Prepare the lesson in a Study
Build chapters with legal variations, comments, arrows, circles and starting positions. Save the Study once and keep refining it between lessons.
The Study-first workflow
One place for preparation, teaching and follow-up
A Chessdesk Study is the durable lesson record. The variations and notes you prepare before class remain available during the call and become the student's reference afterward.
Bring in the student's games
Import a PGN or a public Chess.com or Lichess game, review it with Stockfish, then add the useful positions and variations to a Study.
Teach on your usual video call
Share the Study tab in Google Meet, Zoom or the call you already use. Chessdesk provides the working board, not a second video platform.
Assign the follow-up work
Reuse a Study as a template, assign a student their own copy, set a due date and see whether the work is waiting, in progress or done.
Continue in the same workspace
Keep saved coach-student messages, Studies and assignment progress attached to the relationship instead of rebuilding context before every lesson.
What is included
The working tools around each lesson
Choosing the right tool
Built for the chess work, not academy administration
| Need | Chessdesk | Generic analysis board | Academy CRM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durable lesson Studies | Core workflow | Usually temporary | Varies |
| Game and engine analysis | Included | Usually included | Varies |
| Assignments and follow-up | Included | Usually absent | Usually included |
| Built-in video calls | No | No | Varies |
| Payments and business CRM | No | No | Core workflow |
Chessdesk is a focused fit when the lesson material and student's chess work matter more than payroll, invoicing or multi-branch academy operations.
Questions from coaches
Chess coaching software FAQ
Can I use Chessdesk for free as a chess coach?
Yes. The Free coach plan includes the coaching workspace for up to three students. Paid coach plans increase the student limit and start at $14.90 per month.
Does Chessdesk include video calls?
No. Open a Study, share that tab in Google Meet, Zoom or your preferred video-call service, and keep the saved Study available after the lesson.
Can I give students homework?
Yes. Turn a Study into a reusable template, assign a copy to one or more students, add a due date and review each student's status and saved work.
Does Chessdesk handle lesson payments or run a chess academy?
No. Chessdesk does not process coaching payments and is not an academy CRM. It focuses on the chess work itself: Studies, analysis, students, assignments, messages and lesson follow-up.
How does scheduling work?
A coach can add a Cal.com booking link. Students book through that external page, while Chessdesk keeps the schedule link beside the rest of the coaching workspace.
Build the next lesson where the student can keep using it
Start with up to three students free, then choose a paid plan only when your roster grows.