Interactive Chess Lessons
Step through the key moves on a live board, then use the exact position to learn against a bot.
Every lesson here is built on a real position you can move pieces on. Use Back and Forward to replay the critical sequence one move at a time, with a note on what each move changes. When the pattern makes sense, the same position opens on a full board so you can play it out against a bot and find out whether you can actually convert it.
19 articles
Interactive lessonArabian Mate: Protect the Rook in the Corner
See how a knight protects the checking rook and shuts the king into the corner. Compare mate with a rook move that stalemates.
Interactive lessonRook vs Pawn: Cut Off the King Before It Helps
A rook can stop an advanced pawn by keeping its king away. Replay the fifth-rank cutoff and see why the rear-rook plan draws here.
Interactive lessonElephant Trap: Check Before Taking the Pawn
See why the d5 pawn is poisoned in the Queen's Gambit Declined, how an in-between check wins material, and how to avoid the trap.
Interactive lessonKey Squares in Chess: Lead the Pawn With Your King
Learn how to find a pawn's key squares, reach one with your king, and avoid the natural push that turns this exact win into a draw.
Interactive lessonFried Liver Attack: Calculate Nxf7 First
Learn why Nxf7 can work in the Fried Liver Attack, how Qf3+ keeps the initiative, and how Black can avoid the critical branch.
Interactive lessonKing Shouldering: Block the Rival King
Learn how to guide a passed pawn by blocking the other king's route, and see why one similar king step changes a win into a draw.
Interactive lessonLegal's Mate: Check Before Taking the Queen
Learn when the Legal's mate queen offer works, why three minor pieces force mate, and how the defender can decline the trap safely.
Interactive lessonUnderpromotion: Avoid Stalemate With a Rook
Learn when rook underpromotion keeps a winning position alive, why automatic queening causes stalemate, and which three checks to make before choosing a piece.
Interactive lessonWindmill Tactic: Alternate Checks to Win Material
Learn the windmill tactic through Torre-Lasker, replay each direct and discovered check, and see how the rook exits the cycle with a final capture.
Interactive lessonQueen vs Pawn on the Seventh: When to Move Your King
Win queen vs pawn on the seventh rank by finding the safe king step. Replay a short finish, test the early-move mistake, and spot the stalemate exception.
Interactive lessonAnastasia's Mate: Lock Both Escape Squares
Learn Anastasia's mate on an interactive board, see how the knight seals two flight squares, and test when the rook finish really works.
Interactive lessonWrong Bishop and Rook Pawn: Hold the Corner
Learn why the wrong bishop and rook pawn can draw, replay the corner fortress, spot the stalemate finish, and test the exact position.
Interactive lessonBack-Rank Mate: Test the Escape Square
Learn the back-rank mate with an interactive forced line, test the king's escape square, and see why one pawn move changes the finish.
Interactive lessonVancura Position: Draw With Side Checks
Learn the Vancura defense, replay exact side checks against an advanced rook pawn, avoid the losing passive move, and defend the same position.
Interactive lessonRook Behind a Passed Pawn: The Tarrasch Rule
Learn why a rook usually belongs behind a passed pawn, replay a verified promotion line, test the exceptions, and continue the exact endgame.
Interactive lessonRule of the Square: Know If the Pawn Queens
Learn the rule of the square on an interactive chessboard, see whether the king can catch a passed pawn, then play the exact endgame against a bot.
Interactive lessonSmothered Mate: Recognise the Knight Finish
Learn the smothered mate pattern on an interactive board, see why the queen sacrifice is forced, and finish the exact position against a chess bot.
Interactive lessonPhilidor Position: The Third-Rank Defence
Learn the Philidor position on an interactive chessboard, time the switch from the third rank to back-rank checks, then defend the draw in a full game.
Interactive lessonLucena Position: Build the Bridge
Learn the Lucena position on an interactive chessboard, build the rook bridge move by move, then finish the winning endgame against a training bot.