Training games

Training games let you practice your opening repertoire against a human-like bot. The opponent is designed to play moves people at the selected level are likely to play, giving you practice beyond memorizing a single line.

Set up a game

Choose your side, time control, and opening. You can practice a particular opening or use a mix. The setup screen also lets you choose coach assistance.

Rated games use your Chessbook training rating to match the opponent. Casual games let you choose an opponent rating. Your training rating belongs to Chessbook; it is separate from your Lichess, Chess.com, or over-the-board rating.

What can the coach do?

Repertoire guidance marks whether you followed your saved moves and lets you retry a wrong one. Opening plans can explain how to continue once your repertoire ends, where plans are available.

You can also enable hints, undo, extra time, live coaching, or evaluation bars. Live coaching can prompt you to try again after a move strong players would rarely choose. Extra time lets you add 15 seconds to your clock.

Which games are rated?

Repertoire guidance and opening plans are compatible with rated games. Enabling hints, undo, extra time, live coaching, or evaluation bars makes the game casual, so it does not change your training rating.

The setup screen shows whether the game is rated or casual. Choose the help that suits what you want to practice.

After the game

Use the post-game review to revisit mistakes and the coach's explanations. If you find yourself unsure what to do after the opening, look at plans and model games as well as your saved moves.