How to Improve at Chess for Beginners
1. Learn the rules
Understand how all the pieces move, how checkmate works, and special rules like castling and en passant. Mastering the basics is the first step.
2. Play often
The more you play, the more comfortable you’ll get with the board. Start with slower games to think through your moves.
3. Focus on the opening
Control the center of the board with your pawns.
Develop your knights and bishops early.
Castle quickly to protect your king.
4. Practice tactics
Work on tricks like forks (attacking two pieces at once), pins, and skewers. Use online puzzles or apps to train.
5. Don’t move pieces twice in the opening
Try to develop all your pieces before moving one piece multiple times unless it's critical.
6. Review your games
After each game, look at your mistakes and learn how to avoid them. Most chess platforms offer analysis tools for this.
7. Stay patient
Improvement takes time. Focus on small wins, like surviving longer or making fewer mistakes.
Start slow, stay curious, and enjoy the process. Every game teaches you something new.
This is good advice! I also recommend finding a friend (around your level) you can play with more often. That way you have a mix of players/styles through matchmaking on the app, but also someone you can play regularly and can recap games with in more detail. Plus, developing a friendly rivalry can help you both stay interested and improve.