One map. Seven levels. A hundred units.
Wherever your child starts, there's a level that fits — and a clear road to the next one.
Free App
Everything your child needs to fall in love with chess — no cost, no card.
Group Classes
Small live classes with peers at your child's level — placed after a free assessment.
1-on-1 Coaching
Fully private lessons, shaped entirely around your child's goals and pace.
Learn every day, at your own pace
The ChessCubs app is free to start. Your child plays training bots, solves a daily puzzle set, and watches their own progress map fill in — with a friendly hand from Cubby, the practice buddy between lessons. The full structured curriculum and higher-use Cubby access come with ChessCubs Classes.
The seven levels
Wherever your child starts, there's a level that fits — and a clear road to the next one. The full structured curriculum is taught in ChessCubs Classes — in small groups — while the free app keeps skills sharp between lessons.
The chess world from the very first pawn. Every piece, check and checkmate, safe opening habits — ending with a first mini-tournament and a graduation ceremony.
By the end: Your child plays a full, legal, thoughtful game.
Chess literacy. Reading and writing real chess notation, the two-rook checkmate, piece values and fair trades — ending with the Explorer Arena.
By the end: Every recorded chess game on Earth is open to your child.
The weapons: forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks, removal of the defender — plus the shields against them.
By the end: Your child lands real tactics in real games.
The quiet skills: pawn structure, weak squares, open files, real opening play, making a plan and choosing between candidate moves.
By the end: Your child thinks in plans, not just moves.
Where games are won: king activity, the opposition, pawn breakthroughs, rook endings, the art of the draw.
By the end: Your child converts winning positions and saves difficult ones.
Tournament craft: the clock, the laws of the arena, scoresheets under pressure, how ratings work, defense and counterattack.
By the end: Your child is arena-ready.
The summit of the map. Advanced integration and mastery.
By the end: Every grandmaster started as a cub.
Real coaches, real progress
When your child is ready for more, add live classes. Small groups spark friendly competition and confidence; 1-on-1 lessons tailor every minute to your child. Both are led by vetted, child-first coaches.
What every level includes
Not sure where your child fits?
That's exactly what the free trial is for. One class, one written report, and their placement on the map.
No credit card. No pressure. Includes your child's placement on our seven-level map and a written report.