130: Survey of Chess 2

An ongoing class focusing on the first level of chess understanding. This class assumes the student knows all the topics of Beginning Chess 100 and 102, 105 Introduction to Tournament Chess. The class will have the greatest impact if a player can regularly attend a rated chess tournament.

This class covers similar to 120, but more in-depth and with greater rigor. The class is intended for players with US Chess ratings of 1000 to 1500. Some players above 1500 may find this class useful if there are “gaps” in their fundamental knowledge. Dedicated students below 1000 or novices will find the course useful. Chess coaches will also find the course beneficial.

Requirements: Must know everything covered in Beginning Chess I

Meeting times: Wednesdays, 7-8 Central Time, February 15 - May 3, 2023 (12 meetings)

Price: $180

Registration: https://www.cavemanchess.com/course-registration until 6:00 p.m. Feb 15.

Location: Online, Microsoft Teams connection. If you don't have a FREE Chessbase username, please go to https://account.chessbase.com/en/create-account to create a free account and share the username with us.

Topics:

1) The Fundamentals for Understanding Chess

2) Basic Theory of Positional Play

3) Using Classical Games to Study

4) How to Attack

5) Pawn Play: Pawn Storms; Minority Attacks; Bayonets

6) Pawn Play: Holes; Backward, Isolated, Doubled Pawns; Pawn Chains

7) Open lines; Ranks; Files; Diagonals

8) Moving to endgames: Passed Pawns and basic K+P endings

9) Rook Endings

10) Minor piece endings

11) Examples of Typical Sacrifices

12) TBD based on class need

Homework: The class will have weekly homework.

Instructor: Kevin L. Bachler FIDE Master, FIDE Trainer, Life Master, US Chess Professional Chess Coach. See https://www.cavemanchess.com/kevins-credentials

There is a minimum of four students for the class to be held.