Learn openings & tactics. Climb the ladder.
TierChess teaches beginners every essential opening and the core tactics that win games. Sign up, follow a guided path, and turn what you learn into real rating on the ladder.
- 120+
- Openings covered
- 500+
- Tactics puzzles
- $20
- Plans from /month
Lesson complete: The Italian Game
Rating from what you learned
How it works
A clear path from beginner to confident player
A simple loop built for newcomers. Learn the openings, master the tactics, and put them to work in real games as you climb the ladder.
Sign up free
Create your account in seconds. No chess background needed — we start from the very first move.
Learn the openings
Follow bite-sized lessons on every essential opening, with the plans and ideas behind each move.
Drill the tactics
Practice the core tactical patterns — forks, pins, skewers, and mates — until you spot them instantly.
Openings
Learn every opening you actually need
Guided lessons walk you through the key openings move by move — not just what to play, but the plans and ideas that make each one work.
Italian Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
Develop fast, aim at f7, and castle early. The friendliest first opening to learn.
Ruy López
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
Pressure the knight defending e5 and build a strong, classical center.
Scotch Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4
Open the center immediately for quick, active piece play.
Sicilian Defense
1.e4 c5
Fight for the center on your terms and unbalance the game as Black.
French Defense
1.e4 e6
A solid, sturdy setup that teaches you pawn structure and patience.
Queen's Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.c4
Offer a pawn to grab the center and learn classic positional play.
Tactics
Master the patterns that win games
Most beginner games are decided by tactics. Learn the core motifs, then drill them with puzzles until spotting them becomes second nature.
The Fork
One piece attacks two targets at once. The knight fork is every beginner's first weapon.
The Pin
Freeze a piece in place because moving it would expose something more valuable behind it.
The Skewer
The reverse of a pin — force a valuable piece to move and win the one hiding behind it.
Discovered Attack
Move one piece to unleash an attack from another. Discovered checks can be devastating.
Back-Rank Mate
Trap a king behind its own pawns and deliver checkmate along the last rank.
Removing the Defender
Capture or chase away the piece that guards a key square, then strike where it defended.
Why it works
Built to teach beginners, not overwhelm them
Everything is designed around one goal: helping a complete beginner learn openings and tactics fast enough to actually enjoy the climb.
Guided learning path
A step-by-step roadmap made for beginners — you always know exactly what to learn next.
Openings explained simply
Every opening broken down move by move, with the plan behind each one in plain language.
Tactics puzzle trainer
Hundreds of beginner puzzles sorted by motif, so you drill forks, pins, and mates on repeat.
Spaced repetition
Lessons resurface right before you forget them, locking patterns into long-term memory.
Learn from your games
Play a game and get plain-English feedback on the openings and tactics you just studied.
Zero jargon
No confusing notation dumps. Everything is explained for someone starting from move one.
Pricing
Simple plans that grow with you
Every plan includes all tactics puzzles. Pick how many opening courses you want to unlock.
Beginner
A focused start for total newcomers.
- 5 basic opening courses
- All tactics puzzles
- Guided learning path
- Spaced repetition
Pro
The best value for serious improvers.
- 10 basic opening courses
- All tactics puzzles
- Guided learning path
- Spaced repetition
- Learn-from-your-games feedback
Max
Everything TierChess has to offer.
- All opening courses
- All tactics puzzles
- Guided learning path
- Spaced repetition
- Learn-from-your-games feedback
- Priority new courses
Not sure yet? Create an account and choose a plan during sign-up.
FAQ
Questions, answered
No. TierChess is built for complete beginners. We start from how the pieces move and guide you all the way through openings and tactics at your own pace.
Your next win starts with one lesson
Join thousands of beginners learning openings and tactics the smart way. Create your account and start your first lesson in under a minute.