Learn chess
Opening principles, beginner mistakes, how many moves to memorize.
Articles in this theme
When to castle in chess, and which way?
Castling too late loses games, castling the wrong way too. Here's when to get your king safe, kingside or queenside, and the cases where it's better to wait.
7 beginner opening mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Queen out too early, forgetting to castle, moving the same knight ten times: the 7 opening mistakes that cost the most games, and how to fix them.
Controlling the center in chess: why it decides everything
Whoever holds the center holds the game. Here's why the e4, d4, e5 and d5 squares decide everything, and the two proven ways to control them.
The 3 opening principles in chess (and how to actually use them)
Control the center, develop your pieces, get your king safe: the 3 principles that let you play a good opening without memorizing twenty moves of theory.
Opening, middlegame, endgame: the 3 phases of a chess game
Every chess game runs through three phases, each with its own rules and priorities. Understand them to know what to look for at every moment.
Should beginners learn openings?
"Work on tactics, not openings," you often hear. True and false. Here's when and how a beginner should deal with openings, without wasting time.
Starting chess: your first 30 days plan
You know the rules but have no idea where to begin? Here's a clear 30-day plan to build your chess foundations and play your first real games.
How to read chess notation: the complete beginner's guide
Nf3, exd5, O-O, Qh5+: chess notation looks like a secret code. In ten minutes, you'll be able to read and write any game, in English and beyond.
How many opening moves do you really need to memorize?
Spoiler: far fewer than you think. Here's how many opening moves to memorize at each level, and why grasping the ideas beats reciting squares every time.
Developing your pieces in chess: the order that works
Knights before bishops, one piece at a time, queen last: the development order that gives you a good opening without agonizing twenty minutes over each move.
Ready to play your openings?
Prologue Chess is coming to the App Store. Start with the Italian Game, for free, and learn every opening by playing it.
Download on the App StoreComing soon. iPhone first.