This intermediate-level chess course is tailored for players who understand the rules and basic tactics and are ready to improve their game. The course focuses on strengthening tactical calculation, building a strong opening foundation, developing positional awareness, and mastering key endgame concepts. Learners practice solving chess puzzles, studying model games, and analyzing their own play to grow into smarter, sharper competitors.

Key Benefits:

Learn openings with purpose, not memorization
Solve tactical puzzles and master common attacking patterns
Build strong middlegame strategies and positional thinking
Gain confidence in rook and pawn endgames
Analyze personal games to improve performance

What You’ll Learn:

Opening Principles & Systems

Center control, development, and king safety
Italian Game, Sicilian Defense, Queen’s Gambit, London System
Spotting traps and early advantages
Understanding why openings work

Tactical Patterns & Combinations

Forks, pins, skewers, and discovered attacks
Double attacks and zwischenzug (in-between moves)
Removing the defender and decoy tactics
Daily puzzle solving for accuracy

Strategic Concepts

Positional play: weak squares, pawn structure, outposts
When to trade pieces vs. keep tension
Open files, strong diagonals, and control of key squares
Prophylaxis: thinking about your opponent’s threats

Endgame Essentials

King and pawn endgames: opposition & triangulation
Lucena and Philidor rook endgame techniques
Checkmate patterns: King + Queen, King + Rook, Two Bishops
Playing with precision under pressure

Calculation & Visualization

Thinking 3–4 moves ahead
Recognizing threats, captures, checks
Visualization drills for blindfold accuracy
Evaluating positions like a tournament player

Practical Play & Game Analysis

How to review and annotate your games
Practice games with instructor feedback
Playing longer time controls to develop discipline
Introduction to chess notation and online tools