Puzzle Academy has grown a lot - from a few basic tactical motifs to a complete curriculum that now spans from beginner to expert level. That's great news - but it also means it can take years to work through all the material.

To make your journey clearer and more motivating, we've introduced a new system of Academy Ranks.

Learn at the Right Level

When you start Puzzle Academy, you can now choose your starting rank - from Beginner to Expert. Each rank represents a stage of chess improvement, with its own set of motifs and patterns to master.

Previously, you selected your starting point using a rating slider. That worked, but many players didn't know their exact rating. The new rank selection screen is simpler - and it focuses on what Puzzle Academy is really about: learning motifs, not ratings.

Each rank shows what you'll learn and practice - for example, Intermediate Players focus on discovered attacks, removing defenders, and two-move checkmate patterns.

You can always return to this screen to adjust your rank if you find the puzzles too easy or too hard.

Track Your Progress Toward the Next Rank

Your current rank now appears directly on the Academy dashboard, along with your progress toward the next one.

To reach the next rank, you need to master a set of skill levels that you previously unlocked on lower ranks. You also need to unlock a different set of new skill levels to meet the requirements for the next rank.

The progress bar shows the following sections for the skill levels you have to master:

• Mastered: You already completed this requirement
• Workout: Skill levels you still need to master

It also shows the following sections for the skill levels you have to unlock:

• Unlocked: You already completed this requirement
• Unlockable: You can start unlocking these skill levels
• Locked: You need to fulfill additional requirements before you can unlock these skill levels

You'll also see the percentage of completion for your current rank – a great way to see how close you are to advancing!

Easier Unlocking and Smarter Recommendations

On the Unlock a Skill screen, you can now filter to show only the skill levels required for the next rank. This makes it easier to decide what to unlock next - especially if you already have many options available.

Your recommendations now also prioritize puzzles that help you unlock skills for your next rank.

Stats, Skill Details, and Achievements

On the Stats page, you'll find a new filter showing your progress to the next rank.

When you view a specific skill, you'll now see its unlock and mastery ranks, with tooltips that show the rank name and approximate rating.

And when you finally reach the next rank, a new achievement will appear in your activity list.

Try It Now

Head to your Puzzle Academy dashboard to see your current rank and how close you are to the next one.

If you haven't started yet, this is the perfect time - you can now begin at exactly the right level for you.