Chess Guides
Free tutorials to help you improve at chess
Welcome to our comprehensive chess guide collection. Whether you're just learning how the pieces move or looking to develop advanced strategic thinking, these guides will help you improve your game step by step.
All guides are freely accessible—no account required to read. Each guide is designed to build upon the previous, but you can start wherever matches your current level. We recommend beginners start with Chess Basics and progress through the guides in order.
Learning Tracks
Our four main guides take you from beginner to advanced player
What you'll learn:
- How each piece moves (pawn, knight, bishop, rook, queen, king)
- Special moves: castling, pawn promotion, en passant
- Check, checkmate, and stalemate explained
- Basic checkmate patterns with queen and rook
What you'll learn:
- Center control and why it matters
- Piece development order and coordination
- King safety and when to castle
- Common opening mistakes to avoid
What you'll learn:
- King activity and the concept of opposition
- Key squares in king and pawn endings
- Basic checkmates: king + queen, king + rook
- Rook endgame fundamentals
What you'll learn:
- Position evaluation using imbalances
- Pawn structures and their plans
- Outposts and piece placement
- Prophylaxis and preventing opponent's plans
Quick Topics
Jump to specific topics you want to learn about
Recommended Learning Path
Follow this order for the best learning experience
Chess Basics
Learn the rules and fundamentals
Opening Principles
Master how to start games
Essential Endgames
Learn to convert advantages
Strategic Thinking
Develop positional mastery
Want Interactive Lessons?
Beyond these guides, RoyalGambit offers interactive lessons where you practice on a real chessboard with immediate feedback. Create a free account to access step-by-step lessons, track your progress, and earn achievements.