Main Lessons
Chess Lessons – Beginners
Lesson 1: Introduction to Chess: Course Outline and Expectations
Lesson 2–3: Chess Basics: Setting up the board & How to move pieces
- Setting up the Board
- How to use a Pawn
- How to use a Knight
- How to use a Bishop
- How to use a Rook
- How to use a Queen
- How to use a King
Lesson 4: Review of Fundamentals – Video Link
Lesson 5: Test your Understanding – Mini Quiz
- Legal and Illegal Moves
- Chess Notation & Symbols
- Special Moves: Pawn Promotion, Castling, En-passant – Video Link
Lesson 6: Principles & Guidelines – Part 1 (Chess Openings)
- 3 Basic Opening Strategies
- 10 Golden Moves in Chess
- Attack and Defense
- Opening Tips & Tricks Explained – Lesson Video
Lesson 7: Practice Day for Openings – Game Day 1
Lesson 8: Game Day 2
Lesson 9: Checkmate with Queen
Lesson 10 (Dec 10th): Chess Endgames – Review Checkmate with a Queen – Video Link (~10 min)
Lesson 11: Practice Day 2
Lesson 12: Test – Checkmate with Queen
Lesson 13: Chess Movie Day
World’s Strongest Female: Watch
World’s Strongest Player: Watch
Chess Lessons – Higher Level
Lesson 1: Introduction to Chess Tactics: Course Outline and Expectations
Lesson 2 & 4: Tactics: Pin and Skewer (YouTube Link)
TO PRINT: Pin Part I & II (12 Problems): Download
TO PRINT: Skewer Part I & II (12 Problems): Download
Lesson 5: Game Day
Lesson 6 & 7: More Tactics! Discovered Attack & Checks – Video Link
TO PRINT: Discover Attack Part I & II (12 Problems): Download
Back Rank Checkmates – Video Link
TO PRINT: Back Rank Part I & II (12 Problems): Download
Lesson 8: Decoy – Video Link
TO PRINT: Decoy (Homework): Download
Destroy the Defender – Video Link
TO PRINT: Destroy the Defender Homework: Download
Lesson 9: Review Day
Lesson 10: Test
What’s next?
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Chess Lessons – Intermediate Part 2
Lesson 1 (Mar 1): Class Intro: Course Outline
Lesson 2 (Mar 8): Endgame Tactics – Zugzwang & Triangulation
Lesson 3 (Mar 22): Middlegame Tactics – Windmill Attack (plus review Pin): Video
Lesson 4 (Mar 29): Review/Practice Day
Lesson 5 (Apr 5): Checkmate Patterns – Part 1, Part 2
Lesson 6 (Apr 12): Test Day – King & Pawn; 2 Bishops Checkmate
Lesson 7 (Apr 26): Wild Card – Mystery Saturday (Substitute: Neal)
Lesson 8 (May 3): Game Day
Lesson 9 (May 10): Middlegame Tactics – Decoy: Video
Lesson 10 (May 24): Middlegame Tactics – Deflection: Video
Lesson 11 (May 31): King & Pawn Endgames – Read More
Lesson 12 & 13 (Jun 7 & 14): Middlegame Tactics Test – Decoy, Deflection, Destroy the Defender
As promised, the winning team will receive a special prize on the last day!
Archives – Reference Material from Past Classes
Chess Lessons – Beginners (Archive)
Course Outline and Expectations
Lesson 1: Introduction & Setting up the Board
Lesson 2: Moving & Capturing Pieces
Lesson 3: Chess Notation – How to Record a Game
Lesson 4: Special Moves – Castling & En passant
Lesson 5: What is a Check? & What is Checkmate?
Lesson 6: Value of Pieces – How Much is a Queen Worth?
Lesson 7: Tournament Rules – I Adjust…!
Ten Tips to Winning Chess – With Examples!
Final: Test your Understanding
Chess Lessons – Intermediate Part 1 (Archive)
Course Outline and Expectations
Lesson 1: Chess Endgames – Review Checkmate with a Queen: Video Link (~10 min)
Lesson 2: Chess Endgames – Review Checkmate with a Rook: Video Link (~10 min)
Lesson 3: Checkmate Puzzles
- Checkmate in One Move (Warm-up)
- Checkmate in Two Moves (Intermediate)
- Checkmate in Three Moves (Challenging)
Lesson 4: King & Pawn vs King Part 1: Video Link (~6 min)
Lesson 5: King & Pawn vs King Part 2: Video Link (~7 min)
Lesson 6: Intro to Middlegame Tactics – What is a Pin?
Lesson 7: More on Pins – Homework Part I & II: Download (12 Problems)
Lesson 8: Skewer Attack: Video & Homework Part I & II (12 Problems)
Lesson 9: Discover Attack: Notes & Homework Part I & II (12 Problems)
Lesson 10: Back Rank: Notes & Homework Part I & II (12 Problems)
Chess Lessons – Intermediate Part 2 (Archive)
Lesson 1 (Mar 1): Class Intro: Course Outline
Lesson 2 (Mar 8): Endgame Tactics – Zugzwang & Triangulation
Lesson 3 (Mar 22): Middlegame Tactics – Windmill Attack (plus review Pin): Video
Lesson 4 (Mar 29): Review/Practice Day
Lesson 5 (Apr 5): Checkmate Patterns – Part 1, Part 2
Lesson 6 (Apr 12): Test Day – King & Pawn; 2 Bishops Checkmate
Lesson 7 (Apr 26): Wild Card – Mystery Saturday (Substitute: Neal)
Lesson 8 (May 3): Game Day
Lesson 9 (May 10): Middlegame Tactics – Decoy: Video
Lesson 10 (May 24): Middlegame Tactics – Deflection: Video
Lesson 11 (May 31): King & Pawn Endgames – Read More
Lesson 12 & 13 (Jun 7 & 14): Middlegame Tactics Test – Decoy, Deflection, Destroy the Defender
As promised, the winning team will receive a special prize on the last day!