weekly

Chess Club - Learn, Play, and Socialize

Completed by 777 learners

Ages 12-14

Live Group Class

In this ongoing chess club, learners will practice strategic thinking, problem solving, and social conversation skills while playing one of the world's greatest games.

Andrew Linke (Chess, D&D, Photography)

Average rating:

4.9

Number of reviews:

(286 reviews)

Popular

Live video meetings

1x per week

2-10 learners per class

50 min

About Learning Overview Teacher Reviews

What's included

1 live meeting

50 mins in-class hours per week

Class Experience

US Grade 6 - 8

Beginner - Intermediate Level

♟️ This is an ongoing club for *Middle School* aged learners to practice playing chess in a friendly and mildly competitive environment. All skill levels are welcome! We have a solid mix of beginner and intermediate players in most classes.

🤔 Class Experience

- Top of the Hour: Welcome to new members and sharing from experienced members.

- First ten to twenty minutes: Discuss opening, mid-game, or end-game strategies, and practice puzzles.

- By about quarter after the hour we have generally settled into a comfortable rhythm of playing chess, discussing moves taken, and analyzing each other's strategies. Most groups are a pleasant mix of chess discussion and social conversation about recent movies, comics, favorite books, and gaming.

👑 If you'd like to join an advanced class or one which is more quiet to allow for careful thinking, please message me for recommendations of which days/times will fit your needs.

Learning Schedule
We explore chess strategies in a fun way according to the needs of the learners in each class. I've got a full schedule of planned lessons for all of 2025 listed in the Learning Goals section. 

Common Discussion topics:
- Suggest a **Chess Opening** you would like to share or learn about.
- Name a **pro chess player** you're excited to talk about. Be prepared to share what you're most enthusiastic or curious about related to their career.
- **Share** a chess book, guide, or article that has been helpful.
- Share the **PGN** of an interesting chess game that you want to explore.
- Post the FEN or PGN of a **Midgame Position** you want to discuss.
- Ask about an **Endgame** position you'd like to study.

Chess Formats played:
- 1 v 1 Untimed
- 1-3 Minute Bullet
- 5 Minute Arena
- 20 Minute direct challenges.
- Everyone against Linke group vote chess
- Team Chess
- Four-Player Chess
- King of the Hill
- Bughouse
- Crazyhouse

Learning Goals

January
Openings: Italian Game
Midgame: Attacking the F File 
Midgame: Clearance
Endgame: Pawn Endgame

February
Openings: Queen's Gambit
Midgame: Capture the Defender
Midgame: Defensive Move 
Endgame: Knight Endgame

Other Details

Parental Guidance

Students have the option of playing chess using Chess.com or Lichess.org. - All Lichess games are anonymous unless you choose to create an account for your child. Parents are responsible for their child's Lichess account if you choose to make one. - All Chess.com games require sharing a registered username. Parents are responsible for their child's Chess.com account if you choose to make one.

Pre-Requisites

Learners should be familiar with using a web browser and zoom. Please make sure that learners have access to Chess.com (account required) or Lichess.org (account optional).

External Resources

In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:

Sources

I will use the following external resources to enrich your child's learning experience: - andrewlinke.com/chess for basic chess lessons and GIFs of how to play chess. - chess.com articles, puzzles, and interactive chess lessons. - lichess.org for articles, puzzles, and interactive chess lessons.

Meet the teacher

Andrew Linke (Chess, D&D, Photography)

Joined May, 2020

4.9

286reviews

Popular

Profile

Teacher expertise and credentials

Virginia Teaching Certificate in English/Language Arts

I have been teaching students how to play chess and managing middle school chess clubs for over a decade, with a special focus on gifted learners, students on the autism spectrum, and providing a space for LQBTQ+ students.