Best Chess App for Intermediate Players
You know the basics. Now you need tools that help you break through plateaus and reach the next level.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: The intermediate plateau is where more players quit than at any other stage. You have learned the basics, you are winning some games, but suddenly improvement slows to a crawl. This is not because you lack talent. It is because generic practice stops working. You need targeted improvement.
Overview
Intermediate chess players, roughly in the 1200–1800 rating range, face a unique challenge. The beginner tricks stop working, opponents punish mistakes more consistently, and improvement requires more than just playing more games. At this level, you need tools that help you identify specific weaknesses and work on them systematically.
This guide reviews chess apps through the lens of the intermediate player. We focus on features that matter most at this stage: game analysis, targeted training, and structured study.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Chess.com | Lichess | Old School Chess | Chess Tempo | Chessable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Analysis | Premium | Free | Coach-guided | N/A | N/A |
| Tactical Training | Good | Good | Curated | Excellent | Limited |
| Opening Prep | Explorer tool | Studies | Curriculum | N/A | Excellent |
| Endgame Training | Lessons | Tablebase | Coaching | Excellent | Some courses |
| Personalization | Basic paths | None | Adaptive coaching | Stats-based | Spaced repetition |
| Price | Freemium | Free | Free to start | Freemium | Freemium |
Detailed Review
Chess.com is a strong all-around choice for intermediate players. The game review feature identifies your mistakes and suggests improvements. The lesson library includes intermediate-specific content on positional play, pawn structures, and endgame technique. The premium subscription is most valuable at this level because the analysis features that matter most require payment.
Lichess gives intermediate players everything they need for free. Full Stockfish analysis, unlimited puzzles, and the studies feature for opening preparation. The platform rewards self-directed learners who know what they want to work on.
Old School Chess is particularly valuable for intermediate players who have hit a plateau. When you know the basics but cannot figure out why you keep losing, coaching provides the outside perspective that self-analysis misses. Professor Archer can identify patterns in your play that you cannot see yourself.
Chess Tempo's precision-calibrated puzzles are especially effective for intermediate players. The difficulty adapts precisely to your level, ensuring you are always working at the edge of your ability. The endgame training modules address one of the most common intermediate weaknesses.
Chessable becomes relevant at the intermediate level because opening preparation starts to matter more. Spaced repetition helps you build and maintain a repertoire that gives you good positions out of the opening consistently.
Who Should Use What?
If you want one platform for everything, Chess.com with a premium subscription or Lichess for free are both solid choices.
If you have been stuck at a rating for months, add coaching through Old School Chess to get personalized feedback on your specific weaknesses.
If your calculation is weak, focused tactical training on Chess Tempo will sharpen it faster than general puzzle-solving.
If you are consistently getting bad positions out of the opening, invest time in Chessable to build a reliable repertoire.
The intermediate level is where combining tools becomes important. A single app is rarely enough to address all the areas you need to improve.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know what to work on as an intermediate player?
Review your last 20 games and categorize your losses. Are you blundering pieces (tactics)? Running out of time (time management)? Getting bad positions early (openings)? Losing winning endgames (endgame technique)? The pattern in your losses tells you what to study.
How many puzzles should I solve per day?
Quality matters more than quantity. Fifteen to twenty minutes of focused puzzle-solving, taking time to calculate fully before moving, is more effective than rushing through fifty puzzles. Aim for accuracy over speed.
Should I play longer time controls at this level?
Yes. Playing at least some games with 15 minutes or more per side forces you to think carefully. Blitz is fun but does not develop the deep thinking habits that help you improve. A mix of rapid and blitz is ideal.
When should I consider getting a chess coach?
If you have been actively studying and playing for several months but your rating has not budged, a coach can identify blind spots you cannot see on your own. Coaching is valuable at any level, but the return on investment is especially high for plateaued intermediate players.
Professor Archer says: At the intermediate level, the single most valuable habit is reviewing your games. Not just running the engine — actually thinking about why you made each move, where your plan went wrong, and what you would do differently. This reflective practice is what separates players who break through from those who stagnate.
Quick Quiz
What is the most common reason intermediate players plateau?
- They do not have access to enough chess apps - Access to tools is rarely the problem. Free platforms like Lichess provide everything needed. The issue is usually how those tools are used.
- They continue with generic practice instead of targeting specific weaknesses (Correct) - Correct. At the intermediate level, generic practice stops producing results. Breaking through requires identifying your specific weaknesses and training them deliberately.
- They play too many games - Playing games is important, but the issue is not quantity. The problem is playing without reviewing and learning from those games.
- They need to memorize more opening theory - While opening knowledge helps, most intermediate players lose games in the middlegame and endgame, not the opening. Tactical skill and positional understanding are typically more impactful.