A Call for a Real Beginner Roadmap on Chess.com

This does kinda exist though, there is a beginner study plan in the Improvers club.

What feels off about all this wordy complaining is the idea that there is some kind of hidden knowledge involved. Chess is difficult to master but very easy to learn. And the way you get better is by playing and by studying. You can play here all you like, paid account or not. Study tools, and study material, are available everywhere, in plentitude... also completely free. The limit will be the number of free hours you have in a day, not available resources.

Sure. The OP thinks there's a trick to it and there's not. He hasn't progressed as much as he'd like and instead of blaming himself, he blames chess.com, who he thinks owes it to him to make him a good chess player: "How can they be the premiere chess site and I still suck?". LOL,

#49 lol, I mean I’m sure that’s part of it. But you do have to remember that beginners are the equivalent of babies (This is an analogy not an insult) when you start out in chess or in any new interest you’d much rather be spoon fed by a parents than learn to eat yourself. Us beginners act like children because we feel like children. New to this world(game) naive, and lost.

This is a very good concept if… wait a second…

Isn’t the op literally requesting a Duolingo type thing. They already created a literal roadmap of chess. Use that if it’s what you are wanting. Seeing as how chess.com has collabed with duo before I think it’s safe to say c.c helped make it. So try it out and see if it’s what you’re looking for I guess.

FM mizant first of all thank you for taking the time to write here. I appreciate your opinion. That said I must respectfully disagree on many points. It seems to me that your perspective comes from being on the “other side” and from the belief that beginners should somehow figure things out on their own. I don't share that view. I'm sure your own chess education was different, and I have no doubt it worked well for you. But what I’m talking about here is something entirely different: a website that is not truly focused on beginners.

Where exactly is this “fantastic beginner level program” youre referring to? Are you talking about the 6 small sections in the “Guide”? Because if that’s it, I can tell you from experience I’ve done all of those, and repeated them … it’s just not enough. There’s a major gap in how beginners are approached, and that gap between beginner and intermediate remains huge.

If you compare the countless Chess.com lessons, videos, and content aimed at intermediate and advanced players with what’s available for beginners, you'd be shocked.

I'm sure with your experience, you find all the content like “Magnus Carlsen’s Stonewall” or “How to Beat a Grandmaster” interesting … but for us beginners, that stuff is meaningless and doesn’t help us at all. That’s what we’re discussing here. Chess.com is overwhelmingly focused on intermediate and advanced levels, and it’s just not fair for a paying beginner to be told to “go do exercises and come back when you're better.”

In fact, many beginners are now questioning whether they should pay a coach from the start or simply switch to lichess instead of paying an annual subscription to chess.com only to find that the beginner content here is extremely limited.

Also I’d like to ask you honestly: have you looked at Chess.com TV? Do you really think that kind of programming is interesting or useful to someone who’s just starting out? That’s just one example the whole platform is like that. I’m not saying chess.com is bad quite the opposite: I believe it’s the best platform out there right now but when it comes to beginners, it’s still very underdeveloped and lacking.

Maybe you don’t see it from where you stand, but as a beginner, and from reading the Beginners forum, I can assure you the platform has many shortcomings. Sometimes teachers and professionals forget what it’s like to start from zero. They adopt this mindset that beginners just have to “figure it out,” do some exercises, read a few books, and catch up. But then they focus only on intermediate and advanced students. Honestly, that’s the impression your message gave me.

In another thread in the Beginners forum : “Why Chess.com Is Failing for Beginners (And How It Could Improve)” I laid out the main complaints we beginners have, along with ideas for improvement.

I also reached out to Support, but unfortunately, it's just an AI chatbot!! Even after insisting that I wanted to speak with a real person, I was handed over to “Mia” who also turned out to be a bot. It’s very sad and it gives the impression that chess.com is not really interested in listening to beginner voices.

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/for-beginners/a-call-for-a-real-beginner-roadmap-on-chess-com?page=3#comment-118222604

 

You say you dislike chatbots but if you didn't use one, why be so wordy? That's one of the chief faults of AI generated text: it's sloppy and bloated, correct grammar and all... not at all appropriate for a casual conversation.

FelixG711 I do appreciate the initiative behind the Improvers group though I believe it should be fully integrated into the main website. I actually subscribed to it many months ago and I have to say the disorganisation was quite overwhelming. They are already aware of my feedback and I hope they "improve" both their teaching approach and the way they engage with beginner students. Thanks for your comment

1AncientConcavenator this is exactly what Chess.com needs to improve. The comparison with Duolingo is spot on! in fact, there are some signs that Chess.com might be interested in developing something like that. But the problem is the same one that’s been discussed here before. Chess.com is drowning in its own overconfidence, constantly adding more and more tools and content for intermediate and advanced players. And that overconfidence is visible in almost every section of the site.

Many well known figures here seem to prefer the mindset of "students should figure it out themselves that’s how we learned" But that attitude doesn’t justify a paid annual subscription, and it completely underestimates the value of coaches who actually have structured plans and roadmaps for students starting from zero.

Thank you for your comment … it adds a lot to the conversation

Summarizing your position, again, your idea is that there is some secret or trick to mastering chess, but there is not. Intelligence matters. Motivation matters. But more than anything else, it's about playing, about practice, about experience. There are no shortcuts, no substitutes, no hidden knowledge. And no one can do it for you. Play a thousand games and you'll be better. Play 10 thousand and you'll be better still.

You say your perspective is different that you can "assure" us beginners all feel the way you do, but I am not far removed from being a beginner and I never had your concerns or thought chess.com was the problem.

That not all material is meant for beginners, also, means nothing. Why do you think it needs to be?

Finally, Chessica did not pass you on to another chat-bot. LOL.

At worst, she'll promise finally to pass the conversation on to a human agent, and you'll be contacted by email within 1 - 3 days. I use the feature often. That's the way it works, without fail.

A subscription costs at most about 50 cents a day, Diamond paid monthly, and as little as just under 10 cents. the cost per member on the Friends and Family plan. I pay around a dollar for a can of cat food. A single US postage stamp costs 78 cents.

More bloated language for a simple and unsound idea.

Thank you for your comment delcaio007 but I believe you're missing the point of what we’re discussing here.

Please don’t reframe or summarise what I’ve said by putting words in my mouth. I’m not talking about finding some magic formula to learn chess. What I’m asking for is much simpler more attention and guidance for beginners. The website lacks a proper structure or direction for those who are just starting out.

Like many intermediate or advanced players you may see Chess.com as perfectly functional. But I invite you to carefully read all the points weve raised about what Chess.com is lacking and how it could improve. The beginner experience is clearly not a priority on this platform, and that’s exactly what we’re trying to highlight.

For the record I already went through the Chessica process and was told I’d receive a message in 2–3 days. Later Chessica referred me to someone (a real person??) named Mia,who replied with the following:

“I will share your feedback with our team and thank you for taking the time to reach out to us and help us make Chess.com even more amazing in the days to come. We really appreciate your feedback, and we’re always looking for ways to make the beginner experience clearer and smoother. With consistency, you’ll definitely see progress — and we’ll be here to support you along the way.”

What kind of support is that? Honestly it felt like a joke. Still, I replied to her again. I’m holding onto a bit of hope based on what you said: “That's the way it works, without fail.” Well, I guess we’ll have to wait and see

@Felipe22CFN for a 300 rated play you seem to be quite passionate about chess.com. That’s interesting.

Anyways. If c.c helped craft the duo chess course then I doubt they would make the same thing on their own app. It would probably overlap too much with Duolingo’s already existing courses. And c.c definitely cannot one up Duolingo’s own roadmap format. That would just be like a punch in the face towards duo.

Something like this is a good idea to support passionate beginners but you also can look up educational content yourself. I don’t mind watching some videos o. Tactics and opening theory and stuff like that from time to time. And usually it really does help my improve. The content already exists. I think it’s best if you look at the info that helps you grow the fastest.

Your language demands being summarized, just to be digestible. So, no, I won't stop doing that. The first rule of good writing is to eliminate unnecessary words. When you don't, others will do that for you.

Again, it is not mysterious what beginners need to do, which is to learn basic principles and to practice, to play. The principles are easy to understand and elucidated often and everywhere. And everyone can play as often as they like, subscribe or not.

The idea that beginners are held back by a dearth of tools or material is absolutely false. 

Couch it however you wish.

Again, you're putting words in my mouth. When did I ever say not to summarise me? Summarise if you like, but do it properly, objectively, and honestly. Don’t invent words I never said just to prove yourself right.

You believe that “the idea that beginners are held back by a dearth of tools or material is absolutely false”? Fantastic. Then follow your path and stay in this forum if you truly want to contribute something useful.

Couch it however you wish

I'm saying you don't show any sign of understanding what a beginner needs in order to improve. It's not complicated.

1 - learn basic chess principles

2 - play chess

 

1AncientConcavenator Haaha you're right I’m passionate, it’s something that comes naturally to me. I’ve always been like this in my career and during my postgraduate studies. When I see flaws in teaching or among educators, my first instinct is to critique, I’m sorry … always with the intention of building and contributing something useful.

I really like Chess.com and I have no doubt it’s the best chess website out there. But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. I’ve already mentioned its strengths and the sections that I believe are moving in the right direction. Still as a beginner, I see many shortcomings the main one being that there is far more content for intermediate and advanced players than for beginners.

As for Duolingo no, I’m not asking for the exact same thing. Although the topics are completely different, I’ve noticed something similar in the puzzle maps already on Chess.com. Those maps are fantastic and truly motivate beginners to keep going. Ofc they could be improved and that’s perfectly fine!

I also agree that maybe the content is already out there. But that doesn’t set Chess.com apart from many other free websites either

The point is that there is plenty, for ALL skill levels, and not just here, regarding study tools and regarding content. I've heard very few say there wasn't. It's everywhere and mostly free. Is most of it not useful for beginners? Somewhat true, since studying openings, for example, will not do them any good... a major topic for intermediate and advanced players. It's not a contest. Content providers fill needs. And I don't see them ignoring beginners, not at all.