, when I started playing the London System, I felt like I was getting good positions despite not knowing the ins and outs of the position. That initial spark led me to learn more ideas and find ways to get interesting positions. It is no secret that I still play this occasionally in tournaments.

Where should you start?

On YouTube, I would recommend watching Daniel Naroditsky's Speedrun Videos. He is an amazing teacher and explains things in a manner easy to understand. Watch one video and play some blitz games with the recommended opening. See if you like the positions you are getting out of it.

When you do, you can take the next step, which is to get an opening course. This is where Chessable comes in. Personally, if you are starting out, getting the free Short and Sweet course is more than sufficient to get a playable position. Further down the road, when you are thinking of playing competitively, then it might be worth purchasing the full course.

#4 Master basic endgames

Endgame may seem far away since most of your games are likely decided before you get there. I think about learning endgames like investing; we can only yield the rewards later in our chess journey. Hence, it would make sense to learn the most common and important endgames first.

That is why I recommend 100 Endgames You Must Know: Vital Lessons for Every Chess Player by Jesus De La Villa. The author handpicked endgame positions that frequently happen in practice and explained them in a clear way (therefore easier to remember). Having read the book, I can safely say that the ideas I've learned from the book are also applicable to similar-looking positions.

#5 Join a chess club

Ever since I came to the UK, I was fortunate to be part of a chess club. This has given me the opportunity to play in league matches and also learn more about the game. It is a great way to socialise and speak to like-minded people who also enjoy chess. Google search "chess club near me," and you can thank me later. 😉

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