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Returning to Chess

Coming back to chess after a few years (or a few decades)? You're in the right place. Browse all our blog posts for returning players below.

  • Latest article

    Chess Gift Ideas for a Dad or Grandad Who Used to Play

    If there's a dad, grandad, or friend in your life who used to play chess, a gift that helps them get back to it can mean a lot. The best ideas are simple: a good-quality board and set, a printed or digital guide that eases...

    3 min read
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  • Can You Play Chess Without a Computer?

    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...

    3 min read
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  • How to Play Chess Online Safely

    Playing chess online is friendly almost all of the time, and a few simple habits keep it that way: use a username that isn't your real name, keep...

    3 min read
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  • A Chess Tactics Refresher: Forks, Pins, and Skewers

    Most chess games are decided by a small number of tactics: forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks, trapped pieces, and back-rank mates. If you can spot these patterns again,...

    4 min read
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  • Chess Rules You've Probably Forgotten

    Three rules catch returning players out more than any others: castling, en passant, and promotion. After those, the rules about how games end, especially stalemate, are the ones...

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  • The 4 Questions That Stop You Blundering Pieces

    The best way to stop blundering pieces when you're rusty is to ask yourself four quick questions before every single move: can they give check or checkmate me,...

    3 min read
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Getting Back Into Chess After A Long Break?

Back To Chess is a simple 30-day comeback plan for returning players. It shows you what's changed, what to brush up on first, and how to get your confidence back, one day at a time.