Beginner Class

This class is great for new chess players, novices and very young chess players. Students will learn the basic rules of chess, common concepts and basic strategies.

The following is a week by week guide to what is covered.

Topics covered in week 1

  • How the pieces move and capture

  • Defended and undefended pieces

  • Controlling the Centre

Topics covered in week 2

  • The values of the pieces

  • Fair exchanges

  • Favourable exchanges

  • Unfavourable exchanges

Topics covered in week 3

  • Castling

  • The 3 ways out of check

  • Checkmate

  • Stalemate

Topics covered in week 4

  • Straight Line Checkmates

  • Winning with 2 Queens

  • Winning with 2 Rooks

Topics covered in week 5

  • The Vulnerable Pawn

  • The 4 move Checkmate

  • Adjacent Queen Checkmates

Topics covered in week 6

  • Harder Queen Checkmates

  • The 5 ways the game can be drawn

  • En Passant

  • Development

  • Useful moves and useless moves

Topics covered in week 7

  • How to use a chess clock

  • How a chess tournament works

The maximum class size for the Beginners Class is 32 students.