Play Coach
With Play Coach, you can learn the fundamentals and strategies of chess by playing against your very own virtual Chess.com Coach. Move by move, your coach will guide you with useful tips, highlight strategic ideas, and point out your mistakes.
Whether you're a beginner learning the basics or an intermediate player looking to sharpen your strategy, your coach will personalize the experience to match your skill level.
Basic members can play one game per month against the Coach. For unlimited access, you’ll need a Gold or higher membership.
Web
To access Play Coach on the web, hover over 'Play' in the left-side menu on any Chess.com page and select 'Play Coach.'
On the Play Coach page, you can set your preferred playing strength. Each level shows an approximate rating to help you choose the right challenge. You can also select your preferred color: White, Black, or random.
You can change your Coach at any time by clicking on them and selecting a new one from the available options.
Mobile
To access Play Coach on mobile, tap the 'Play Coach' option from your home screen or tap 'Learn' from the bottom menu and then select 'Play Coach' from the list.
Similar to the web version, you can choose your preferred playing strength and color before starting your game. Your current coach will be pre-selected by default.
Navigating Play Coach
Once you've selected your preferred settings, click 'Play' to begin your game against the Coach. After each move, your Coach will automatically provide real-time feedback to help you improve.
You can exit the Play Coach page at any time and return later. The game will resume exactly where you left it.
During the game, you’ll have access to a few helpful tools:
Resign – End the game early if you choose.
Hint – Receive a suggestion from your Coach for your next move. Still unsure? Tap 'Hint' again to see the best move.
Undo – Reverse your most recent move to try a different one.
These tools appear at the bottom of your screen on mobile and at the bottom of the move list panel on the web.
Mobile
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Web |
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If you'd like additional feedback during your game, you can customize the following options by clicking the cogwheel ('Settings') icon:
On web: located at the bottom-right corner of the moves panel
On mobile: located at the top-right corner of the game screen
Option |
Details
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Suggestion Arrows | Display green arrows on the board to indicate recommended moves.
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Threat Arrows | Display red arrows showing potential threats to your pieces.
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Evaluation Bar | View the evaluation bar on the left side of the board, which shows the current game balance.
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Move feedback | Get more insight into each move, including its classification and the evaluation impact.
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How do I save my games against the Coach?
Games against the Coach and Bots are automatically saved after the game ends, as long as the required number of ply is met:
Bots: 4 ply
Coach: 2 ply
However, you can turn off auto-saving for Coach games. If you do, or if the game does not meet the minimum ply requirement, you will need to manually save the games you want to keep. On web, click 'Save to Archive' at the bottom of the right-side panel. On mobile, tap 'Options', then 'Save Game.'
How to stop your games against the Coach from saving automatically:
Click the cogwheel icon at the bottom of the left sidebar on any Chess.com page and select 'All Settings.'
Select 'Coach' from the settings menu.
Scroll to the General section and toggle 'Auto-save Coach games' on or off.
Currently this option is only available on the web.