Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

What is CrunchChess?

CrunchChess is a daily chess training program for kids, students, and chess academies. Every day, Victor, the coach inside CrunchChess, picks one mission, serves a short session of puzzles at the right level, and explains every mistake so it does not keep coming back. Progress is visible through ranks, levels, and a weekly parent report.

Do I need to know chess before using CrunchChess?

You need to know the basic rules of chess, how the pieces move. Beyond that, CrunchChess is designed to teach you tactics from scratch. Complete beginners should start with our mate in 1 puzzles and work up from there.

What age is CrunchChess suitable for?

CrunchChess is designed for kids 6–16. The adaptive difficulty system calibrates automatically, so a 6-year-old beginner and a 16-year-old tournament player can both use the platform effectively.

Do I need to download anything?

No. CrunchChess is fully browser-based and works on any device, desktop, tablet, or phone. No downloads, no plugins, no installation.

Training & Puzzles

How does the adaptive difficulty system work?

The puzzle engine tracks every solve: whether you got it right, how long it took, and whether you used hints. It uses this data to continuously calibrate difficulty, serving puzzles at the edge of your current ability for maximum learning impact.

What tactical themes does CrunchChess cover?

Phase 1 includes 10 core themes: fork, pin, skewer, back rank, discovered attack, double check, smothered mate, hanging piece, zwischenzug, and deflection. More themes are added regularly.

How many puzzles should I solve per day?

15-30 minutes of focused puzzle practice per day (typically 10-25 puzzles) is the research-backed sweet spot for improvement. Consistency matters more than volume, daily short sessions beat occasional marathon sessions.

What happens if I use a hint?

Nothing is lost. You still move forward and still learn the pattern. Victor notices when a hint was needed, and that feeds into what he brings back for practice later. Try every puzzle without a hint first, then use one when genuinely stuck rather than guessing.

Can I replay puzzles I have already seen?

Yes. You can browse your puzzle history and replay any position. Revisiting challenging puzzles is an effective study technique, it reinforces the pattern in a different context.

Progress & Ranks

How do ranks and levels work?

Your child climbs a six-rank curriculum (Pawn, Rider, Strategist, Guardian, Royal, and Legend) with levels inside each rank. Promotion is earned through mastery of the skills at each rank, not time spent. Consistency is recognised separately: training 10, 15, 20, or 25 days in a month earns Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum status.

How do I see where I need to improve?

Your progress dashboard shows accuracy broken down by tactical theme. This tells you precisely which patterns you are weak in, so you can target your training where it will have the most impact.

Can parents track their child's activity?

Yes. Student accounts can be linked to a parent email. Parents receive a weekly report covering training consistency, what improved, and what Victor is focusing on next, in plain English, with full access to the progress page at any time.

Academy & Coaching

How do I add students to my academy?

Each student signs up for their own account. To set up multiple accounts for an academy or class, contact us at hello@crunchchess.com, we'll help you get your group started.

Can I assign specific puzzles to my students?

Not today. Each student's puzzles are chosen automatically by the adaptive engine to target what they keep getting wrong. Coach-assigned puzzle sets are on our roadmap, not a current feature.

How many students can I manage?

There is no limit on how many students can use CrunchChess. For an academy, school, or organisation, contact us at hello@crunchchess.com and we will help you set up your group.

Pricing & Plans

How does pricing work?

Every account starts with a 7-day free trial, full access, no credit card required. At the end of the trial, parents receive a progress report. To continue, choose one plan: $199/year (recommended) or $19.99/month. Everything is included, no separate tiers.

Can I cancel at any time?

Yes, cancel from your account settings at any time. Paid subscriptions remain active until the end of the billing period. There are no cancellation fees.

Do you offer school or non-profit pricing?

Yes. Contact us at hello@crunchchess.com with details about your school or organisation. We are committed to making chess education accessible and happy to work within school budgets.

Still have questions?

Explore more about CrunchChess or reach out directly.