Yes. You can rebuild your chess entirely with a real board, a pen or pencil, and some printed pages. Going online is optional. Setting up the pieces yourself is, in fact, one of the best ways to bring the game back, because your hands remember more than your head does.
This is part of our complete guide to returning to chess after decades away.
What you need
- A chess set. Any set will do, and a larger, clearly coloured one is easier on the eyes
- A pen or pencil
- Printed puzzles and exercises, or a book
- About 20 minutes a day
- Optionally, a friend or partner to play with
How to rebuild your game on a real board
1. Remember the pieces
Set up the starting position and name each square out loud. Move each piece around an empty board to feel how it travels. Revisit the special rules, and practice castling both ways. See the rules you've probably forgotten.
2. Practice checkmates
Set up a position with a king and queen against a lone king and try to give checkmate, taking care to avoid stalemate. Repeat until you can do it without help.
3. Solve printed puzzles
Play both sides of each puzzle on the board if it helps. Start with checkmate in one, then try forks, pins, and skewers. See our tactics refresher.
4. Play games
Play a friend, partner, or family member. If you're on your own, you can play both sides, or play out a famous game from a book. Use the four-question check before each move. See how to stop blundering pieces.
5. Review what happened
Write down where a game turned. Looking back over one game teaches you more than playing five without thought.
6. Practice a simple opening
Set up the pieces and play through the first ten moves. Three ideas are enough: take the centre, develop your pieces, and castle early. See openings for returning players.
Finding opponents without a computer
- Friends, family, and grandchildren
- A local club, library, or community group. See how to find a local chess club
- Playing by post, if you can find a partner
What you'll miss, and what you won't
Playing without a computer means no instant opponents and no automatic game checking. But it also means no screens, no clocks pressing on you, no accounts, and no passwords. Plenty of people prefer it. You can always add a screen later. If you want to, here's how to set up your first online account and how to stay safe online.
Reading from paper
Printed pages are easier on the eyes for many people. Print the pages you need, tick off each day as you go, and keep a pen by the board. You can write your answers directly on the puzzle sheets.
A mix is perfectly fine
Many returning players enjoy a bit of everything: a real board for puzzles, the computer for a quick game, and the occasional online game against a real person. There is no wrong way to come back.
Follow a plan with just a board
Back To Chess: The 30-Day Comeback Plan is designed so you can follow all 30 days with a real board and printed pages. There's a printable version made for exactly this, and an interactive version if you'd rather use a screen. It's £3.47, with no subscription and no pressure.
Or take the free Chess Openings Quiz to find an opening to play on your board.
