Where Beginners Can Find Chess Learning Resources on the BCA Website

Beginners looking for chess learning material on braillechess.org.uk can start with the site's Chess Notes for Beginners, which the BCA (Braille Chess Association) publishes in two formats: an audio version and a Word file. Both are listed directly on the homepage alongside an introductory video, "How Visually Impaired People Play Chess – Introduction," which explains the basics of how the game is played without sight.

The beginner resources listed on the site

The BCA homepage presents these entry points for new learners:

The two Chess Notes files cover the same beginner material in different formats, so a learner can choose audio if listening is easier, or the Word file if they prefer to read with a screen reader or magnifier.

How to use them together

A practical starting sequence for a beginner:

1. Watch the introduction video first. It gives an overview of how visually impaired players handle the board, pieces, and moves, so the written or audio notes make more sense afterward.
2. Open the "How We Play" page for the detailed written description of the same topic, if you want more than the video covers.
3. Work through Chess Notes for Beginners in whichever format suits you — audio or Word — as your first structured lessons.
4. Revisit the notes alongside the video when a concept is unclear, since the two cover the same ground from different angles.

Why these resources suit visually impaired learners

The BCA states that it supports over 150 visually impaired players and learners, and that although Braille is part of its name and history, it "is certainly not a requirement" for members. The beginner materials reflect that: they are offered in audio and screen-reader-friendly Word formats rather than depending on Braille or on visual diagrams alone. The site also notes that more than 70 members without a visual impairment assist the organisation, so beginners are not expected to already know how adapted chess works before they start.

What to check before you begin

• The homepage does not state a price or a login requirement for these files, so confirm access terms on the site itself rather than assuming they are free or open.
• The audio and Word versions are separate downloads or links; pick one to start rather than trying to follow both at once.
• If you are completely new to chess as well as to adapted play, watch the video before the notes — it answers the "how do you even see the board" question first.