Building a Repertoire with Chessable
In the digital era of chess improvement, few tools have revolutionized the learning process as dramatically as Chessable. Whether you’re a casual player aiming to stop losing in the opening, or a serious tournament competitor looking for a competitive edge, Chessable offers a structured, science-backed path to opening mastery.
At the heart of Chessable’s success is the blend of spaced repetition, interactive move training, and access to expert content. In this article, we’ll explore how to build a robust opening repertoire using Chessable, covering everything from choosing courses to developing long-term retention strategies. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to make the most of your opening study time—efficiently and effectively.
1. Why Chessable?
Before diving into the how, let’s look at why Chessable has become the go-to resource for thousands of chess learners.
Spaced Repetition: Train Your Brain
At its core, Chessable employs spaced repetition to help you retain opening lines and concepts over time. This learning model presents information right before you’re likely to forget it, which dramatically improves long-term memory retention.
MoveTrainer™ Technology
Chessable’s trademarked MoveTrainer™ system reinforces learning by prompting you to physically play the correct moves in sequence. It’s an active process that mimics over-the-board experience.
Science Meets Practice
Backed by cognitive science and chess master input, Chessable offers a powerful combination of deliberate practice and chess wisdom, packaged in a user-friendly platform.
2. Getting Started: Setting Up an Account
Creating a free account on Chessable is your first step. Once logged in, you’ll find a wide range of free and premium courses in various categories:
Openings (e.g., Sicilian Defense, London System)
Middlegames (e.g., Positional Play, Tactics)
Endgames
Strategy
Full repertoire guides
For opening repertoire building, stick to the Openings and Repertoires sections.
3. Choosing the Right Opening Repertoire
This is perhaps the most critical decision in your Chessable journey.
Step 1: Know Your Level
Beginners should opt for simplified, system-based openings like:
London System (White)
King’s Indian Defense (Black)
Scandinavian Defense (Black)
Intermediate Players can explore more complex but still manageable lines:
Queen’s Gambit Declined
Italian Game
Caro-Kann Defense
Advanced Players may dive into heavy theory:
Najdorf Sicilian
Grünfeld Defense
1.d4 Repertoire by GM Avrukh
Step 2: Consider Your Playing Style
Are you aggressive, positional, tactical, or strategic? Chessable offers repertoires tailored to each:
Tactical players: Smith-Morra Gambit, Evans Gambit courses
Positional players: 1.d4 or English Opening courses
Universal systems: Jobava London or Colle System
Step 3: Free vs. Paid Content
While free courses can get you started, premium courses—often by titled players—offer deeper insight, coverage of sidelines, and model games. Popular paid options include:
“Lifetime Repertoires” series (1.e4, 1.d4, 1.Nf3, etc.)
Courses by GMs like Sam Shankland, Christof Sielecki, and Daniel Naroditsky
4. Structuring Your Repertoire
Chessable allows you to create a well-organized, trackable repertoire.
White and Black Sections
Divide your study into:
1.e4 or 1.d4 repertoire (or other first moves you play)
Responses to 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.c4, 1.Nf3, etc., as Black
You can track your mastery percentage, frequency of review, and time spent per line.
Variation Mapping
Courses usually follow logical branching:
1.e4 e5 → Italian Game → Two Knights Defense
1.d4 Nf6 → King’s Indian → Classical Variation
This helps you mentally organize ideas and understand transitions between lines.
5. Daily Training: Using the MoveTrainer
Once you’ve chosen a course, the MoveTrainer is where the magic happens.
How It Works
You’re presented with a position and must play the correct move.
If you get it right, the line continues. If not, you see the correct response and try again.
Spaced repetition schedules the review automatically.
Training Tips
Train in small, focused sessions (10–30 mins daily).
Review until you hit 100% accuracy in key variations.
Use the “Learn New” function sparingly—prioritize review.
Turn on “Over-the-board mode” for visualization without arrow aids.
6. Reviewing and Troubleshooting
Game Integration
Chessable allows you to import your online or OTB games and compare your played moves to your repertoire.
Did you follow theory?
Did your opponent surprise you early?
Was your loss due to a forgotten line?
These reviews can highlight which lines need more attention.
Adding Custom Lines
If you encounter a line not covered in your course, you can:
Create a custom repertoire.
Manually enter the line for training.
Ask in the course’s discussion area—authors and users often respond.
7. Reinforcing with Model Games
Many premium courses include annotated model games that illustrate ideas from your opening in practice.
Studying these helps:
Understand middlegame plans.
Recognize tactical themes.
Gain confidence in unfamiliar positions.
When you see how top players execute the opening, it turns theory into inspiration.
8. Keeping It Manageable
A common trap is overloading your repertoire with too many courses at once.
Best Practices
Stick to 1-2 main courses per color.
Review regularly (at least 3x a week).
Avoid the urge to learn every new trendy opening.
It’s better to master one complete, well-understood repertoire than to half-learn five.
9. Chessable on the Go
The Chessable mobile app allows you to:
Review lines on your commute
Learn new moves during lunch breaks
Maintain your streak while traveling
Consistency is key—and the app makes it easier than ever.
10. Chessable PRO Tips
1. Use the “Depth” Slider
Adjust how deep into lines you want to review. Early on, start shallow. As you gain confidence, increase depth.
2. Turn Off Variability (Initially)
By default, Chessable randomizes lines for realism. Turn this off at first if you’re struggling to recall structures.
3. Supplement with YouTube or Lichess Studies
Combine your Chessable study with videos or Lichess interactive studies for deeper understanding.
Conclusion: A Smarter Path to Opening Mastery
Building your opening repertoire with Chessable is not just about memorizing lines—it’s about developing a system that supports your growth as a player. The combination of spaced repetition, interactive learning, expert guidance, and flexible tools makes it one of the most powerful chess improvement platforms available today.
By following a focused and consistent approach, you’ll move from opening confusion to confident execution in your games. Whether you’re aiming to dominate at club level or prepare for FIDE-rated events, Chessable can help you build a repertoire that lasts—and wins.
