Five workbooks. One continuous learning system.

The path through five levels

1. 1
   

   Order Level 1

   Level 1

   The World of Chess

   From the first piece moves through to checkmate.

   This workbook is devoted to understanding the rules of chess and mastering the basic moves. It opens the door to the world of chess and leads from the first piece movements to the aim of a complete game: checkmating the opposing king.

   In this level

   • How king, rook, bishop, queen, knight and pawn move
   • Capturing and material value
   • Recognising attacks and giving check
   • Saving the king: move away, interpose, or capture the attacker
   • Recognising and capturing unprotected or more valuable pieces
   • Checkmate, stalemate and castling
   • First checkmate puzzles
2. 2
   

   Order Level 2

   Level 2

   Basic Tactical Motifs

   Winning material, double attack, pin and discovered attack.

   This workbook introduces core tactical motifs. Children now apply their knowledge of the rules to planned exercises, win material and learn to combine attacks with different pieces. Level 2 is clearly more demanding and builds on a secure command of the rules.

   In this level

   • Winning material
   • Double attack with queen, rook, bishop, knight and pawn
   • Pins with queen, rook and bishop
   • Discovered moves and discovered attacks
   • Interim tests after the learning sections
3. 3
   

   Order Level 3

   Level 3

   Tactics Continued

   Trapping pieces, deflection, x-ray and mate in two.

   Level 3 builds on the tactical foundations of the second workbook. Children learn more complex motifs, combine several ideas and calculate checkmates in two moves.

   In this level

   • Trapping pieces
   • Deflection and decoy
   • Removing the defender
   • X-ray
   • Back-rank weakness
   • Mate in two
   • Section tests
4. 4
   

   Order Level 4

   Level 4

   Saving Resources, Zugzwang and Combinations

   Perpetual check, stalemate, zugzwang and mate in three.

   This workbook turns to especially demanding themes. Children learn saving motifs, forcing ideas and combinations, and already calculate checkmates over three moves.

   In this level

   • Perpetual check as a saving motif
   • Stalemate as a saving motif
   • Zugzwang and windmill
   • Interference
   • Clearance and line opening
   • Mate in three
   • Section tests
5. 5
   

   Order Level 5

   Level 5

   Independent Motif Recognition

   Mixed exercises, counterattack and a final test.

   This workbook is devoted to the counterattack and a selected mix of demanding tactical exercises. Motifs that were built up one by one in earlier levels now appear in complex settings. The workbook is the high point of the series.

   In this level

   • Mixed exercises with a stated theme
   • Counterattack
   • Mixed exercises without a stated theme
   • Final test without a given theme
   • Independent selection and combination of known motifs
   • More time, stamina and chess skill per exercise