Step 1 classes starting from
Thursday 19th & Saturday 21st May 2022
Thursdays starting 19th May from 5pm - 6pm
OR
Saturdays starting 21st May from 9:30am - 10:30am
Click below for Course Registration
Chess Courses for Juniors aged 5-16
Learning Chess: Levels 1 to 4
The design of each of the levels is playful. Each level is designed in such a way as to make it possible for children to become fond of Chess. You can be a complete beginner or already know the moves and all the basics, each of the 3 levels will fit your individual needs with a course designed to improve your skills even more.
LOCATION:
Classes are held weekly at the:
'Gardenia Court'
Apartment 3A
Sqaq Il-Hofra
Gharghur GHR 1310
Mobile: 79007001
DATES & TIMES:
Please send an email to markgfleri@gmail.com to find out when the next courses will
be taking place.
Courses will only take place if there are a minimum of 4 students per class.
For Level 2 and 3 classes please contact the club directly on 79007001.
LESSON STRUCTURE (Please scroll further down the page for course content)
-
Each of the steps are made up of 35 lessons with each lesson being 60 minutes in duration. The first 30-40 minutes of the class will consist of interactive instruction followed by 20 minutes dedicated to hands-on chess practice with other students.
-
Students will be given homework worksheets at the end of certain lessons which they will be expected to complete by the following lesson.
-
An assessment will be given in the last lesson comprising of a number of tactical puzzles covering all subject areas.
-
A certificate of completion along with a medal will be awarded to each student provided they have an attendance rate of 80%.
COST:
Each Step course is comprised of 35 lessons and will be covered over a period of 8-9 months (lesson will stop and continuing according to Government/Private/Church school holidays.
€10 per lesson for 60 minutes. Sibling price - €7.50
Lessons can be paid by cash or revolut.
NOTE: It is advised that all students new to chess and beginners start from Level 1 as the levels follow on from each other. If a student does not fully understand the concepts that are covered in Step 1 they may have difficulty following the remainder of the steps.
On completion of Step Courses
LEVEL 1 - BEGINNER COURSE
In the first level, the elementary knowledge is acquired which every successful chess player needs. If you are a complete beginner it is recommended that you start with Level 1 - Beginner Chess Course. The early stages of the course thus present easily comprehensible steps and exercises, which are immediately assimilated through play. In addition, the course is complemented by a lot of new activities for learning and practice.
Duration: 35 weeks
-
The chessboard and pieces
-
How the pieces move
-
Special moves
-
The life of a chess king
-
Mate in one move
-
Check and getting out of check
-
Mate by a queen
-
Mate by two bishops
-
Basic mate configurations
-
Introduction to chess openings
-
Introduction to middlegames
-
How a game can end
-
Combination basics
-
The sacrifice
-
The deflection
-
The decoy
-
The pin and the skewer
-
Typical combinations 1
-
Typical combinations 2
-
Development tales
-
The safety of the king
-
The center
-
Activity
-
Pawn structures
-
Introduction to chess endgames
-
The basics of pawn endgames 1
-
The basics of pawn endgames 2
-
The basics of rook endgames
-
The basics of knight endgames
-
The basics of bishop endgames
-
The basics of queen endgames
-
Open positions
-
Closed positions
-
Semi-open positions
-
Gambits
LEVEL 2 - INTERMEDIATE COURSE
The second level follows on from Level 1 and is about the basic rules of tactics and positional play. You will learn many attacking patterns and techniques to win material. Many built-in games and exercises will help you with this.
Duration: 35 weeks
-
The weakness of the bank rank
-
Principles of attacking 1
-
Principles of attacking 2
-
The king left in the center
-
Castling to opposite sides
-
Development advantage
-
Elimination of the defense
-
Space advantage
-
Positioning the pieces
-
Weak squares
-
Pawn weaknesses
-
The bishops in the middlegame
-
The knights in the middlegame
-
A passed pawn in the middlegame
-
The rooks in the middlegame
-
The queen in the middlegame
-
Exchanging pieces
-
Closed centers
-
Open centers
-
Fixed centers
-
Mobile centers
-
Evaluating the position
-
Planning
-
Unexpected moves
-
Giving perpetual check
-
Overloaded pieces
-
The clearance
-
Opening preparation
-
Passed pawns in the endgame
-
Advanced pawn endgames 1
-
Advanced pawn endgames 2
-
Advanced rook endgames
-
Advanced queen endgames
-
Mate by a bishop and a knight
-
Endgame tactics
LEVEL 3 - ADVANCED COURSE
In the third level you which follows on from Level 2 yo will learn about several kinds of attacks, sacrifices, planning, how to calculate and more detail on endgames.
Duration: 35 weeks
-
Zugzwang
-
Blocking
-
Using pins
-
Using deflections
-
Using decoys
-
Delivering discovered attacks
-
Delivering discovered checks
-
The X-ray attack
-
Incorrect combination
-
A knight against a bishop in the middlegame
-
Winning with activity
-
Opposite coloured bishops in the middlegame
-
Intuitive sacrifices
-
Advanced planning
-
Hanging pawns
-
Active defense, counterplay
-
Variation calculation 1
-
Variation calculation 2
-
Taking a risk
-
Fighting for the initiative
-
Destructive sacrifices
-
Breaking through in the center
-
The minority attack
-
Exchange sacrifices
-
Pawn endgames - pawn break
-
Pawn endgames - reverse tempo
-
Pawn endgames - defense
-
A knight against a bishop in the endgame
-
Rook endgames - A rook against a pawn 1
-
Rook endgames - A rook against a pawn 2
-
Rook endgames - Frontal assault and activity
-
Simplifying the position
-
Never give up to early
-
Selected combinations
-
Chess compositions, studies