Video Series

Hi everyone! ChessKid is the FUN way to learn chess - we’re happy you’re here!

Whether you’re a chess student or a chess teacher, we’ve got some great tools for you to improve your game:

• The ChessKid Lessons are the premier way to learn chess from the very beginning. Progress from level to level, each with a fun video explaining the concept & interactive followup exercises.
• The ChessKid Classroom Planner is a week-by-week guide designed for teachers and coaches to teach chess to a group, club or class and follow along with their progress.
• Our Articles have real-life stories and suggestions from teachers and coaches, along with reference guides on How to Play Chess and How to Teach Chess.
• Our Glossary gives definitions of the mysterious language of chess!

ChessKid has hundreds of chess videos - created just for kids! Check out our searchable Videos page for the full library.

Depending on what interests your student, the videos below are listed by category: Getting Started, Basic Checkmates, Opening Play, Tactics, the Importance of Pawns, Strategy, Draws, Endgame Play, How to Think, the Language of Chess, and Fun! Within each category, videos are listed from beginner to most advanced.

Getting started

Ready to learn the game of chess? Start right here! An introduction to the superpowers of each chess piece, the goal of the game, and some special rules about how pieces move.

Basic Checkmates

The concept of checkmate, and some very good basics of using the pieces one by one with checkmates that are possible at the end of the game. All of these mates should be practiced many times until the player is confident that they have mastered it. Try doing them faster and faster for fun!

Opening Play

The basic rules to the opening phase of the game! This is the place to start learning about opening strategy for any player who already knows the rules of the game, as well as some of the common opening traps and blunders to watch out for.

Tactics

A tactic is a short-term attack, such as a fork, pin, skewer, or other kind of attack that takes place over a few moves. Learn some practical tactics, and observe how the more difficult tactics in chess are built from the blocks of the simple patterns.

The Importance of Pawns

The little guys! They’ve been called “the soul of chess,” and there sure is a lot to consider about the smallest, least valuable piece on the board. Pawns are the piece with the most potential and can be a literal game changer!

Strategy

A strategy is a plan. Chess strategy usually means that the player is thinking long-term without seeing the exact moves or positions that they will reach. Learn what a player can do when there are no immediate tactics in a position.

Draws

Nobody can win every game; sometimes, the game is drawn. Learn about the different rules under which the game may be drawn and how to force a draw when you need to.

Endgame Play

After a player has mastered basic checkmates, there is much more to consider in the endgame! The endgame is generally believed to start when most of the pieces have been traded, especially if the queens are traded. Usually in the endgame it is not possible to start a mating attack, and players instead try to win material or promote a pawn.

How to Think

Masters have a special way of weighing their options throughout the course of a chess game. There are many things to consider: plans, calculations, identifying weaknesses, when to pay attention to a threat, and when to break a rule.

Vishy Anand’s Masterclass

5-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand has recorded a lengthy series of videos exclusively for ChessKid! ChessKid will be releasing a set of about 20 videos from Vishy, the ChessKid Chief Mentor of India!

The Language of Chess

Sometimes it seems like chess players have their own language! Explore some common chess terms & check out ChessKid’s Chess Glossary for even more definitions. 

Fun!

Chess can be beautiful and fun...it is a game, after all! Break out the popcorn and enjoy this collection of some chess entertainment: beautiful chess studies, grandmasters when they were ChessKids themselves, and our favorite streamed shows from FunMasterMike and our young guest hosts!