Last Updated on November, 2024
Do you want to master all the complexities of the strategic game of chess? What better way to learn than through online chess courses from the comfort of your home, at your own pace, and at little to no cost?
We have compiled a list of the best online chess programs tailored to your needs.
Contents
- 11 of the Best Online Chess Courses
- 1. IChessU
- 2. Chess.com
- 3. Lichess.org: Interactive Lessons
- 4. Best Chess Course for Complete Beginners (Udemy)
- 5. Chess University’s Intro to Chess Crash Course
- 6. LearningChess
- 7. Chessable: For Intermediate Online Learners
- 8. Chess MasterClass
- 9. Understanding Chess Openings I How to Play ANY Opening well (Udemy)
- 10. Kids Learn Chess the Fun & Easy Way By Udemy
- 11. Beginner to Chess Master (ChessNetwork)
- Advantages of Taking Online Chess Courses
- How to Choose the Best Chess Program?
- What Are the Best Online Chess Classes?
- How Much Does an Online Chess Course Cost?
- How Long Does it Take to Learn How to Play Chess Online?
- FAQs
- Conclusion
11 of the Best Online Chess Courses
Here are our top picks for the best chess courses available for different proficiency levels.
1. IChessU
IChessU, or International Chess University, takes the top spot for online chess lessons.
It differs from other courses because it provides private and group lessons through a dedicated teaching experience, ensuring interaction between students and teachers through real games.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Anyone seeking personalized chess instruction and feedback from top-quality coaches who is willing to invest in a structural learning experience.
Pricing:
Group lessons: Starting at four hours a month for $180
Private lessons: Starting at roughly $180 a month for 4 hours, up to $600 a month for 20 hours.
Instructors and Instructor Quality:
The coaching team at IChessU consists of accomplished chess players from various countries who are world-renowned grandmasters, international masters, and International Grandmasters, including Boris Avrukg, H. James Plaskett, and I.M. Tibor Karolyi.
Therefore, the quality of teaching is excellent.
2. Chess.com
Chess.com, a leading online chess platform, offers comprehensive lessons for players of all levels.
Pros
Cons
Best for: All chess players, from starters to advanced, who seek free online chess classes and popular resources with a wide range of lessons and challenges.
Pricing: This course is completely free.
Instructors and Instructor Quality
Beyond lessons, it provides a vibrant community, daily puzzles, tournaments, and the opportunity to play chess confidently and learn from world-renowned chess masters like Magnus Carlsen and Vishwanathan Anand.
3. Lichess.org: Interactive Lessons
Lichess.org is a free and open-source online chess platform with a user-friendly interface and engaging resources. It offers interactive lessons covering chess basics, fundamentals, board setup, and chess skills, making it an attractive choice for players of all levels.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Players seeking an attractive and accessible learning experience with a focus on tactics, checkmates, and endgames across all skill levels.
Pricing: Completely free.
Instructors and Instructor Quality
Lichess.org doesn’t follow the format of other courses with video content featuring instructors. Rather, you learn through interactive online chess boards.
4. Best Chess Course for Complete Beginners (Udemy)
Udemy’s chess course, curated by Chess University, caters to complete novices, offering a comprehensive journey from basics to advanced tactics.
With over 18,000 students enrolled, this course is a popular choice for those aiming to participate in chess tournaments.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Suitable for players of all ages whose chess strength is below 900 Elo.
Pricing: Completely free.
Instructor and Instructor Quality
The instructors are a panel of accredited and experienced chess players, ensuring that the quality of the course is exceptional.
Kairav Joshi: Top-selling online chess coach, Founder and CEO of the Prodigy program.
Dalton Perrine: FIDE Chess master.
Arne Jochens: FIDE Chess master.
Kostya Kavutskiy: International master.
This Udemy course is a go-to resource for individuals with a chess strength below 900 Elo. The involvement of experienced instructors and a high enrollment rate attest to its effectiveness in providing a solid foundation for aspiring chess players.
5. Chess University’s Intro to Chess Crash Course
Chess University’s Intro To Chess Crash course is a priceless resource tailored for beginners. Specifically designed for those with chess strength below 900 Elo, this course welcomes participants of all ages and is entirely free.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Beginners and first time players.
Pricing: Completely free.
Instructor and Instructor Quality
This course, backed by renowned instructors, including World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, is an exceptional starting point for novices. Its free accessibility and strong curriculum ensure participants gain a solid understanding of chess fundamentals.
6. LearningChess
LearningChess is the best choice for novices with its user-friendly approach, self-paced learning, and affordability. This online chess course provides a solid foundation for new students, offering practice opportunities and accessibility across devices.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Complete beginners.
Pricing: Individual courses are priced at approximately $14.99 each. Or you can opt for a bundle package, granting access to all four online classes for $39.99. This package allows a two-year access period to all 144 available courses.
Instructor and Instructor Quality
The courses are curated by Grandmaster Jozsef Pinter and International Master Gabor Pirisi, which ensures quality and maintains high teaching standards.
LearningChess stands out for its quick and easy entry into the world of chess, making it an ideal starting point for beginners. This course’s emphasis on the engagement of students, practical applications, and flexibility ensures a well-rounded learning experience.
7. Chessable: For Intermediate Online Learners
Chessable is an easy choice for intermediate chess players seeking to elevate their game. Offering a diverse array of online chess classes, both free and paid courses, Chessable caters to individuals with a foundational understanding of chess, providing opportunities for skill refinement and strategy exploration.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Intermediate learners.
Pricing: There are multiple courses for endgames, tactics, openings, and every other aspect. Depending on each individual course, they may be free or paid. For paid courses, there is a price filter you can use. Courses are categorized into three price ranges: Below $5, between $5-$15, and above $15.
Instructors and Instructor Quality
The instructors differ from course to course, but as you browse through each course, you can see that they are all instructed by either International Masters or Grand Masters.
Chessable has a unique MoveTrainer system that combines video, board practice, and systemic review to reinforce chess principles. Courses are categorized into openings, endgames, strategies, and tactics to tailor the experience of learning the chess game.
8. Chess MasterClass
“Unleash Your Inner Grandmaster” is an online chess course offered by MasterClass, featuring the legendary Garry Kasparov as the instructor.
This course aims to elevate players of all levels by covering chess fundamentals, strategies, tactics, openings, middle games, endgames, and mental toughness.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Beginner to intermediate chess players.
Pricing: $10 a month for a subscription to MasterClass.
Instructor and Instructor Quality
Garry Kasparov is a chess grandmaster, former World Chess Champion, writer, political activist, and commentator. His peak rating of 2851 in 19991 was the highest recorded until surpassed in 2013.
He also holds the record for the most ranked No.1 player for 255 months overall in his career.
This course combines video content with a handbook, plays, tactics, strategies, and advanced skills, which is suited for beginner to intermediate players interested in chess insights and Kasparov’s life and ideas.
9. Understanding Chess Openings I How to Play ANY Opening well (Udemy)
The Udemy course “Understanding Chess Openings” provides a concise and detailed guide for novices struggling with chess openings. With a focus on the crucial first ten moves, this course is led by accomplished instructor Mykhaylo Oleksiyenko.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Both novices and advanced players.
Pricing: $54.99 with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Instructor and Instructor Quality
Mykhaylo Oleksiyenko started playing chess at the age of four, possesses a Ph.D. in mathematics, and aims to integrate scientific principles into chess. He is also an international grandmaster and chess champion of Ukraine.
10. Kids Learn Chess the Fun & Easy Way By Udemy
Kids Learn Chess the Fun & Easy Way, instructed by Mike Klein, provides an animated chess lesson for children aged 5-13. The course combines fun and interactive elements to teach the fundamentals, chess tactics, and more advanced chess strategies.
With 27 lectures and a duration of 2.4 hours, it is a highly rated option for parents seeking to introduce their children to the world of chess.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Children who are completely new to chess.
Pricing: Free.
Instructors and Instructor Quality: Taught by Mike Klein, an American FIDE master and an award-winning coach.
11. Beginner to Chess Master (ChessNetwork)
“Beginner to Chess Master” on ChessNetwork’s YouTube channel offers a comprehensive learning path for individuals transitioning from beginner to chess master.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Beginners.
Pricing: Free course.
Instructor and Instructor Quality: The instructor is a self-taught chess prodigy who earned the title of National Master.
Advantages of Taking Online Chess Courses
Enrolling in a chess program offers numerous advantages, with the game being a symbol of skill and intelligence for thousands of years.
The introduction of online courses has made it more accessible than ever to develop these chess skills.
How to Choose the Best Chess Program?
Before choosing the best online chess class, the following factors must be considered.
Here are a few points to consider:
What Are the Best Online Chess Classes?
Renowned platforms like Udemy, Chess.com, MasterClass, and Lichess.org offer the programs on this list. They are taught by instructors with extensive experience and cover a broad base of topics, from basics to advanced tactics.
So far, we have presented all the best available options. Your choice from this list should depend on your skill level, time constraints, what you wish to learn, learning preference, and other specific needs.
How Much Does an Online Chess Course Cost?
The pricing of chess tutorials varies, depending on multiple factors. Platforms like Chess.com and LearingChess provide free chess classes as integral parts of their websites. Some courses on platforms like Udemy have free trials.
If courses are standalone courses and not part of a broader subscription service, they can span from being free to $94.99. Individual courses, especially on Udemy, frequently undergo sales. Subscription-based courses range from $15-$600 per month.
How Long Does it Take to Learn How to Play Chess Online?
The duration of chess programs varies greatly depending on the content offered. Courses targeting a beginner are shorter because they only focus on core concepts. The format of lessons affects the duration.
Content on video courses available on platforms like MasterClass requires time equal to the video duration, while text-based content, such as in learning chess, depends on reading speed.
Furthermore, individual time investment also plays a significant role in how fast a course can be completed. Learning any new skill, including chess, requires dedication, practice, and reinforcement of the learned knowledge.
Other course categories you might like:
FAQs
Conclusion
Many diverse options are available on famous education platforms like Udemy and Chess.com, which offer various online courses tailored to different skill levels, learning styles, and preferences.
Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced player, many free and reasonably priced options are available to enhance your chess skills and join the community of chess enthusiasts.
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