The early phase of any competitive game defines your learning curve, and in Anichess, your first five matches are where you evolve from rookie tactician to spellcasting strategist.

Winning early isn’t about brute force; it’s about understanding how spells interact with board control. Here’s your survival (and victory) guide for your first five games.

Game 1: Focus on Fundamentals

Before you get creative with magic, master traditional chess control.

• Center control: Start with e4/d4 (white) or e5/d5 (black).
• Piece development: Knights before bishops, rooks connect last.
• King safety: Castle early; many spells can expose your back rank.

Most new players lose not from poor spell use but from forgetting the basics. Magic amplifies skill, but it doesn’t replace it.

Game 2: Learn to Manage Mana

Mana is your currency for casting spells. You start with a small mana pool of 2. Each move you make generates you an additional mana up to 8. Each spell costs a fixed amount, and once depleted, you can’t cast until it regenerates.
Use low-cost spells early to build tempo. For example, Bis-Hop 2.0, and save high-cost attacks such as Transcendence for decisive moments. Mana is like your queen: powerful, but limited. Use it wisely.

Game 3: Counterplay Awareness

If you can use spells, your opponent can too. Staying aware of the strategies their available spells enable can make or break a match. Keep track of their mana as well; knowing what they can or can’t afford to cast often reveals their next move before they make it.

Game 4: Use the Board, Not Just the Spells

Remember: Positional chess still wins games.

• Place bishops on open diagonals.
• Use rooks to trap enemy kings.
• Force opponents into limited moves, then punish with spells.

Example:

If you place your bishop on an open diagonal, it can leave your opponent’s rook exposed to the Bis-Hop 2.0 spell if they are not careful. 

The strongest players blend chess logic + spell timing.

Game 5: Timing the Finish

By your fifth game, you should recognize two win patterns:

1. Kingslay through Spell Pressure: You use your spells to their best potential to either eliminate your opponent's pieces or limit their king’s escape squares, forcing checkmate faster.
2. Attrition Victory: You make your opponent deplete their spells and mana, then slowly take over with classical endgame play.
   
   

Mindset for Long-Term Success

Anichess rewards patience, not luck. Your growth curve looks like this:

• Games 1–5: Learn spells and survival.
  
  
• Games 6–15: Start predicting patterns.
  
  
• Games 15–30: Build meta knowledge (when to use spells, when to conserve mana).
  
  

Treat each loss as a tactical lesson. Every game teaches you a new spell synergy or counter.

In your first five games, aim for discipline, awareness, and patience. When you finally deliver your first checkmate with a spell combo, you’ll understand what makes Anichess so addictive. So start your next match, summon your spells, and make your move. In Anichess, every checkmate tells a story, and your first five games are just the beginning.

‍