Beginner 1 Objectives:

• Learn how all of the pieces move and their point values

• Understand the difference between check, checkmate, and stalemate

• Know how to castle kingside and queenside, how to promote a pawn, and en-passant

• Be able to comfortably solve checkmate in 1 puzzles

• Learn the 3 basic defenses (move/block/protect)

• Understand what is being attacked to avoid hanging pieces

• Learn the three opening principles: control the center, develop minor pieces, castle early

• Learn how to notate (on a basic level)

Beginner 2 Objectives:

• Know how to checkmate with ladder checkmate, queen and king, and rook and king

• Be able to spot and avoid back rank checkmate

• Be able to comfortably solve forced checkmate in two puzzles

• Be able to comfortably play the first 10 moves of the opening while remembering the basic principles

• Learn all tactical devices (fork, pin, skewer, discovered attack, and removal of defender) in one move

• Be able to defend against all tactical devices

• Understand all intricacies of notation

• Understand all rules and etiquette of a chess match (no talking during a match, touch move, same hand hits the clock, shaking hands)

• Know all methods of making a draw (repetition, 50 move rule, insufficient material)

• Learn basic board terminology: rank, diagonal, file, square

Advanced Beginner Objectives:

• Be comfortable with all tactical devices from Beginner 2, but with a 2-3 move sequence

• Understand basic positional concepts: backwards pawn, double pawns, isolated pawns, weak squares, space advantage, bishop pair, tempo

• Be able to solve Mate in 2/Mate in 3 puzzles

• Be able to checkmate with two bishops and a king

• Know how to play basic pawn and king games (attack and defense)

• Be able to notate and play a mock tournament match

• Be observed displaying proper competition etiquette (standing at a distance, not talking to or distracting players, not making constant draw offers, losing gracefully, reporting score, not intimidating the opponent, not cheating, remaining humble)

Intermediate 1 Objectives:

• Learn what tactical weaknesses are, how to spot them, and how to attack them

• Be able to identify tactical weaknesses in their own positions and defend during games

• Be able to follow along with analysis, and ideally begin to analyze their own games

• Know the basics of a few openings for both colors:

• For white, have a response to e5, d5, c6, and c5

• For black, have a response to e4, d4, and c4

• Learn all pawn endgames

• Achieve a non-provisional USCF rating above 800

Intermediate 2 (USCF between 800 and 1200) Objectives:

• Pawn-Storming/Opposite Side Castling/Not Castling Theory

• Initiative (more advanced opening principles)

• Middlegame Play I (Maneuvering and core concepts of how to think + candidate)

• Middlegame Play II (Exchanges)

• Student or Master game analysis to highlight

• Advanced endgames (with rooks, bishops, and knights involved)

• Achieve a non-provisional USCF rating above 1200

No prior knowledge is needed! This course is designed for absolute beginners. You'll start by learning the basics of the chessboard, piece movements, and rules.

The course is structured to be completed over 10 weeks with weekly lessons and practice exercises.

You will be provided with equipment to use on site. Online resources will also be provided for additional practice.

Your child can start at any time and we have a process to ascertain which class your child will be placed in.