Short answer: Lichess puzzles are free and plenty for players who will pick a theme and stick to it. A structured system such as Chess Tactics Mastery (£66.97 ($89), one payment) suits players who drift without a plan, because it sets 25 puzzles a day, one theme a month. Its limit: the app needs a computer, and it promises no rating gain.
Most players asking this question are really asking whether they need to pay for something they could get for nothing. Sometimes you do not. This post explains what a free puzzle site gives you, what a fixed plan adds, and how to tell which side of the line you are on, including a free test you can run this week.
What is the real difference between free puzzles and a structured system?
A free puzzle site gives you supply, and a structured system gives you a plan. Supply means thousands of positions on tap, which is wonderful if you know what to do with it. A plan means somebody has already decided the order, the daily amount, and when to move on to the next theme.
As of 2026-10-30, Lichess's own puzzle themes page groups puzzles by theme, with fork and pin among them, and by length. It says the puzzles are in the public domain and can be downloaded from its database. That is a generous offer, and it explains why so many players never pay for tactics training. The page does not set you a schedule, though, so the structure has to come from you.
How do the options compare?
| Option | Price | Payment model | Works offline | What you get | Best for | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free puzzle sites such as Lichess | Free | No payment | Usually needs a connection | A huge supply of puzzles grouped by theme and length | Self-directed players with a daily habit | No plan, so you choose what to practice and when to stop |
| Chess Tactics Mastery | £66.97 ($89) | One-time, no subscription | Yes, the app runs offline after download | 9,750 puzzles over 13 monthly themes, daily PDFs, PGN files, solutions tracker | Players under 2000 who want a fixed daily plan | App needs a computer, no coaching, no refunds on downloads as a rule |
| Subscription platforms | Recurring | Monthly or yearly | Varies | Puzzles, lessons, and tracking in one place | People who want a guided service and will use it weekly | Stop paying and you lose access |
| Puzzle books | Typically low | One payment | Yes | A fixed set of puzzles, often with explanations | Players who want to switch off the screen | Fixed size, and nothing checks your answer |
| Video courses | Varies | Usually one payment | Sometimes via download | An expert explaining how patterns arise | Players who learn by watching | Watching is not the same as solving |
How can you tell if you need structure? Try the one-theme fortnight
You can find out for free before spending anything. Pick one theme, say forks, and set a small fixed amount, such as ten puzzles a day, for fourteen days. Use any free site you like. Write down each day whether you did it, and keep a tally of the puzzles you got wrong first time.
At the end, ask two questions. Did you actually do it on most days? And did the wrong answers shrink as the fortnight went on? If you did it, and the misses fell, you do not need to buy anything, because you have already built the habit a structured system sells. If you skipped days, or drifted to a random mix after day three, that is useful information too. It means the plan is the missing piece, not the puzzles.
Repetition is the engine either way. Our guide to the Woodpecker Method explains why redoing the same set beats endlessly meeting new positions.
Drifted after day three?
Chess Tactics Mastery is one payment of £66.97 ($89), with 25 puzzles a day and one theme a month. The app works offline but needs a computer. It is a training tool and does not promise a rating gain.
What do free puzzle sites do better?
They cost nothing, they are always growing, and they let you follow your own curiosity. If you lost a game to a discovered attack on Tuesday, you can spend Wednesday on discovered attacks. A fixed monthly curriculum cannot respond to that, because it is running to its own schedule.
They also suit players who enjoy variety. Some people get bored repeating a single theme for thirty days, and boredom is a real reason training stops. If a mixed feed keeps you coming back every evening, that consistency is worth more than a perfect order.
What does a structured system do better?
It takes decisions away. According to the live product page, Chess Tactics Mastery runs across 13 months of 30 days, with 25 puzzles a day. The first twelve months each cover a single theme: forks, pins, trapped pieces, skewers, discovered attacks, deflection, attraction, advanced pawns, sacrifices, clearance, intermezzo, and exposed king. A bonus Checkmates month makes the thirteenth, and the puzzles within each month get harder as the days go on.
That structure helps in three ways. You never have to decide what to do tonight. You stay on one pattern long enough for it to stick. And the daily amount is small enough to fit most evenings, which makes it easier to keep going than an open-ended feed.
It also comes as files you keep. There are daily PDFs, PGN files for every puzzle, a solutions tracker, and an interactive app that tracks what you have completed. The app works offline once downloaded. The page says it needs a computer with a modern web browser, so on a phone you would rely on the PDFs and PGN files instead.
Can you build the structure yourself for free?
Yes, and plenty of players do. The recipe is simple: choose one theme per week, set a fixed daily number, redo anything you missed after a few days, and move on only when the misses are rare. A notes file with a tally is all the tracking you need.
What you pay for with a structured system is not the puzzles. It is the fact that the order is already decided and the files are already made, so there is no setup and nothing to forget. If you enjoy planning, that is not worth paying for. If planning is where your training usually dies, it might be.
Who is Chess Tactics Mastery not for?
It is not for you if the one-theme fortnight went well, because you already have the habit. It is not for you if you want a teacher to explain each position or someone to look at your own games, since it is a puzzle system, not a course or coaching. The live page says it suits players under 2000 Elo, with 400 to 1600 ideal, so stronger players will find less in it.
It is also a weaker fit if you only own a phone and want the interactive app, because the app needs a computer. And the page says downloads are not typically refunded, so read the terms on the live page before you buy. If you prefer paper, our guide to chess puzzle books covers that route.
Where do subscriptions fit in?
Subscription platforms sit in the middle. They add lessons, tracking, and a polished feel to a puzzle supply, which is convenient if you will use one most weeks. The trade-off is that the cost runs for as long as you train, and access ends when payment ends. A one-time system costs more on day one and nothing after, but it is a fixed set, so it will not grow with you. If you are new to tactics altogether, start with the free chess tactics for beginners guide, or the tactics refresher on forks, pins, and skewers, before spending anything.
Questions people ask
Are Lichess puzzles good enough to improve at tactics?
For many players, yes. The puzzles are free and can be sorted by theme, so you can train forks or pins on purpose. What you must supply yourself is the plan: which theme, how many puzzles a day, and when to move on.
Is Chess Tactics Mastery better than Lichess puzzles?
Neither is better for everyone. Lichess gives you a free, endless supply. Chess Tactics Mastery gives you a fixed order and a daily amount, with files you keep. If you already train daily by theme, the free route may be all you need.
Does Chess Tactics Mastery work offline?
Yes. The interactive app runs offline after download, and the daily PDFs work on paper or any screen. The page says the app needs a computer with a modern web browser, so phone-only players should plan to use the PDFs and PGN files.
How many puzzles come with Chess Tactics Mastery?
There are 9,750 puzzles: 25 a day over 13 months of 30 days. Twelve months each cover one core theme, and a bonus Checkmates month makes the thirteenth. Within each month the puzzles get harder as the days go on.
Is Chess Tactics Mastery a subscription?
No. The live page describes a one-time payment of £66.97 ($89) with no subscription, and the files are yours to keep. It also says downloads are not typically refunded, so read the full terms on the live page before you buy.
Will a structured tactics system raise my rating?
Nobody can promise that, and the Chess Tactics Mastery page says it is a training tool, not a promise of a rating gain. A plan helps you practice consistently. Results still depend on how often you train and how you play your games.
Where to go next
Not sure where your games go wrong? Take the free chess openings quiz. For the full comparison of free, paid, and one-time options, read the guide to the best chess tactics training, and see the middlegame training hub for where tactics fit in your games.
A fixed daily plan, one payment
25 puzzles a day, one theme a month, no subscription. The live page has the full terms, including the refund wording.
