Learn Chess

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Mastering Chess – Lines and Focal Points: The Heart and Soul of a Combination

Alexander Alekhine is universally regarded as a great attacking genius, and one of the most creative players of all time. White offers a pawn in order to open up attacking lines around Black’s king. Black accepts the sacrifice less than half the time at high level play, because White gets very dangerous play in return for the pawn. More 🡢

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Mastering Chess – Choose Chess Openings that Fit Your Style

Today we’ll focus on playing openings that fit your style. If you’re a pretty new player, you might not be completely sure of what your style is quite yet, so here’s the most important piece of advice. More 🡢

Chess

Mastering Chess – Scotch Opening: Blumenfeld Variation

I know this opening extremely well. I’ve worked out many of the details using the chess computer, and I know many of the variations about 20 moves deep. More 🡢

SparkChess - The Free Online Multiplayer Chess Game

What would you like to see next in multiplayer?

SparkChess 7 has been rock solid for the past year, with an uptime of 99.98% and almost all feedback from you is positive. Still, we’re constantly looking for ways to improve the game and the way you play with it. We’re now looking at some changes and additions and we’d like your feedback. More 🡢

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Mastering Chess – Psychology in the Opening Repertoire

In chess it’s important to make sure you’re comfortable with the positions that arise from the choices you make early in the game. One position may even be objectively better. But as long as they’re both playable, if the first position doesn’t fit your style, the other one is your best choice. We all play some positions better than others. It happened to me a couple years ago, and here’s why. More 🡢

SparkChess - The Free Online Multiplayer Chess Game

Chess is fun!

Online chess games don’t have to be boring. Long, slow games are not a requirement. A chess computer AI doesn’t have to be a cold, merciless terminator. Playing chess online in multiplayer doesn’t have to be complicated or subject to bullying. Yes, you can actually have fun with chess. More 🡢

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Mastering Chess – Dark Square Domination

A large number of grandmaster games involve dominating squares of one color. In chess terminology, this is called “working a color complex” and you’ll often see grandmasters orchestrate numerous maneuvers through a color complex on their journey to victory. More 🡢

Magnus Carlsen

Viswanathan Anand vs. Magnus Carlsen at World Chess Championship 2013

Former World Chess Champion, Viswanathan Anand, fought to defend his title against Magnus Carlsen. If you own SparkChess 7 Full Version you can download the PGN database and replay the games at your leisure. More 🡢

Is it hard to learn chess?

Learning the rules of chess can be accomplished in one day. There are six different chessmen. Master how each moves and captures, and use them to checkmate your opponents, to succeed in your chess games.

Where can I learn chess?

The best way to learn is by playing! Right here on SparkChess you can play against different computer personas (start with Cody if you never played before). The game will highlight all valid moves for a piece, so it's easy to understand and learn the rules. Then you can move to learning strategies and openings with SparkChess Premium, which features an Opening Explorer with over 100 opening variations, 30 interactive lessons and even an AI coach.

What is the best way to start learning chess?

While learning chess online is efficient, since software corrects illegal moves, playing chess with others in person can be satisfying. You and a friend or family member could tackle chess together, perhaps reading the rules in a book. Playing on a three-dimensional chess set can be a fun break from our online lives. When in-person chess is not available, SparkChess has online multiplayer for playing with friends (and making new ones).

How can I teach myself to play chess?

While learning chess rules takes one day, becoming good at chess takes longer. One proverb states, “Chess is a sea in which a gnat may drink and an elephant may bathe.” With intense efforts, chess greatness can be achieved.