Do you ever start online games hoping your opponent will play the line you’ve been studying?
Unfortunately, they usually don’t, and you don’t get many opportunities to practice specific positions beyond theory. That’s why, even when we know the first 10-15 moves well, we can still struggle once our prep ends.
Our new bot training feature helps solve this problem: you can now play out any position from a Chessable course against a Chess.com bot.
Whether you want to challenge a bot of your level, or see how legends like Magnus Carlsen or Levy Rozman would respond to your opening play: our bots cover different styles and an Elo range from 250-3200.
Much like a sparring partner, the bots help you bridge the gap between memorization and practical play, without the pressure of real competition.
It’s one of our most requested features ever, and it’s free for everyone. All you need is a Chess.com account.
Here’s how it works:
1) Choose any position from your course
In Learn or Review mode, or while browsing, simply click on the robot icon 🤖 in the toolbar under the comment section at the position you want to practice from. You’ll be taken to Chess.com, where a bot game will start from this exact position.
2) Select your bot
You can choose from a variety of bots with different styles and playing strengths. Try out your opening against GothamChess (2500) or celebrities like Steve Aoki (1000)… the options are nearly endless.
3) Play a game from your chosen position
The game begins from your chosen position, and the bot will make moves according to its selected strength. You can also choose your preferred level of feedback: either none, for a real-game experience, or a quick evaluation after every move you make.
Why train against bots?
Though the idea is simple, this is one of the most effective tools to improve your game. Here are three reasons why you should use it:
💪 Learn more by immediately putting knowledge into practice
Many of us get the most out of training when we can apply what we’ve just learned right away. Instead of stopping at the end of a theoretical line, you can jump straight into a game and test yourself on the real battlefield.
💪 Build confidence beyond the opening
Even when an author leaves you with a favorable position and strategic guidance at the end of their lines, carrying this through the unpredictability of the middlegame is a skill in itself — and exactly what training against bots helps you develop.
💪 Find your weak spots
The results of your bot games can help reveal which positions you truly understand and which ones deserve a closer look in your course.
If you’ve read this far, all that’s left to do is try it out: open a course, pick a position, and challenge a bot. 🤖
Have fun, and let us know what you think in the forums!