Avram Grant opted to field Didier Drogba as a lone out-and-out striker and Wayne Bridge was handed a start at left-back, while Schalke's plans were hit by an injury to Kevin Kuranyi in the warm-up.
Four minutes in the Blues were handed the opening goal. Florent Malouda tricked his way past his marker on the left side of the area and his weak shot slipped through the gloves of Manuel Neuer and into the net.
Gerald Asamoah headed wide as Schalke finally mounted an attack of their own, before Drogba did likewise from a Joe Cole delivery.
Just before the half-hour mark Carlos Grossmuller thought he has equalised as he latched on to a flick from Soren Larsen to finish, but the offside flag was up.
Soon after Neuer got down smartly to gather Michael Essien's flick header from Malouda's left-wing cross and the keeper did even better right on the stroke of half-time to divert Cole's drive away from danger.
Two minutes into the second half the Blues doubled their lead as a quick counter ended with Paulo Ferreira whipping in a cross from the right which was headed home at the near post by the diving Drogba.
After struggling to carve out any meaningful chances, Schalke were almost back in the game on the hour as Rafinha crossed from the right and Soren Larsen met it with a textbook header, which thumped against the far post and flew straight back into the arms of the relieved Petr Cech.
The remaining minutes saw Chelsea content to hold on to the ball and play on the counter, with their visitors unable to summon up much of a threat in attack.
However, five minutes from time Alex got away with a blatant pull-back on Larsen after his passback fell short, escaping what would have been an automatic red card.
In the final minute Drogba curled a shot narrowly wide of the far post with Neuer stranded, but Chelsea had done more than enough to ensure a solid win.