Development Class

Topics Covered

Students will learn the fundamentals of how to finish off their opponents when they have a winning position. The following endgames will be covered:

• King and Queen versus King.

• King and Rook versus King.

• King, Rook and Pawns versus King and Pawns.

• King, Knight and Pawns versus King and Pawns.

• King, Bishop and Pawns versus King and Pawns.

• King and many Pawns versus King and fewer Pawns.

• Opposite-coloured Bishop endgames.

• Chess Notation

• Basic Rook Checkmates

• Basic Bishop Checkmates

• Basic Queen Checkmates

• Basic Knight Checkmates

• Basic Pawn Checkmates

Students will learn the mechanics of basic chess tactics. The following topics will be covered:

• Pins and Skewers.

• Knight Forks, Pawn Forks and King Forks.

• Bishop Forks, Rook Forks and Queen Forks.

• Discovered Checks and Discovered Attacks.

Students will learn the mechanics of more difficult chess tactics. The following topics will be covered:

• Pin Pile-ons and Pin Paralysis.

• Checkmates involving Pins.

• Runaway Pawns, controlling the promotion square and Underpromotion.

• Trapped Pieces.

Students will learn the fundamental elements of chess positions. The following topics will be covered:

• Material.

• Central Control.

• King Safety.

• Development.

• Open files and diagonals.

• Pawn Structure.

• Weak Squares.

Weekly quizzes and homework will be based on the above topics.

Lastly, a tournament is run each term, with one serious game played per week under tournament conditions.