Chessigma

Free Chess Courses

Every course Chessigma has built that you can start for free, with its level and its length: a tactics course at 5 levels, 28 opening courses you play move by move and 9 tactics themes.

Tactics course by level

The Woodpecker Method: solve one set of puzzles, then solve the same set again in each new cycle, aiming to be faster every time. Every level here is free once you sign in.

Level 1: Beginner100 puzzles, 5 cycles · for ratings 400 to 800Level 2: Casual Player100 puzzles, 5 cycles · for ratings 800 to 1200Level 3: Club100 puzzles, 5 cycles · for ratings 1200 to 1600Level 4: Tournament100 puzzles, 5 cycles · for ratings 1600 to 2000Level 5: Master100 puzzles, 5 cycles · for ratings 2000 to 2600

Opening courses

You play your side move by move, the board plays the other side's moves of each line, and you replay a line until it sticks. The first 5 lines of every course are free, no account needed. Grouped by how much theory each course asks of you.

Easy: little theory
Anti-LondonBlack · 40 lines, the first 5 freeEnglund GambitBlack · 29 lines, the first 5 freeJobava LondonWhite · 35 lines, the first 5 freeKing's Indian AttackWhite · 31 lines, the first 5 freeLondonWhite · 30 lines, the first 5 freePirc DefenseBlack · 35 lines, the first 5 freeQueen's Gambit AcceptedWhite · 28 lines, the first 5 freeScandinavian DefenseBlack · 26 lines, the first 5 freeScotch GameWhite · 28 lines, the first 5 freeVienna GambitWhite · 55 lines, the first 5 freeVienna GameWhite · 24 lines, the first 5 freeWhite vs the Caro-KannWhite · 23 lines, the first 5 free
Some theory
Bishop's OpeningWhite · 34 lines, the first 5 freeCaro-KannBlack · 35 lines, the first 5 freeDutch DefenseBlack · 34 lines, the first 5 freeEnglishWhite · 22 lines, the first 5 freeFrench DefenseBlack · 40 lines, the first 5 freeFried Liver AttackWhite · 31 lines, the first 5 freeItalian GameWhite · 26 lines, the first 5 freeKing's GambitWhite · 24 lines, the first 5 freePetrov DefenseBlack · 43 lines, the first 5 freePonzianiWhite · 30 lines, the first 5 freeQueen's GambitWhite · 33 lines, the first 5 freeSlav DefenseBlack · 33 lines, the first 5 free
Bookworm: a lot of theory
King's Indian DefenseBlack · 29 lines, the first 5 freeRuy LopezWhite · 40 lines, the first 5 freeSicilian DefenseBlack · 28 lines, the first 5 freeThe Open GameBlack · 40 lines, the first 5 free

Tactics courses by theme

The same Woodpecker format on one tactical motif at a time. Free once you sign in.

Capturing Defender400 puzzles across levels 2 to 5Checkmate500 puzzles across levels 1 to 5Deflection500 puzzles across levels 1 to 5Discovered Attack500 puzzles across levels 1 to 5Fork500 puzzles across levels 1 to 5Hanging Piece500 puzzles across levels 1 to 5Pin500 puzzles across levels 1 to 5Sacrifice500 puzzles across levels 1 to 5Skewer500 puzzles across levels 1 to 5

Frequently asked questions

Are these chess courses really free?

Yes. Every tactics course on this page is free once you sign in. Every opening course is free to start: the first 5 lines are open to everyone with no account, and the rest of the lines come with a Supercoach subscription.

Which course should I start with?

Pick the tactics level that matches your rating: level 1 is suggested for ratings 400 to 800, and level 5 for 2000 to 2600. For the opening courses, the Easy group asks for the least theory, so it is the quickest to start playing. For help choosing a first opening, read our guide to the best chess openings for beginners.

How long is each course?

The opening courses run from 22 to 55 lines, and each one shows its count. A tactics course is one set of 100 puzzles, solved once per cycle for 5 cycles.

What is the Woodpecker Method?

A tactics training method from Axel Smith and Hans Tikkanen. You solve one fixed set of puzzles, then repeat the same set in faster cycles until the patterns become automatic. Our guide to the Woodpecker Method explains how to run it.