♟️ What You’ll Be Able to Do After This Course
After completing this beginner chess course, students will be able to:
- Set up the chessboard correctly and start games the right way.
- Move every chess piece with confidence using the correct rules.
- Understand check and checkmate and recognize game-ending threats.
- Play complete chess games independently with clear next steps.
- Recognize basic winning ideas and make smarter beginner decisions.
📘 What You Will Learn
This free beginner chess course teaches you how to play chess step by step, starting with the essential chess rules and basic concepts. The lessons are structured to help new players quickly understand the game and build a strong foundation for future chess improvement.
Each video lesson explains one important topic clearly, making it easy for beginners to follow and learn chess at their own pace.
In this course, you will learn:
- How each chess piece moves
- Basic chess rules and piece values
- What check and checkmate mean
- How chess pieces work together in a real game
- The fundamentals needed to start playing chess confidently
For best results, we recommend using a real chessboard while watching the lessons. Practice setting up positions and repeating the moves shown in each video to strengthen understanding and memory.
Watch the lessons in order to progress naturally from basic chess rules to practical gameplay.
After completing the course, you can take our free online chess test to evaluate your understanding and confirm your beginner chess skills.
👥 Who Is This Course For?
- complete beginners learning chess for the first time
- parents teaching chess at home
- kids starting structured chess training
- students preparing for their first full games
📚 Course Lessons
Tip: Start from Lesson 1 and watch in order for the fastest progress.
How the King Moves in Chess | Beginner Guide
2:25
How Pawns Move and Capture in Chess | Beginner Guide
3:07
How the Bishop Moves in Chess | Diagonal Movement Explained
2:03
How the Rook Moves in Chess | Files and Ranks Explained
2:09
How the Knight Moves in Chess | Easy Beginner Guide
3:35
How the Queen Moves in Chess | Complete Beginner Guide
2:21
Chess Piece Values Explained | Beginner Strategy Basics
3:22
What Is Check in Chess? | Beginner Explanation
4:05
What Is Checkmate in Chess? | Beginner Guide
3:35
Chess Notation Explained | How to Record Moves
1:35
How to Set Up a Chessboard | Step-by-Step Guide
0:53
Beginner Chess Test | Check Your Chess Knowledge
4:51
🎯 Final Skill Test
After the lessons, take a short online assessment. It helps us recommend the correct next level and the best learning format.
➡️ Continue Learning
Next course recommendation: Targeting the King | Beginner Checkmate Course
🚀 Your Next Step
Complete the course, then choose the next step — no pressure.
Best For
- Kids ages 5–12
- Complete beginners
- Families who want structure
🏅 Why Parents Trust Chess Heroes Academy
- 15+ years of teaching experience
- 5,000+ students taught worldwide
- Multiple Provincial & National Champions
- 3 Scholastic World Champions trained through our programs
What Parents Say About Our Chess Programs
Thousands of families trust our programs to help beginners learn chess with confidence.
My son has been taking chess lessons at the Vancouver Chess School for at least 3 years now and he absolutely loves it! The instructors are great! The materials they cover always challenges him and th...
My kid loves playing chess and learning chess with Vancouver Chess School. Their online class allows the students to learn from home and I appreciate they have a great website for the students to prac...
My kids really love this school。The teacher are very professional, very Patient, very methodical. So that kids can go from not doing anything at first to now very like chess. And now with pandemic, ...
Our kid really enjoyed the chess classes. The classes/activities are well structured and the coaches are patient....
A great chess school. Our kid Leon attended his very first chess tournament in this school three years ago and now won his provincial champion and represent BC to win his first national champion. For ...
Our son has spent his last two years in VCS. It is first time we’ve seen our son become so dedicated and passionate about something. We can tell he loves chess and he is improving himself on all asp...
Wow! The Vancouver Chess School is such a great place for children to learn Chess! Awesome coaches and amazing programs! The coaches are very professional and experienced....
我们强烈推介温哥华象棋学校，孩子在这个机构学习了一年多，进步非常大。 老师尽职尽责，不断激励孩子们坚持每天练习，完成习题，而且在这里...
VCS is a great place. The teachers are very patients and caring. My son learned a lot and chess skills and made lots of friends....
The best school ever! My daughter loves her chess classes about 3 years! Thanks for teacher ...
I first got to know Vancouver Chess School when I registered my son for the VCS’ Chess in School program in 2016. I simply wanted to expose him to an extracurricular activity, but I didn’t expect ...
I love vanchess! It taught my brother endgame techniques that he never knew about and tactics. I appreciate vanchess for its effective teachings. It is very good!...
This is a great place if your kid is interested in chess, or you want them to develop their interests. It’s not just a school, but feels more like a community. My son loves Sunday chess club. He get...
A very good chess school! Urna is not only a champion but also an instructor who knows how to teach very young children. My daughter is a Kindergartener; she loves to come to the chess classes every S...
Teachers at VCS are professional, caring and inspiring. It is a wonderful place to learn, compete and grow. Online classes & tournaments are very well organized during this trying time. My kid ...
Vancouver Chess School is a highly professional chess school. The teachers in the school are approachable and dedicated on teaching, which provides kids a great milieu of learning chess. Many students...
Vancouver Chess School is a great place for the children who like chess. My son really have a great time here....
Great teachers and a wonderful environment for kids to learn chess and practice in tournaments - has been an exceptional experience for our daughter....
Vancouver Chess School is not just a chess school. It is a place where children foster many different skills such as decision making, adapting to a competitive environment, and an opportunity to give ...
My children enjoy the classes offered by Vancouver Chess School and have learned a lot in only a few weeks. The school’s online component is very easy and convenient to use for busy families as well...
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is this course suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. This course is designed for students with no prior chess experience and teaches the rules step by step.
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What age group is this course best for?
While suitable for beginners of any age, it is especially effective for children ages 5–12 starting chess for the first time.
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Do we need special equipment?
No special equipment is required. A real chessboard is recommended for practice, but you can also learn using an online board.
