This class is for young learners who already have a significant formal chess background, likely including having taken multiple previous classes.  All learners are expected to already be comfortable with all of the foundational rules of chess, up to and including en passant capturing and stalemate, and also have a prerequisite knowledge of multiple checkmate strategies including the Scholar’s Mate (The “Four Move Checkmate”).  

Throughout the semester we will review historic games of famous chess Masters and Grandmasters, analyze the strategies employed, and learn how and when to replicate them, including some variations.  Each week's lesson starts with about 30 minutes of explanation and discussion, followed by, for the remaining duration of each class, virtual chess games between the classmates, supervised by the instructor.  

Schedule of Lessons (first 30 minutes of each class):
Week 1:  Game Analysis:  The Opera Game, Part 1
Week 2:  Game Analysis:  The Opera Game, Part 2
Week 3:  The Sicilian Defense (and Variations)
Week 4:  Commonly Played Openings, Part 1:  The Ruy Lopez & The Italian Game
Week 5:  Commonly Played Openings, Part 2:  The Scotch Game & The Petrov Defense
Week 6:  Commonly Played Openings, Part 3:  The French Defense & Caro-Kann
Week 7:  Game Analysis:  Carlsen vs. Karjaken
Week 8:  Conclusion:  Review, Checkmate Puzzles, and more

Schedule of Virtual Games (final 30 minutes of each class):
Week 1:  Practice Games with instructor coaching
Week 2:  Practice Games with instructor coaching
Week 3:  Practice Games with instructor coaching
Week 4:  Practice Games with instructor coaching
Week 5:  In-class tournament Round 1 games
Week 6:  In-class tournament Round 2 games
Week 7:  In-class tournament Round 3 games
Week 8:  Awards Ceremony (all students will be sent certificates of completion and tournament award ribbons)