Let's Play Chess: Beginner Level

This class is specifically designed for students who have already graduated our semester-length Beginner program or Low Sensory program, and are looking for more opportunities to practice what they have learned against peers of their own age and skill level, before moving up to the Intermediate level.  

 Each meeting will begin with students having an opportunity to ask questions about chess concepts they are struggling with.  If no students are prepared with questions to ask, the instructor will choose a topic to briefly review, from chess concepts that the students should already be familiar with.  

After this, most of the remainder of the meeting will revolve around organised play, typically with the students playing chess against each other while the instructor provides individualised coaching and feedback in real-time.  Alternatively, this class time may sometimes also be spent on other organised play activities such as the students playing collectively against the instructor as a group, all playing against the instructor simultaneously, or other group activities.  

Week of 17/3/25: The Importance of Development
Week of 24/3/25: Strategies for Castling and King Safety
Week of 31/3/25: Reviewing Common Opening Traps
Week of 7/4/25: Basic Checkmate Patterns
Week of 14/4/25: Basic Checkmate Patterns
Week of 21/4/25: Practical Play: Playing Complete Games and Analysis
Week of 28/4/25: Chessboard and Pieces
Week of 5/5/25: Basic Chess Rules and Movement
Week of 12/5/25 - Understanding Check and Checkmate
Week of 19/5/25 - Capturing Pieces and Pawn Structure
Week of 26/5/25 - Opening Principles
Week of 2/6/25 - Tactics: Forks and Pins
Week of 9/6/25 - Learning Endgames: King and Pawn Endgames

Each class meeting will end with a chess puzzle for the students to attempt to solve together as a group.