This document outlines the syllabus of the School section of the Kids' Zone. In the main (chessKID) interface
these lessons are presented in a different order, along with quizzes, video games and other material designed to enhance and reinforce the content
of the lessons and to enable children to put into practice the concepts they have learned.
The complete 3 year course comprises nine classes each of which is designed to last a term (assuming 3 terms a year). A major rewrite of the course with improved move entry and scoring systems and restructured to fit in with the rest of the site is planned for late 2006/early 2007.
Our schools download pack enables children to take a test to demonstrate their knowledge of each class.
If you wish to use the chessKIDS certificates provided you'll also need to download the chess pieces font (permission granted by ChessBase gmbh).
CLASS 1
1. How to set the board up the right way round (White in the right hand corner)
2. How to set the pieces up correctly (Queen on her own colour)
3. The names of the pieces: King (with cross on top), Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight, Pawn.
4. How the pieces move and capture: (Rook backwards, forwards, sideways, Bishop diagonally, Queen like Rook or Bishop, King one square only, Knight in L shape, jumping, Pawn forward one or two squares, then one square, captures one square diagonally forward.)
5. Understanding that White moves first and the players then take it in turns to move.
CLASS 2
1. The meaning of CHECK (the King is under attack, must be met by capturing checking piece, blocking the check or moving King to safe square).
2. The meaning of CHECKMATE (the King is under attack, you cannot capture checking piece, block the check or move King to a safe square) - if you CHECKMATE your opponent you win the game.
3. The meaning of STALEMATE (the player to move has no legal moves but his King is NOT in check) - if you are in STALEMATE the game is a draw.
4. CASTLING (King move 2 squares towards Rook, which jumps over King to next square. Cannot castle if King or Rook has moved. Cannot castle IN, THROUGH or INTO check.)
5. PAWN PROMOTION - when Pawn reaches end of board it turns into Queen, Rook, Bishop or Knight. Promoted piece appears on promotion square (replacing Pawn) not on starting square. You can have more than one Queen at once.
6. EN PASSANT - if you have a Pawn on your fifth rank and opponent moves a Pawn two squares to end up alongside it you can, on your next move, capture it as if it moved one square.
CLASS 3
1. The names of the squares (algebraic notation).
2. The value of the pieces (Q=9, R=5, B=3, N=3, P=1).
3. Looking for captures which win material: avoiding captures which lose material
4. Finding ways to get out of check.
5. Looking for simple checkmates (Two Rooks, Queen next to King, back rank mates).
6. Basic Opening Principles (Develop your pieces, control the center, get your King safe).
7. The Two Rooks Checkmate.
CLASS 4
1. Chess notation.
2. Scholar's Mate and how to defend against it.
3. Further Opening Principles (Don't bring the Queen out too soon, don't move pieces twice in the opening etc.)
4. Simple tactics: Forks, Pins, Skewers
5. The King and Queen Checkmate.
CLASS 5
1. Attacks on the e1-h4 (e8-h5) Diagonal.
2. The main openings after 1. e2-e4 e7-e5.
3. Queen Forks.
4. Back Rank Mates.
5. Discovered Checks and Attacks.
6. The King and Rook Checkmate.
CLASS 6
1. The Italian Game (Giuoco Piano).
2. The Two Knights' Defense.
3. Sacrifices on f7/f2.
4. Decoy/Destroy combinations.
5. Basic King and Pawn endings.
CLASS 7
1. The Ruy Lopez.
2. The Petroff Defense.
3. Attacking the castled King.
4. Pawn structures and formations.
5. Checkmate combinations.
6. More about King and Pawn endings.
CLASS 8
1. Gambits.
2. The Sicilian and French Defenses.
3. Combinations to win material.
4. Thinking ahead.
5. Strategy - making the most of your pieces.
6. Queen endings.
7. Rook endings.
CLASS 9
1. The Queen's Gambit.
2. Brief introduction to other openings.
3. Minor Piece endings.
4. Chess History - learn about the World Champions and guess their moves.