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 28/10/24: Chessboard and Pieces
Week of 4/11/24: Basic Chess Rules and Movement
Week of 11/11/24: Understanding Check and Checkmate
Week of 18/11/24: Capturing Pieces and Pawn Structure
Week of 25/11/24: Opening Principles
Week of 2/12/24: Tactics: Forks and Pins
Week of 9/12/24: Learning Endgames: King and Pawn Endgames
Week of 16/12/24: The Importance of Development
Week of 23/12/24: Strategies for Castling and King Safety
Week of 30/12/24: Reviewing Common Opening Traps
Week of 6/1/25: Basic Checkmate Patterns
Week of 13/1/25: Basic Checkmate Patterns
Week of 20/1/25: Practical Play: Playing Complete Games and Analysis

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