How Sparring chess Works

Studying openings is hard. It is harder without someone to practice them against.

Your sparring partner answers with the moves real players choose, and every move you make gets a verdict straight away.

1. Play the line on the board

A line is waiting for you. Play what you would play in a real game; pick another line whenever you like.

2. Read the verdict

One word from the engine (best, good, inaccuracy, mistake, blunder) and one sentence of context: how club players score with that move, or how it has gone in your own games.

3. Beat your score

Each practice ends with an accuracy and up to three stars. Practice again to improve it, keep your streak and earn your next belt.

4. Make it yours (free account)

Create your own lines, import your Lichess or Chess.com games, upload your repertoire as PGN, and connect Lichess to spar against live statistics at the rating you choose.

Sparring Configuration

Choose the level of your sparring partner on your own lines: it plays moves from real Lichess games matching these criteria. It needs your Lichess account connected. The default lines come with their own statistics (club players, 1600-2000).

How it works

Sparring Level

My Lines

Your saved opening lines.

How it works
    + Add new line

    Create Line

    Create a new opening line to practice against.

    How it works

      My Games

      Import your games from lichess or chess.com.

      How it works

      Games will be imported automatically every night to keep your data up to date.

      Advanced options

      Repertoire

      Upload your repertoire (a style from lichess or a pgn with your repertoire moves).

      How it works

      Engine

      Configure the Stockfish chess engine for position analysis.

      How it works

      Your progress

      Choose a line

      Every line starts from its key position. Your sparring partner answers with the moves club players really play there.

      All openings

      Practice the French vs the Tarrasch as Black

      French vs the Tarrasch

      1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2

      With the knight on d2 there is no pin on c3. Challenge the center with ...c5 or ...Nf6.

      All openings
      Your move

      Play what you would play in a real game. Every move gets a verdict.