Setting the stage for best methods and practices to make the most of this course.

This will assess your current ability in chess independent of time constraints. The ability to solve problems is a cornerstone of the game, and this test will give you a sense of what you are currently able to solve and what’s missing or lacking in your game.

We will learn various tactical motifs together and use practical examples so that you can practice and reinforce what you are learning.

You will learn the source of many common errors in chess and use practical exercises to work on reducing blunders and errors as much as possible in your games.

You will learn how to evaluate any chess position using a specific criteria and will be give exercises to work on and hone your ability to evaluate.

We will analyze concepts of attacking the opponent’s king by looking at famous and instructive games. The games will be taken from some of the greatest chess players to ever play the game, with players such as Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, Magnus Carlsen and others.

You will learn about various pawn structures, what makes a pawn considered a weakness or a strength, what are isolated, doubled, backwards pawns, and how do you play with or against them in practical play.

We will discuss fundamental opening principles and objectives. I also include 3 additional ideas that high level players focus on in the opening phase of the game.

You will learn principles and ideas that are specific to the endgame phase. In the puzzles section, you will be given theoretical positions every players must know and very difficult problems to encourage you think deeper about positions and the game in general.