If you're a raw beginner and need a jumpstart, consider this course!

Chessmood have just launched a new course called 'The Rise of Champions', aimed at complete beginners. The course provides an all-round set of basic skills to get people started. It explains the rules, how the pieces move, opening principles, some basic openings for new players to sample and - to be added soon - a set of basic tactics.

I'm past the stage where I need a beginners' course by now, but if you just discovered chess and would like to play, I would highly recommend this. I would have loved to have this when I was just starting out.

I know this seems like shameless advertising - hell, it IS shameless advertising. But ChessMood's courses absolutely do what they say on the tin. I won five blitz arenas on Lichess after taking their tactics course. 

Side note: while we're on the subject of tactics I would also recommend any green new players try the course Tactic Ninja and even if you feel it is too advanced for you, I would at least try to make it to section 5. I remember learning the concept of annihilation was a huge game changer for me. I used to get very frustrated when I didn't know what to do or how to attack and the idea that you could remove a defender and go ahead with a plan was a big revelation. I know this is a normal run of the mill concept for most of us, but 300-elo me had no idea about it and found it really valuable.

You can use this link to get 20% off membership if you want it: https://chessmood.com/?r=Voran

Check out The Rise of Champions here: https://chessmood.com/course/the-rise-of-champions