Opening courses
Know why you play the next move.
Chessalto opening courses combine move explanations with practice. Learn a line, try it without the prompts, then return to it in later reviews. Start with the Italian Game, London System or Caro-Kann on the free plan.
Italian Game: develop toward the center
The Italian Game begins 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4. White develops the knight toward the center and places the bishop on a diagonal aimed at f7.
The opening offers a useful setting for learning development, castling and central pawn breaks. The bishop's pressure on f7 is something to understand, not a reason to launch an attack before your other pieces are ready.
London System: build a familiar setup
The London System usually combines d4, Nf3 and Bf4, often followed by e3 and c3. Developing the dark-squared bishop before playing e3 gives it room outside the pawn chain.
A familiar setup can make your early decisions easier, but the opponent's moves still matter. Practice the ideas behind your development and watch for pressure on the center and queenside.
Caro-Kann: challenge White's center
The Caro-Kann starts 1. e4 c6, preparing ...d5. Black uses the c-pawn to support a central challenge and then develops around the pawn structure that follows.
Different responses by White lead to different plans. Learning what each pawn structure asks of your pieces is more useful than treating every variation as the same setup.
Learn, practice and drill
Learn mode explains the moves. Practice asks you to play without the same guidance, and drills give you another way to rehearse the line. Opening reviews use spaced repetition so your repertoire comes back across sessions.
The Italian Game, London System and Caro-Kann are included for free. Premium unlocks the full catalog. Create an account to open the courses and save your progress.