Break it Down
Download one page guide to how the chess pieces move.
Basic Skills & Variations for Beginners. This approach to teaching and learning chess is accessible to young children or anyone who would benefit from a basic treatment. Even the chess gifted will find something here to enjoy, as they start out or as a break from a challenging tournament game. These activities provide a way for family members to share in the interest of tournament players. If you have always wanted to learn chess, but believed it would be too difficult, welcome, and let the fun begin! Some of the following variations are available as apps. My bias for practice is to have students play OTB! (Over the Board with an actual board and pieces.) |
Knight's Tour
Practice moving your knight by trying to land on every square, one and only once. Place a chip on occupied squares.
Lincolnshire Chess
Pawnmower
_Capture a pawn or chip on every move. Pieces may not move to an empty square! Can be envisioned as a connect-the-dots exercise which teaches how the chess pieces move at the easier levels. More advanced levels involve sequencing and planning, and can be quite challenging!
Solitaire Chess
_Capture pieces until there is only one left. You have the option to switch which piece captures.
In Solitaire Chess, as in regular chess, pawns only move and capture in a forward direction!
In Solitaire Chess, as in regular chess, pawns only move and capture in a forward direction!
Tic Tac Chec
_Developed by Don Green. Accessible for younger children; fun &
quick variation; teaches piece movements; develops important chess
skills. Winning requires simultaneously being able to block or take
your opponent from getting four in a row,
while placing your pieces to avoid capture!
Capture Chess
(Giveaway Chess)
In this variation, the goal is to be the first player to lose all your pieces. It is played with standard chess piece set up and helps students practice piece movements. It's a quick variation in which losing pieces is positive! It helps players develop board vision. To win, players must plan to bait the opponent to take pieces.
Forced Capture Rule: If a piece is able to be captured, it must be captured.
In this variation, the goal is to be the first player to lose all your pieces. It is played with standard chess piece set up and helps students practice piece movements. It's a quick variation in which losing pieces is positive! It helps players develop board vision. To win, players must plan to bait the opponent to take pieces.
Forced Capture Rule: If a piece is able to be captured, it must be captured.
Chess Camp Series By Igor Sukhin
The official beginners series endorsed by the USCF. Lots of basic exercises to bring you up to speed!
ChessKid.com Curriculum
Download the ChessKid.com curriculum for a comprehensive overview of chess for beginners to intermediate players! It is intended as a scholastic chess curriculum, which can also be used by homeschoolers, parents and kids, or by motivated chess students themselves.
This is a valuable and free resource.
This is a valuable and free resource.
USCF Guide to Chess
Evening Chances for Players of Different Skill Levels
_When new players begin playing a full chess game, try these collaborative techniques:
Encourage a more experienced player to coach a new player by narrating their own strategy, and pointing out threatened pieces and potential mates.
Stronger player plays black.
Stronger plays one piece short. (for example the Queen)
Every five moves, weaker player may remove one piece from stronger player starting with a pawn.
Some students enjoy playing the scholar's mate or simliar on new players. This can also be a learning opportunity.
Encourage a more experienced player to coach a new player by narrating their own strategy, and pointing out threatened pieces and potential mates.
Stronger player plays black.
Stronger plays one piece short. (for example the Queen)
Every five moves, weaker player may remove one piece from stronger player starting with a pawn.
Some students enjoy playing the scholar's mate or simliar on new players. This can also be a learning opportunity.
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