Prepare a private Study
Build chapters before the call. Add legal variations, comments, arrows, circles and custom starting positions so the lesson has a clear route.
A concrete lesson workflow
One board before, during and after the call
The Study is the lesson record. Screen sharing works without asking a student to open Chessdesk. Invited access is available when the student should explore or edit the saved material themselves.
Open your usual video call
Start Google Meet, Zoom or another call service and share the Study tab. The student can follow the board without opening a second app.
Invite only when access helps
Add a registered student as a viewer or editor if they should open the Study themselves. A copied link alone never grants access.
Keep the lesson afterward
Return to the same Study for review and follow-up. The saved chess content becomes the durable record instead of disappearing with the call.
What collaborative means here
Private Study access, not an open meeting room
Chessdesk does not claim to replace your call software. It gives the coach and student a durable chess workspace, with optional real-time work limited to members and content of the active Study.
| Capability | Available? | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Screen-shared lesson | Yes | The primary workflow: share one Study tab on your existing call. |
| Study co-editing | Optional | Invited Study editors can work on that Study's chess content. |
| Private viewer access | Yes | Invite a member as a viewer when they should read without editing. |
| Anonymous co-editing | No | A link does not grant Study access. Members must be invited. |
| Built-in video calls | No | Keep using Google Meet, Zoom or your preferred call service. |
| Standalone analysis board | Single-user | A free Stockfish board for exploring a position without an account. |
For a lesson
Use a durable Study
Choose this when chapters, notes, access control and follow-up matter. Start with screen sharing, then invite the student only if direct access adds value.
Go to your StudiesFor quick calculation
Use the free analysis board
Choose this for a single-user Stockfish board with FEN setup, evaluation and candidate lines. It runs without an account, but it is not a shared Study.
Analyze a position freeFAQ
Shared chess board questions
Can a coach and student edit the chess board together?
Yes, inside a Chessdesk Study. The Study owner can invite a registered member as an editor. If both members open that Study, its chess content can sync in real time. Co-editing is optional; sharing the Study tab on a video call remains the simplest lesson workflow.
Does Chessdesk include video or voice calls?
No. Use Google Meet, Zoom or your preferred call service, then share the Chessdesk Study tab. Chessdesk keeps the board, variations and lesson notes; your call service handles video and audio.
Can anyone edit a Study from its link?
No. Studies are private. Copying a link does not grant access, and anonymous visitors cannot co-edit. The owner must invite a Chessdesk member and choose editor or viewer access.
Is the free analysis board collaborative?
No. The standalone analysis board is a free, single-user Stockfish board that needs no account. Use a private Study when you want durable lesson material, invited access or optional co-editing.
What remains after an online chess lesson?
The Study remains in Chessdesk with its chapters, variations, comments, arrows, circles and starting positions. You can refine it for the next lesson or give the student viewer or editor access.
Keep your next lesson in one Study
Prepare the chess content once, teach from it on screen and return to the same material after the call.