How Online Chess Lessons Work: Everything You Need to Know

Cosima Keen
Oct 1
2 min read

Think chess can’t be taught online? Think again. At Chelsea Chess, we’ve found that learning virtually can actually be even better than sitting across a board in person, especially for beginners, busy adults, and families outside of London.

Here’s a quick look at how it all works, what you need, and what to expect from your first online lesson.

💻 What You’ll Need

All you need for an online chess lesson is:

A laptop or tablet (we use Zoom or Google Meet for video).
A free account on Lichess.org – our interactive online chess board.
A quiet spot and a bit of curiosity!

That’s it. No special equipment, no downloads, no expensive software.

🧩 What a Typical Online Chess Lesson Looks Like

Each session is 45–60 minutes and completely tailored to the student’s level.

Join the call – your coach will send you a Google Meet link.
Open Lichess.org – both coach and student can move the same pieces on a shared board in real time.
Learn by doing – the coach might start with a puzzle, analyse one of your games, or play a few short matches with you while explaining certain moves and ideas.
Homework – after each session, you’ll get small practice tasks (like puzzles or short games to play against the computer).

It’s completely interactive: students can ask questions, share their screens, and even replay tricky positions with the coach’s help.

🚀 Why Online Chess Lessons Work So Well

1. No travel - You can learn from anywhere - whether you’re in Manchester, Madrid, or Melbourne.

2. Better focus - The online board highlights moves, tracks mistakes, and lets you see your progress clearly.

3. Personal feedback - Coaches can record games, review them with you, and build a personalised plan week to week.

4. Flexible scheduling - We match you with a coach whose times fit your routine.

🧠 Who It’s For

Our online lessons are ideal for:

Kids who enjoy interactive learning and puzzles
Adult beginners starting from scratch
Busy professionals who prefer flexible evenings or weekends
Families outside London who want access to Chelsea Chess coaches

🌍 Join from Anywhere

We currently teach students from all over the world! Whether you’re in a small village or a big city, online chess makes world-class coaching accessible from home.

If you’d like to try it out get in touch with us here