The Purple Guide to Learning Chess in 10 Days
A 10-day plan to learn the rules, play your first real games, and decide if chess is worth keeping in your life
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
A down-to-earth, 10-day starter plan for chess — real sessions, real games, no fluff. Try it, then decide if it's for you.
About this book
Have you ever wanted to play chess but felt like there was a secret handshake you missed? You know the pieces move differently — but you're not sure which way the knight goes, and the idea of playing against someone online feels like jumping into a pool before you've learned to float. This guide is for you. It's a 10-day plan that treats chess like what it is: a skill you can sample over a week and a half, not a mountain you have to climb in one weekend.
Each day has one small, concrete task. You won't be memorizing obscure openings or studying grandmaster games. Instead, you'll get comfortable with the board, learn how the pieces move by actually moving them, and play real games against a computer or a friend — starting as early as day three. By day seven, you'll have a clear picture of what you can and can't do. By day ten, you'll have played a full game, know how to finish off a lone king, and know exactly what your next move is — whether that's keeping chess in your life or putting it down guilt-free.
No vague inspiration, no 'anyone can be a grandmaster' nonsense. Just a friendly, honest walk-through that respects your time and your brain. If chess has always been a 'one day' thing for you, this is your ten days.
Reader Reviews
Jessica Flores
★★★★★I've wanted to learn chess for years but always felt stupid for not knowing the basics. This guide finally made it make sense. Day one had me physically setting up my board and just moving pieces around — no pressure, no score to worry about. By day five I actually checkmated a computer. If you're a total rookie like me, this is the place to start.
Ashley Flores
★★★★★I got this for my husband (hi, Jessica's husband here — she told me to write this too) and honestly, I was skeptical. But the first chapter is literally just 'set up the board and move the pieces.' It's so gentle. We ended up playing our first real game on day eight, and while it was messy, we both knew the rules and had fun. Better than any YouTube rabbit hole.
Laura Gonzalez
★★★★★It's fine. I followed the first few days and learned the rules, which was the goal. But everything after day five felt a little slow — I was ready to just play, not do more practice exercises. Still, if you need structure and have zero experience, it delivers. Just don't expect any advanced strategy, which is fair for the title.
Brenda Rivera
★★★★★I'm a total beginner and the hardest part was just getting started — this guide fixed that. Day one's 'small win' (setting up the board without looking at the instructions) was exactly the confidence boost I needed. I played my first real game against a friend on day six and didn't embarrass myself. The troubleshooting chapter on day nine saved me when I kept leaving pieces hanging.
James Torres
★★★★★It's good for what it is — a quick, no-nonsense intro. I liked that the author doesn't pretend you'll be beating anyone in ten days. The day-by-day structure kept me honest, but I felt the 'self-assessment checklist' on day two was a bit basic. Still, I finished knowing how to play and even won a computer game. Worth the price.
Anthony Davis
★★★★★I've tried learning chess twice before and gave up because everything felt either too boring or too overwhelming. This guide is the Goldilocks of chess books. Day one was literally just touching the pieces and moving them — I finally understood the knight after years of trying to figure it out from a diagram. The day nine 'sticking points' section felt like it was written about me. I'm actually continuing after day ten.