The Complete Guide to Chess for Beginners, taught by FIDE Candidate Master Tryfon Gavriel (a.k.a. "Kingscrusher"), is designed to take absolute beginners from knowing nothing about chess to a 1500 rating level. With over 40 hours of on-demand lecture content, it covers every phase of the game: openings, middlegame tactics, endgame fundamentals, and essential strategy — all structured into beginner and intermediate levels for each section
Who It’s For
- Absolute beginners who don’t know the rules
- Casual players looking to fill knowledge gaps
- Intermediate players who want strategic foundations
- Eloquent and approachable, Kingscrusher uses humor, famous master quotations, and a unique “concentric circles” learning model that reinforces understanding layer by layer
What You’ll Learn
1. Rules & Setup
Start with the basic rules, board setup, algebraic notation, and piece movements
2. Openings
Discover opening principles, traps (Fool’s Mate, Scholar’s Mate), opening systems like the London and Queen’s Gambit, and gambits to spice up your games
3. Middlegame Tactics
Learn practical tactics: forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks, deflections, and double attacks — the core weapons to win games
4. Endgame Essentials
Master key endgame techniques: opposition, Lucena and Vancura, triangulation, and king-and-pawn endings
5. Strategic Thinking
Gain insight into middlegame planning, pawn structures (isolated, doubled, hanging), psychological factors, and mindset strategies inspired by classical masters
Instructor Profile
Tryfon Gavriel is a respected chess educator, FIDE Candidate Master, and veteran coach with over 35 years of experience. He has competed at national youth levels, achieved a 2625 blitz rating on ICC, and maintains a popular blog with instructional content
Key Features
- Self-paced lessons you can revisit anytime
- Beginners to intermediate training track
- Humor and storytelling to keep learners engaged
- Real-world examples and illustrative master quotes
- Certificate of completion and lifetime access
- Money-back guarantee through Udemy’s standard policy
Why It Stands Out
This course combines comprehensive coverage with an engaging, easy-to-follow teaching style and a methodical progression. The concentric-circles model ensures concepts are layered and reinforced. Backed by a 4.4-star rating from nearly 700 reviews and over 23,000 students, it’s a competitive choice among beginner chess learners
Final Thoughts
If you're brand new to chess or want to shore up your fundamentals with a strong pedagogical guide, The Complete Guide to Chess for Beginners is a smart investment. Packed with tactical training and endgame knowledge, this course gives you the tools and confidence to reach a strong 1500-level foundation.
Ready to start?
Enroll today on Udemy and begin your journey from newbie to confident chess player.