Class is a Mix of Beginners, Advanced Beginners, Intermediate, & Advanced Students
Chess Master Craig's Sample 8-Week Curriculum: For a Mixed Group
Week 1: Getting Out of Check Using CPR: This is one of my favorite week one lessons because it's short and sweet. This gives you enough time to do a name game/take attendance to get to know your kids, go over all the piece's powers/point values, learn about check and checkmate, and also give them enough time to play some chess.
Click --> here for a link to the full lesson
Click --> here for a link to the full lesson
Week 2: The 4 Move Checkmate, and how to Stop It: This gives the kids a quick and easy way to do a checkmate, that they may even be able to use on their parents! I like to teach how to stop it so that it leads into my next lesson. I end this lesson with the third game (Black stopping the 4-move Checkmate) after 1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Nc6! 3. Bc4 g6! 4. Qf3 Nf6!
Week 3: Black Strikes Back: I go over the 3rd game (below) where Black takes it to White for trying to 4 move checkmate him/her.
Click --> Here for a link to the full lesson
Week 3: Black Strikes Back: I go over the 3rd game (below) where Black takes it to White for trying to 4 move checkmate him/her.
Click --> Here for a link to the full lesson
Week 4: The Ultimate Pin and Win Game: Watch as Paul Morphy dazzles with amazing development, a series of pins, double attacks, sacrifices, and ultimately a fancy checkmate.
Click --> Here for a link to the Full Lesson
Click --> Here for a link to the Full Lesson
Week 5: The Ultimate Fork/Double Attack Game Featuring a Monster En Passant:
Click --> Here for a link to the Full Lesson
Click --> Here for a link to the Full Lesson
Week 6: Rook Roller/Draws/Pawn Promotion/Tournament Tips: Don't be the guy in the first 2 diagrams (losing or drawing instead of winning). Be the guy in the 3rd diagram, #RookRolling !
Click --> Here for a link to the Full Lesson
Click --> Here for a link to the Full Lesson
Week 7: Chess Jeopardy (Review/Funny Categories)
Week 8: Tournament Day! (No Lesson)
Week 8: Tournament Day! (No Lesson)
Other Lessons For Mixed Classes
Coach Bret's first class of a session when you don't know the levels of the kids yet: Before we get into the lessons it's important to determine what the general skill level of the class is. If you go into a class with an advanced lesson prepared but the class is full of children just learning how the pieces move, you're in for a long slog of a class! Luckily, Coach Bret has some guidelines for how to quickly and efficiently determine the skill level of your class; as well as some other tips for starting off your class on the right foot!
Click --> Here to View Full Lesson
Click --> Here to View Full Lesson
Why I Suggest You Spend At Least 10 seconds on Each Move--Even When You're Taking the Opponent's Queen!!
If Black had thought about White's move a little bit, they might have noticed that tricky checkmate White had up their sleeve. What move should Black had played if they had a "re-do"?
If you have time to go over what White should have played (instead of 5. Nxe5) there's some pretty cool tactics to go over!
White Strikes First, but Black Strikes Back!:
2 sets of 2 games in the same openings with one White win and one Black win.
Click --> Here for a link to the Full Lesson
2 sets of 2 games in the same openings with one White win and one Black win.
Click --> Here for a link to the Full Lesson
The Italian Opening 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
Two Knights Defense 3...Nf6!?