The rules of chess haven't changed, but almost everything around the game has. If you last played in the 1990s or 2000s, you'll find that you can play anyone in the world in seconds, computers are far stronger than any human, and there are ratings, clocks, and free puzzles everywhere. Here's a quick tour so nothing surprises you.
This is part of our complete guide to returning to chess after decades away.
The good news first
Nothing you learned has become wrong. The pieces move the same way, the special rules are the same, and everything in your memory still applies. There's simply more help available now, and most of it is free.
You can play anyone, anytime
This is the biggest change. On a phone, tablet, or computer, you can play a real opponent in seconds, at any hour, from anywhere in the world. No club night is needed, though clubs still exist and are lovely. See Lichess vs Chess.com for the two most popular places to play.
Everyone has a rating
Every online player has a number showing their level, and the website matches you with someone of a similar number. Don't worry about yours at first, as it settles after a few games. Our guide to how chess ratings work explains it properly.
Games have clocks
Most online games have a time limit. Slow games, called Rapid, give ten minutes or more per player and are the most relaxed. Very fast games, Blitz and Bullet, are for later, or never. If you like to think, "Daily" games give you days per move, like playing by post. Here's Rapid, Blitz, Bullet, and Daily explained.
Computers are stronger than anyone
In 1997, a computer called Deep Blue beat world champion Garry Kasparov in a match, and engines have improved enormously since. Today's programs beat every human, and they run on an ordinary phone. They're useful for practice and for checking your games afterwards. Using one during a game against a person is cheating, and websites check for it.
Puzzles are everywhere, and free
Thousands of puzzles are available online at no cost. Most returning players find them the most enjoyable way to rebuild their skill. Our tactics refresher is a good place to start.
There's no "touch move" online
On a screen, you can usually pick up a piece, then change your mind before you let go. Once you've played the move, it's final. Over a real board in a club, the traditional rule still applies: if you touch a piece, you must move it. More in how to find a local chess club.
Openings are better known
People now study opening moves in great depth, and databases of millions of games are freely available. You don't need to. Three simple ideas will carry you a long way: take the centre, bring your pieces out, and castle early. See which openings returning players should learn first.
Chess became far more popular
Online play and streaming made chess much more visible, and a hit TV series, The Queen's Gambit, in 2020 introduced the game to a huge new audience. The upshot for you: there are lots of other players, so finding an opponent at your level is easy.
A few new words you'll see
- Engine: a chess-playing computer program
- Analysis: looking back over a finished game, often with a computer's help
- Rapid, Blitz, Bullet, Daily: types of time limit
- Rating: a number showing playing strength
- Puzzle: a position with a clever best move to find
Want it all in plain English?
Back To Chess: The 30-Day Comeback Plan includes a "what's changed" tour, a chess-in-plain-English page, and a step-by-step guide to your first online account. It's £3.47, with no subscription and no pressure.
Or take the free Chess Openings Quiz to find an opening that suits you.
