Some enthusiasts will say that chess doesn't need any kind of media exposure, but thanks to the recent miniseries The Queen's Gambit, interest in the game has skyrocketed. So why not build on that? Over the past few years we've shared multiple resources focused on learning chess, and today we're going to gather them in one place. We'll also offer some puzzles to study the classic game from a different perspective, and the occasional variant that will appeal to beginners and experts alike.
The best chess resources on the web
Lichess
Hundreds of thousands of connected players, tens of thousands of simultaneous games. Bullet, Blitz, Rapid, Classical, custom games... the list goes on. Lichess is one of the preferred platforms by the public, and the first in our selection for obvious reasons. Don't let its apparent complexity scare you: with a couple of clicks you can create games and challenge Stockfish in eight available levels, under ten variants.
Arasan
Do you prefer an offline alternative? In that case, you should download a copy of Arasan Chess. It's an open source development whose latest update is from June, and with an opening book exceeding 800,000 moves (it was 500,000 at the time of our original article), let's say you have your hands full. Moreover, it's very flexible regarding technical requirements: an old computer with XP SP3 is more than enough to run it.
Lucas Chess
Lucas Chess follows a line similar to Arasan, but places some emphasis on its training phases. Its "game against animals" system is ideal for younger players taking their first steps, and the built-in tutor can interrupt a game and make real-time suggestions if the move played is too weak. Lucas Chess is also open source, and has a portable edition to take anywhere on a USB drive.
DecodeChess
Chess learning as a service? Not only that, but DecodeChess is backed by artificial intelligence offering high-level analysis. Its explanations are easy to understand and reproduce, and with a free account you can decode up to two games per day, or enjoy unlimited games against the computer. The other option is to subscribe to a plan of 8.25 dollars per month, which removes all restrictions from DecodeChess, something more advanced players will appreciate.
Kvetka
Granted, Kvetka hasn't received updates since March 2018, but its plugin support and compatibility with the main chess sites (including the aforementioned Lichess) expand its potential. If the plan is to replay classic games, all you have to do is copy the web address of the pgn file, and press CTRL+V inside Kvetka to auto-import it. Free, portable, and with a Spanish version.
Puzzles and variants
"One-dimensional chess": A column of 16 squares, one piece of each type per color, and modified rules for their moves. The first impression is that we're facing a too relaxed form of chess, but it hides a rather complex and definitely fascinating facet. Reproducing the board is as simple as drawing it on a sheet of paper, or you can download its PDF.
"The knight's problem": A simple proposal that quickly becomes a nightmare. The idea is to place a single knight on a standard chessboard, and following the legal moves available for that piece, get it to pass through every single square only once. It is not allowed to step on any square twice, except for a variant, in which it must return to the starting point. More than a thousand years of study, billions of combinations, and many melted brains.
"The chessboard and the grains of rice": Without a doubt, the most famous legend associated with this game. A mysterious inventor, a powerful king, and a chilling amount of rice as a reward. One grain for the first square, two for the second, four for the third... A teacher shared on Instructables a method to try to visualize how much rice that inventor really asked for, and in the process gave one of the best examples of exponential growth.
"23 queens versus 39 knights": Sometimes the best chess puzzles manifest by breaking its rules, and in this unusual exercise, YouTuber Juanjogameplay asked his audience a question: 23 queens face 39 knights, who wins? The doubt is resolved in less than nine minutes, and it's worth every second.
"Chess and human consciousness": A scientific excerpt to begin with, but accompanied by a curious chess puzzle. For a human being, the answer is relatively easy to discover, and among experienced players it presents almost no challenge, but in the case of computers and artificial intelligences, they get completely lost...
Conclusion
Actually, that's not entirely the right word, because if we're honest, the exploration of chess never concludes. There is always room to learn, many mistakes to make, and ideas to exchange. We hope this article serves as a starting point so you can reach a higher level. Never stop playing, and good luck!
