Chess Curriculum 2020

General Chess Training Lessons

1. Basics (Class D)  Calculation
 General Chess rules 6. Middle game (Class B,A)
 Board arrangement  Positional
 Relative Value of pieces  Tactical
 Piece movement 7. Endgames (Class D,C,B,A)
 Special moves  Endgame principles
 Notation /Recording  Endgame concepts and strategies
 Clocks/Time Management  Checkmate Motifs and Patterns
 Chess terms  Winnability
2. Openings (Class D,C,B,A)  Check mates
 Opening principles  Pawn promotion
 Opening theory 8. Training (Class C,B,A)
 Opening repertoire  Self evaluation and knowing
3. Strategies (Class C,B,A) yourself
 Imbalances  Analyzing your own games
 Center  Annotating your own games
 King safety  Disciplined, objective and
 Square control consistent practice
 Pawn structure 9. Gaining Experience (Class C,B,A)
 Piece quality and coordination  Playing games
 Initiative and development  Analyzing games
 Art of trade  Studying Classical games
 Art of attack  Reading chess materials
 Art of defense 10. Physical and psychological factors
4. Tactics, Sacrifice and (Class D,C,B,A)
Combinations (Class C,B,A)  Exercise
 Visualization  Diet
 Patterns  Mental strength
 Calculation 11. Psychology (Class C,B,A)
 Training cycles/puzzles  Winning chess psychology
5. Thinking techniques (Class C,B,A)
 Planning
 Schematic thinking
 Analysing
 Assessment
Chess National Insturctor: Victor Hongo
Phone No: 0724219422
 12. Tournament (Class D,C,B,A)
 Chess rules
 Preparation
 Clocks and Time management
 Tournament rules
 Rating
 Pairing system
 Tie break systems

Chess National Insturctor: Victor Hongo

Phone No: 0724219422
Above is general chess lessons divided into 4 classes i.e. Class A (Master), Class B (Advanced), Class
C (Intermediate) and Class D (Beginner). The general lessons will be used to create a chess curriculum
and study plan according to the student chess knowledge, experience level and age group. Students of age
5 and 6 will be provided materials to learn chess concepts in an enjoyable manner.

The training methods that will be used are as follows:

1. The trainer explains the basic principles and concepts of the chess lessons in question.

2. Once the students have grasped the contents of the lessons, they are required to solve the test
positions provided by the trainer.

3. Note that testing method in some lessons requires ‘Practical Demonstration against the Trainer' For
example: Elementary checkmate with two Rooks.

4. The students are advised to record the answer in pencil (only!) in any given work. The idea is to
revise the lessons many a times by erasing the answers already recorded.

5. The trainer will instruct and motivate them to ensure neatness and clarity in answers recorded.

6. Once the session concludes, the trainer collects the work done, which are later assessed. Marks are
awarded as per scoring system that will be provided. The trainer records the total marks scored and
generate a appraisal report.

7. Once the students are through with basics they should also be instructed to go through 200 games (@
one game/day) that will be provided. The date on which the student has gone through the game should be
recorded in the space provided.

8. As regards training games, the students are required to play the specified opening set-up with both the
colors alternately.

9. All the games recorded will put into a chess database for analysis and to monitor progress of the
student

10. At the end of each level of training, the trainer is in a position to give a candid report of student's
progress.

11. The students are encouraged to participate in tournaments at all levels (right from our Inter-Class
events to Internationals). I feel that each tournament game is equivalent to one training session!

Chess National Insturctor: Victor Hongo

Phone No: 0724219422
Session Duration: 90 minutes/session with break-up as follows:

Lesson 1 to 10

Level Sessions Time

Revison/Feedback of previous lessons: 15 minutes

Current training session: 30 minutes

Solving test positions 45 minutes

Training Games 25 minutes

+10 seconds

Lesson 11 to 18

Level Sessions Time

Revison/Feedback of previous lessons: 30 minutes

Current training session: 30 minutes

Solving test positions 60 minutes

Training Games 90 minutes

+30 seconds

Note: One session is 60 minutes. Cost 1000/= per session.

The Lessons are subject to adjustment when necessary according to student skill level. Lessons are from
Lesson 1 to 18 as follows:

Section 1 – Starting Out: The Basics of Chess

Beginners Level
 Chessboard and chess pieces
 Rook
 Bishop
 Queen
 Knight
 King
 Pawn
 Algebraic chess notations
 Recording movement of a piece
 Recording movement of a pawn
 Recording capture with a piece
Chess National Insturctor: Victor Hongo
Phone No: 0724219422
 Recording capture with a pawn
 Recording ambiguous moves
 Playing through the recoded game-1 and 2
 Recording the game in a score-sheet
 Special move: Castling
 Special move: En-passant Pawn Capture
 Checking the King
 Getting the King out of ‘Check’ by ‘Move’
 Getting the King out of ‘Check’ by ‘Block’
 Getting the King out of ‘Check’ by ‘Capture’
 Check or Checkmate
 Relative Value Chessmen

Lesson 1

• The Aim (Goal) of a Chess Game

• Part 1 – Check and How to Escape Check
• Part 2 – Checkmate and Introduction to Stalemate
• The Aim (Goal) of a Chess Game Instructor's Guide
• Worksheet 1 – Check the King
• Worksheet 2 – Capture the Checker
• Worksheet 3 – Blocking Check
• Worksheet 4 – Running From Check
• Worksheet 5 – Is This Checkmate
• The Aim (Goal) of a Chess Game Answer Key

Lesson 2
• Basic Checkmates and Stalemate
• Part 1 – Basic Checkmates, King and Queen vs Lone King
• Part 2 – Basic Checkmates, “Rook Roller” – Two Rooks vs Lone King
• Part 3 – Stalemate (No Legal Moves) Explained
• Basic Checkmates and Stalemate Instructor's Guide
• Worksheets 1 and 2 – Checkmate or Stalemate
• Basic Checkmates and Stalemate Worksheets Answer Key

Chess National Insturctor: Victor Hongo

Phone No: 0724219422
Section 2 – The Basics of Playing, the “Phases” of Chess & the Opening

Lesson 3
• How to Win a Chess Game
• Part 1 – Destroying the Enemy and Counting Attackers Defenders
• Part 2 – The Special Move in Chess
• How to Win a Chess Game Instructor's Guide
• Worksheets 1 and 2 – Caslting Quiz
• Worksheet 3 – Is It Defended
• Worksheet 4 – Doggy-Pile Quiz
• Worksheet 5 – Who's Hanging
• How to Win a Chess Game Answer Key

Super Pawns: “En Passant”

• Super-Pawns: “En Passant” Handout
• Worksheet 1 – Can You Capture En Passant?
• Can You Capture En Passant? Answer Key

Lesson 4
• Phases of a Game, Planning & Your Opponent
• Part 1 – The Three Phases of a Chess Game
• Part 2 – Learning the Basics of “Planning” in Chess
• Part 3 – Why Did My Opponent Move There
• Part 4 – Analytical Thinking System
• Phases of a Game, Planning & Your Opponent Instructor's Guide
• Worksheets 1 and 2 – Checks and Captures
• Worksheet 3 – Attack the Queen
• Worksheet 4 – Why Did They Go There
• Checks, Captures, Queen Attacks and Your Opponent Answer Key

Lesson 5
• The “Quick” Mates & Other Basic Checkmates
• Part 1 – “Fools” Rush In, the “Fidgety King”, the “Knight's Dream”, Scholar's” and the
Other Four Move Checkmate
• Part 2 – Other Basic Checkmate Ideas and Patterns
• The Quick Mates & Other Basic Checkmates Instructor's Guide
• Worksheets 1 and 2 – Famous Checkmates
• Worksheet 3 – Guarding f2 and f7
• The Quick Mates & Other Basic Checkmates Opponent Answer Key

Chess National Insturctor: Victor Hongo

Phone No: 0724219422
Lesson 6
• Starting Out a Chess Game: Opening Principles
• Part 1 – The Basics of Development and Queen Play in the Opening
• Part 2 – Advanced Development: Controlling the Center; Connecting the Rooks; and
Playing with a Purpose
• Starting Out a Chess Game: Opening Principles Instructor's Guide
• Worksheet 1 – Connect the Rooks
• Worksheet 2 – Counting Development
• Starting Out a Chess Game: Opening Principles Opponent Answer Key

Section 3 – Tactics, Tactics & More Tactics

Lesson 7
• Chess Tactics: Double Attack & The Fork
• Part 1 – Essential Tactical Knowledge: Double Attacks & The Fork
• Chess Tactics: Double Attack & The Fork Instructor's Guide
• Worksheet 1 – Which Is It
• Worksheets 2 and 3 – Knives & Forks
• Knives, Forks & Spoons Opponent Answer Key

Lesson 8
• Chess Tactics: Learning to Pin & Skewer
• Part 1 – Winning Chess Tactics: Learning to Pin
• Part 2 – Breaking the Pin
• Part 3 – Winning Chess Tactics: Learning to Skewer
• Chess Tactics: Learning to Pin & Skewer Instructor's Guide
• Worksheets 1 and 2 – Pin 'em & Skewer 'em
• Pin 'em & Skewer 'em Answer Key

Lesson 9
• Chess Tactics: Discovered Attacks & Double Checks
• Part 1 – Discovering Discovered Attacks in Chess
• Part 2 – More Discovered Attacks and Double Checks
• Chess Tactics: Discovered Attacks & Double Checks Instructor's Guide
• Worksheets 1 and 2 – Use Your Discovery
• Use Your Discovery Answer Key

Chess National Insturctor: Victor Hongo

Phone No: 0724219422
Lesson 10
• Chess Tactics: Deflect, Destroy & Remove
• Part 1 – Removal of the Defender and Deflection
• Chess Tactics: Deflect, Destroy & Remove Instructor's Guide
• Worksheets 1 and 2 – Using Tactics to Win
• Using Tactics to Win Answer Key

Section 4 – Endgame Play: Passed Pawns, Technique & King Play

Lesson 11
• Rook Mates, Zugzwang & King Play
• Part 1 – Basic Checkmates: King and Rook vs Lone King
• Part 2 – Zugzwang Explaing and Examples
• Part 3 – King Play, King Power and King Activity
• Rook Mates, Zugzwang & King Play Instructor's Guide
• Mini-Game(s) – King Play Practice Games

Lesson 12
• Passed Pawns, Promoting & Other “Pawn Tactics”
• Part 1 – Introduction to Passed Pawns and Basic Pawn Play Strategy
• Part 2 – Under-Promotion, Pawn Tactics and the “Rule of the Square”
• Passed Pawns, Promoting & Other “Pawn Tactics” Instructor's Guide
• Mini-Game(s) – Converting Your Passers
• Worksheet 1 – Circle the Passed Pawns
• Worksheet 2 – To “Under” or Promote
• Passed Pawns, Promoting & Other “Pawn Tactics” Answer Key

Lesson 13
• Opposition, Technique & Advanced King Play
• Part 1 – Opposition Explained with Basic King and Pawn Endings
• Part 2 – Distant Opposition
• Part 3 – Irregular Opposition
• Opposition, Technique & Advanced King Play Instructor's Guide
• Worksheets 1 and 2– King and Pawn Endings
• Opposition, Technique & Advanced King Play Answer Key

Chess National Insturctor: Victor Hongo

Phone No: 0724219422
Lesson 14
• Advanced Endgame Play & Winning Technique
• Part 1 – Win When Winning: The Principles of Technique
• Part 2 – The “Magic Square” Technique: Queen vs Advanced Pawn(s)
• Advanced Endgame Play & Winning Technique Instructor's Guide
• Worksheet 1 – Is the King Too Close
• Advanced Endgame Play & Winning Technique Answer Key

Section 5 – Positional Chess, Planning & Advanced Piece Play

Lesson 15
• The Fundamentals of Positional Chess
• Part 1 – Positional Chess: Doubled Pawns
• Part 2 – Positional Chess: Isolated Pawns
• Part 3 – Positional Chess: Backward Pawns and “Outpost” Squares
• The Fundamentals of Positional Chess Instructor's Guide
• Worksheets 1 and 2 – Find the Weakness
• Find the Positional Weakness Answer Key
Lesson 16
• Learning to Play with the “Little Guys”
• Part 1 – Pawn Majorities and Minorities: The Basics of Pawn Play
• Part 2 – The Basics of Pawn Structure and Advanced Pawn Play
• Part 3 – Advanced Pawn Play, Space and Building Strength
• Learning to Play with the “Little Guys” Instructor's Guide
• Worksheets 1 and 2 – Playing with the Pawns
• Playing with the Pawns Answer Key

Lesson 17
• Bad Pieces & Other Advanced Piece Play
• Part 1 – Cramped/Bad Pieces: “Nominal” vs “Absolute” Piece Power
• Part 2 – Sidelined Minor Pieces: “Knight on the Rim” & “Bad Bishop”
• Bad Pieces & Other Advanced Piece Play Instructor's Guide

Lesson 18
• Playing “Tournament Level” Chess Games & Planning
• Part 1 – Finding High Level Plans and Critical Thinking in Chess
• Part 2 – Prophylactic Thinking in Chess
• Part 3 – Perpetual Check, Three-Fold Repetition & the 50-Move Draw
• Playing “Tournament Level” Chess Games & Planning Instructor's Guide

Chess National Insturctor: Victor Hongo

Phone No: 0724219422