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Getting Started With Us, Chess Cheat Sheets

Just found out about us and not sure where to start? Then you're in the right place! On this page you'll learn more about Chess 'Cheat Sheets', what we offer, and how we can help you improve your chess.

Use the buttons below to learn more about our full product bundle, or take our free openings quiz to get a complimentary sample cheat sheet.

Get Our Complete Bundle → Openings Quiz & Free Sample →
150+
Openings
1.5M+
Puzzles
20+
Countries
📈 +650 Elo Gained
Average elo gain +150
⚡ Quick and easy learning
Only a few minutes per guide
🖥️ Works on all platforms
Computer, phone, and printable

⚡ Instant download | 📱 Works everywhere | 🔒 Secure checkout | 🎯 All skill levels

START HERE

The Journey So Far (If You're Interested)

Below you can read the journey of Chess Cheat Sheets - how it started and how we got to where we are now. Scroll past this if you're interested in learning more about the products themselves and how they can help you.

1) The Origin

How Chess 'Cheat Sheets' Started

Hey, James here, the man behind the business. Chess Cheat Sheets began back in 2021, with simple move-by-move PDF guides for a handful of chess openings. I was interested in learning chess, but all the resources that I could find were either tedious books, easy-to-forget YouTube videos, or not visual enough to suit my learning style. No bueno.

2) The Specific Reason

How Mental Blindness Led To Making These Guides

Trouble is, I've got something called 'Aphantasia', meaning I can't visualise. I'm mentally blind. Try to picture something in your head, like an apple - I can't do that. Nothing, nada. Just blackness. So, I wanted a visual and quick-reference way to see different variations and board positions without rote memorisation. Nothing existed that I could find, so I thought, f*ck it, I'll make it myself. So began the journey to creating these guides.

3) Early Iterations (v1 guides)

What Were The Early Guides Like?

Initially, the guides were simple and lacking detail. We had a handful of simple PDFs, maybe 12, showing a few officially recognised variations for some popular chess openings. Each had 3 to 6 variations, and each was on average 4 moves deep. Barely any information, but people found it useful, and we had a few sales coming in.

Those early designs became the foundation for our current 20-page guides.

4) The Turning Point

Where Things Started Working

Throughout 2024, I was experimenting with new designs and product improvements, and had ideas about how to grow the business. I'd seen some, albeit inconsistent, success with advertising. I'd be working on website redesigns and new funnels, and had confidence I could scale, so switched to Shopify and built this site.

So in early 2025, I quit my job and went all-in. I remade all existing guides and expanded. I experimented with subscriptions (which didn't work). Things didn't really take off to the extent I wanted, but it did help build the business and reach more people. Through this, I came up with more ideas for products and improvements for the resources, such as the puzzle packs and trackers.

5) Chess Cheat Sheets Today

What's Changed? How The Guides Are Different Today

During the 5 years since starting, the products have gone through multiple iterations to improve them, and new guides and resources have been added. Today, we've got over 150+ chess opening cheat sheets, over 1.5 million puzzles, a collection of endgame-specific guides, 30+ opening 'toolkits' which help learn the 'book moves' for each opening, and a whole lot of other resources.

Today, I'm kind of out of ideas for other products and just focus on maintenance and customer support, providing tips and tricks where appropriate. And that's where we are now!

Testimonials and Reviews

Real players. Real results.

+650 Elo in 3 months
★★★★★

"I jumped from 1100 to 1750 ELO using these guides. The visual format clicked immediately — I finally understand why I'm making each move."

LM
Luke M.
Verified · Chess.com
★★★★★

"This is everything my father should have taught me when he first taught me Chess. The clarity and structure is just remarkable."

JJ
Jon Jay
Verified Buyer
★★★★★

"The information I received has been very helpful in my endeavors, please keep up the great work and updated on more resources."

RW
Roman Williams (Gunny)
Verified · Chess Coach
★★★★★

"I teach chess to elementary kids. These are a fantastic tool to show the strengths and weaknesses of openings without overwhelming beginners."

DG
David Green
Verified · Chess Coach
★★★★★

"As a busy professional, time is everything. These guides saved me hours of studying. A chess coach in my pocket at this price is unreal."

SP
Sasha Patel
Verified Buyer
★★★★★

"I've cut my learning curve in half. The comprehensive guides are a genuine shortcut to mastering openings. Seriously impressed with the quality."

DR
David Rodriguez
Verified Buyer
★★★★★

"It's like having a chess library at your fingertips. The visual guides make learning openings a breeze. Best value for money in chess, period."

MT
Michael Turner
Verified Buyer
+650 Elo in 3 months
★★★★★

"I jumped from 1100 to 1750 ELO using these guides. The visual format clicked immediately — I finally understand why I'm making each move."

LM
Luke M.
Verified · Chess.com
★★★★★

"This is everything my father should have taught me when he first taught me Chess. The clarity and structure is just remarkable."

JJ
Jon Jay
Verified Buyer
★★★★★

"I teach chess to elementary kids. These are a fantastic tool to show the strengths and weaknesses of openings without overwhelming beginners."

DG
David Green
Verified · Chess Coach
★★★★★

"As a busy professional, time is everything. These guides saved me hours of studying. A chess coach in my pocket at this price is unreal."

SP
Sasha Patel
Verified Buyer
★★★★★

"Awesome Thanks for the rapid response! I wish I had these guides when I started playing 50+ years ago!!!"

B
Brad
Verified Buyer

Take Our Free Chess Openings Quiz & Get A Free Trainer

Not quite sure which chess opening is the best fit for you? No need to worry - we've got you covered! Take our 2-minute chess quiz with a comprehensive answer algorithm to determine which chess opening is the perfect match for your playstyle and personality.

Plus, at the end, you get a completely free chess opening trainer for that opening! Nothing to lose, everything to gain. No catches or hidden subscriptions. Get your opening now!

Take The Free Quiz Now

Products

Getting Started With Our Chess Guides

Now that you know about how the business started and where we are today, we can look at the different types of guides and resources we offer. Most of our resources are applicable no matter what elo you are, but each focuses on a specific area of learning. I'll break these all down below.

🏆 Best Value - #1 Bestseller

The Ultimate Chess
Mastery Bundle

Every product we sell grouped in one cost-effective bundle. All cheat sheets, all puzzles, all endgame guides, all bonuses. The no-brainer option for serious players.

✓ 150+ visual opening cheat sheets, move-by-move

✓ 150+ full interactive opening variation trainers

✓ 1.5M+ puzzles including 79,000 as PDFs

✓ Complete endgame guides, resources & puzzles

✓ Exclusive bonuses including PGN game files

£2325+ RRP. Yours for £66.97

⚡ Instant access · 🔒 Secure · 💰 30-day Guarantee
🔥 Selling fast at this price

Get Yours Now →
Opening Trainer Caro Kann Defense
Best Positional Opening

Caro-Kann Defense Chess Opening Trainer & Learning System | Interactive And Printable Chess Opening Guide With Cheat Sheets

Perfect for strategic players who want consistent results without memorising endless theory. If you're tired of getting caught in opening traps or chaotic positions, this system teaches the key plans and patterns behind the Caro-Kann so you can reach comfortable middlegames and outplay opponents with understanding, not memorisation.
£3.47 £30.00
Get Yours Now →
Opening Trainer French Defense
Best Defensive Opening

French Defense Chess Opening Trainer & Learning System | Interactive And Printable Chess Opening Guide With Cheat Sheets

Ideal for resilient players who enjoy frustrating opponents and striking back at the right moment. Instead of constantly reacting to White's plans, you'll learn a proven system that helps you build a solid position, create counterplay, and punish overaggressive opponents with confidence.
£3.47 £30.00
Get Yours Now →
Opening Trainer Sicilian Defense
Best Aggressive Opening

Sicilian Defense Chess Opening Trainer & Learning System | Interactive And Printable Chess Opening Guide With Cheat Sheets

Built for ambitious players who want to play for the win in every game. If you're tired of quiet positions and missed opportunities, this system shows you the attacking ideas and recurring patterns that make the Sicilian one of the most dangerous weapons against 1.e4.
£3.47 £30.00
Get Yours Now →

Choose your opening

Start By Learning A Specific Opening

We've got over 150+ chess opening guides to help you master any opening you might want to play. But, of course, that's a lot!

If you're not sure where to start, here's what we suggest.

Begin by choosing the opening move you tend to play below - e4, d4, or something else - then browse the appropriate collection using the filters on the side to find an opening that's a good fit for you. Sort by aggressive, defensive, controlling, open, and more!

  • e4 Openings

    The most aggressive opening move, e4 is White's most popular move for a reason.

    Browse Now 

  • d4 Openings

    Taking a slightly slower and more controlling approach, d4 is also really popular.

    Browse Now 

  • 'Other' Openings

    These are for those who prefer throwing their opponents off right from the start with more chaos.

    Browse Now 

Praise for Chess Cheat Sheets

Video Testimonials

Products

Still not sure? Here's our best suggestion.

We get it, browsing 150+ openings can take time. And even then, you might not quite be sure what to choose...

But no need to worry! We've got the perfect answer - a set of openings that you're guaranteed to face on the ladder. Introducing...

1 8

🏆 Bestseller

Practical Chess Openings Bundle - Exactly What You Need To Counter 10 Popular Openings

Designed to help you confidently handle the most common chess openings played in real online and over-the-board games.

£14.97
£100.00 £14.97
Sale Sold out
Taxes included.
View full details
Free Resources

Not sure yet? Try before you buy.

Take our free chess openings quiz using the button below to find the perfect opening for your playstyle and get a free cheat sheet on completion.

Or claim your free Scandinavian Defence Toolkit - worth £30, yours for nothing.

🎁 Worth £30 - Completely Free

Free Scandinavian Defense Toolkit

Enter your email and we'll send you a complete toolkit for the Scandi. No strings attached. We just want to show you how good these guides are.

    ✓ Popularity cheat sheet for the Scandinavian
    ✓ Official 'book moves' reference sheets
    ✓ 1000 Scandinavian-specific puzzles

    Chess cheat sheets - FAQs

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do I need to be good at chess to use this?

    No. These are made for beginners and intermediates, but equally applicable for advanced players. If you’re under 2000 elo, they’re great for you. And if you’re 400-1600… they’re perfect!

    How do I get my guide(s) after purchase?

    Once you purchase your guide(s), you’ll receive instant access to the download on the order confirmation screen. You’ll also receive an email with information about your order and an additional link to download, which you can use at any time.

    Can I use this on mobile/tablet/paper? What format are they?

    Yes! All of our cheat sheets have been designed to work on any and every platform – mobile, tablet, desktop, and even paper! Digital versions are interactive and allow you to quickly click through to each section of the guide. All guides are given in a PDF format.

    What skill level are these guides for?

    Whatever your skill level, there’s a chess cheat sheet for you. We cover openings of all skill levels, from simple systems to advanced variations. While designed for those who are beginner/intermediate elo levels who haven’t studied extensively, you can easily use them for refreshers at higher elo levels.

    Do you offer refunds?

    Since these are digital downloads, we do not typically offer refunds – because you can download the file, ask for a refund, but you’ll still have access to the file! However, if you have any issues or want assistance, please contact us and we’ll make it right. You can email James personally at info@chesscheatsheets.com.

    Do you cover both White and Black openings?

    Yes, we have guides for every opening. Some are specialised for White, some for Black, but all guides have image perspectives for both Black and White, so you’re able to use them effectively no matter which side you’re playing!

    Will this work for my favourite opening?

    Probably – we cover all the major and minor openings. Chances are, if it’s a recognised chess opening, we’ve got a guide for it! If you’re unsure whether it will work for you, take our free quiz and we’ll recommend one.

    What payment methods do you accept?

    We accept credit/debit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay / Google Pay for a quick, secure checkout.

    Do you offer discounts?

    Yes! Check out our bundle deals to save when buying multiple guides. These are the best value products we have, sometimes getting you a discount of up to 90%!

    I’m having trouble with my download – what should I do?

    If you’re struggling to open or download the file, there’s no need to worry! Simply email James at info@chesscheatsheets.com and he’ll help you get things working.

    Is there a free sample I can try?

    Yes! If you’d like to try before you buy, we have a free chess opening quiz that will help you decide an opening then give you a free complementary cheat sheet for that opening. You can find that here:

    https://chesscheatsheets.com/chess-openings-quiz/

    Similarly, you might also encounter a popup to download the Scandinavian Defense.

    What Now?

    Now you've got all the info you need. You know how we started. You know what we offer. All that's left is to choose your guide and get to learning, improving, and winning more chess games!

    If you're still not sure and want to try things out for free, you can download our completely free Scandinavian Defense Toolkit. Fill out the form at the bottom of this page to claim yours now.

    That's it from me - all the best with your chess journey!

    James
    Chess Cheat Sheets
    info@chesscheatsheets.com