Drill it. Exam it.
Win it.
Stop watching opening videos you'll forget by next game. Train each line until you can play it from memory — then a 20–40 position exam proves you actually know it. 117 openings across 3 ELO tiers.
Lifetime access · No subscriptions · Built by a chess coach
How it works
The Drill → Exam loop forces real recall, not passive watching.
Pick an opening
Choose from 117 openings across 3 ELO tiers. Start with the free Italian Game.
Master every drill
5–10 drill variants per opening (depending on tier). Play move-by-move against the engine. Earn ★★★ on each.
Pass the exam
Unlock the 20–40 position exam once all drills are 3 stars. Prove you know the opening cold.
Why this beats opening videos
Active recall, not passive watching
Every drill makes you play the move. The line sticks because you typed it, not because you saw it.
An exam that actually grades you
Opening videos never ask you to prove anything. Our 20–40 position exam locks until every drill is 3 stars, then quizzes you cold.
Lifetime access, no subscriptions
Pay once per opening or grab a bundle. Replay any drill or exam forever — no monthly fee, no expiry.
Brilliant Sacrifices !!
200 hand-curated sacrifice puzzles across 4 levels. Every move comes with coach commentary so you don't just guess — you understand why the queen drops. Then take the no-hint Mastery Exam: 20 sacrifices in a row, cold.
Start with the classics
13 beginner openings. Italian Game is free forever.
Italian Game
FREEThe classical Italian opening — fast piece development, central control, and rich attacking ideas. The perfect first opening.
Giuoco Pianissimo
$0.99The 'very quiet game' — slow strategic Italian where positional understanding wins.
King's Gambit
$0.99Sacrifice a pawn on move 2 for a crushing attack. Romantic chess at its finest.
Scotch Game
$0.99Open the center fast with 3.d4 — sharp tactical play from move three.
Vienna Game
$0.99A flexible alternative to the Italian — Nc3 prepares f4 with a powerful attack.
Four Knights Game
$0.99Symmetric, solid, and deeply principled — both sides develop minor pieces first.
Simple, lifetime pricing
No subscriptions. Buy once, master forever.
All Beginner
- 13 openings (12 paid + free Italian)
- 5 drills + 20 exam questions each
- 65 drills · 260 exam questions
All Intermediate
- 69 openings
- 7 drills + 30 exam questions each
- 483 drills · 2,070 exam questions
Grandmaster Pack
- All 117 openings
- 898 drills across every tier
- 3,730 exam questions across every tier
What players say
Real progress from real members.
"I had been playing chess for three years with only two openings in my repertoire, and I felt stuck between 900 and 1,000 ELO. What made the difference with this platform is that you don't just watch videos passively — you actively drill the positions until you truly understand them. The exam system also pushed me to be precise: getting the 3-star badge requires a perfect score, with zero mistakes. That challenge made the learning stick. In less than two months, I mastered 10 new openings and increased my rating to 1,200 ELO."
"I'm a beginner, and my Chess.com rating had dropped to around 400 ELO without me really understanding why. After about two months with The Chess Master Club, I improved to 800 ELO — and more importantly, I finally started to understand chess patterns clearly. What makes the drills so powerful is that they don't just show you which move to play. They explain why the move matters. That completely changed the way I learn. Now, even when I face an opening I don't know, I can already recognize key patterns and start to 'feel' what the right next move should be."
"As an active tournament player, I can honestly say that the Brilliant Sacrifice pack is simply… brilliant. I had never experienced such an intense and structured way to truly master the complex lines behind brilliant sacrifices. The drills pushed me far beyond memorizing moves — they helped me understand the timing, patterns, and tactical courage required to sacrifice with confidence. After six months of focused training on high-level sacrifice drills, this became a real turning point in my playing style. For the first time, I won a competitive club tournament with experienced players."
Coach? Give students 15% off and earn 10% commission.
Recommend a structured opening curriculum your students will actually finish. They save 15%, you earn 10% on every purchase — for life.
Learn about the coach program →How we compare
Deeper training. One-time pricing. No fluff.
| Feature | TheChessMasterClub | Chessable | Chess.com | Chess24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Pay once · lifetime | Per-course + sub | Subscription | Subscription |
| Learning method | Active drill + exam | Spaced repetition | Videos + puzzles | Videos + puzzles |
| Graded mastery exam | ||||
| Brilliant sacrifice packs | ||||
| Free full opening | Italian Game | Limited | Limited | |
| Languages | 19 | 1–3 | 10+ | 5+ |
| Coach commission | 10% lifetime | |||
| Coach referral discount | 15% off for students | |||
| Entry price | Free · then $0.99+ | $15+/course | $5–14/mo | $10+/mo |
Comparison based on publicly listed features at the time of writing. Trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Italian Game really free?+
Yes — the full Italian Game opening (5 drills + 20-question exam) is free forever, no credit card required.
Is this a subscription?+
No. You pay once per opening or bundle and get lifetime access. No monthly fees, no expiry.
How is this different from chess opening videos?+
Videos are passive. Our platform forces active recall: you play every move yourself, earn ★★★ on each drill, then unlock a 20–40 position exam that grades you cold.
How long until I see improvement?+
Most members report measurable ELO gains in 4–8 weeks of consistent drilling — typical jumps of +200 to +400 points after mastering a tier.
Does it work on mobile?+
Yes — the entire platform is fully responsive and works on phone, tablet, and desktop browsers.
What if I don't like it? Is there a refund?+
Try the free Italian Game first — that's a complete opening, no card required. Paid bundles include a 7-day no-questions refund.
I'm a chess coach — can I earn from this?+
Yes. Coaches get a unique link giving students 15% off and earn 10% lifetime commission on every purchase. Payouts via Stripe.
Which languages are supported?+
The platform is available in 19 languages including English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Indonesian and more.
Pick one opening. Master it this week.
Start with the Italian Game. Free, forever. No credit card.
Play the Italian Game →18 bundles · 117 openings · 898 drills · 3,730 exam questions