ChessNut's Class A Level Classroom Please contact Brian Thompson for corrections and updates. A Note to the Student | A Note to the Coach

Training Goals - Class A

The Class A Level Classroom is for the player who plays regularly in local chess tournaments, occasionally at National level chess tournaments, and is one of the stronger members of their chess club. This player is deadly with chess Tactics, is skillful with most chess Endgames, consistently uses good Strategic judgement, and has a solid foundation and regular training in chess Opening Theory. The Class A level player consistently scores well at local chess tournaments, and has had moderate success in larger or National level chess tournaments.

1. Continue studying chess games that were played by Masters and explained by great teachers. ('Capablanca's Best Chess Endings', Chernev; '107 Great Chess Battles', Alekhine; 'The World's Great Chess Games', Fine) - Why: When you want to raise your play to the next level, study the finest games of the greatest Masters. It also helps to have the world's greatest chess teachers point out the Master's thoughts and plans in order to direct your thinking into more productive channels.
   
   
2. Continue studying chess endings. ('Capablanca's Best Chess Endings', Chernev; 'Silman's Complete Endgame Course', Silman) - Why: You are a Class A tournament player. The next level is Expert, and after that is Master. To become a chess Expert, you must be fluent in all stages of the game. To become a Master, you must excel in all areas.



3. Continue studying a chess opening repertoire. ('Chess Openings for Black, Explained', Alburt) - Why: Play the type of chess game you want, not the type your opponent wants. Choose your course, and then follow it. The study of chess Openings is the chess player's method of plotting his course.



4. Continue studying chess strategy. ('The Complete Book of Chess Strategy', Silman; 'Capablanca's Best Chess Endings', Chernev) - Why: Study the chess Openings in order to plot your course. Study chess Strategy in order to get there when your opponent's plans get in your way.



5. Continue studying chess Tactics. ('More Chessercizes: Checkmate!', Pandolfini) - Why: "Examine moves that smite!" (C.J.S. Purdy) Develop the chess 'killer instinct' and stop your opponent cold at the very first opportunity.

Recommended Tools

1. Review the Tools Section of all previous ChessNuts Classroom levels. Collect any tools that you have previously skipped and begin using them. Take advantage of every resource, both on and off the board in order to become a better player.

Projects

Study:

1. Continue to study your opening repetoire with Chess Position Trainer's Training Mode at least three times per week, for at least 30 minutes per session. Add one more sub-repetoire for Black to your current repetoire, and include it in your Training Mode sessions. Hint: Review the Tools in the Class B level to learn how.



2. Continue to run the Tactics Training in Chessimo at least three times per week, for at least 30 minutes each session. Repeat these sessions until you complete Tactics Modules 05 and 06, all units.



3. Continue to run the Endgames Training in Chessimo at least three times per week, for at least 30 minutes each session. Repeat these sessions until you complete Endgames Module 03, all units. If you have any trouble understanding the concepts in these Chessimo drills, immediately refer to the appropriate section in 'Pandolfini's Endgame Course' or 'Silman's Complete Endgame Course' for an explanation of the key concepts. Once you've read the section that covers your current Chessimo Endgame drills, return to the drills and look for the application of the Pandolfini/Silman lessons!



4. Continue to run the Strategy Training in Chessimo at least three times per week, for at least 30 minutes each session. Repeat these sessions until you complete Strategy Module 03, all units.



5. Play through at least 10 Master level chess games per week like those in 'Capablanca's Best Chess Endings' by Chernev, '107 Great Chess Battles' by Alekhine, and 'The World's Great Chess Games' by Fine. Make sure that the games you choose have lots of notes explaining why some moves were good, and why some were mistakes (like the games in 'Capablanca's Best Chess Endings' by Chernev). Continue playing through Master games until you have studied 100 games. Ask your chess coach or mentor to explain any of the notes that you didn't understand.



6. If you don't read every book from this section, at the very least read 'Capablanca's Best Chess Endings' by Chernev and 'Chess Openings for Black, Explained' by Alburt. Also read the appropriate section from 'Silman's Complete Endgame Course', by Silman. As you prepare to leave Class A and become a chess Expert, maintain a balance in how you improve your game. Study complete Master games ('Capablanca's Best Chess Endings'), increase your knowledge of chess Opening Theory ('Chess Openings for Black, Explained'), and hone your technique in the chess Endgame ('Capablanca's Best Chess Endings' and 'Silman's Complete Endgame Course').



7. If you skipped ahead to this Classroom, go back through the prior Classroom levels and check out the books, tools, and projects that you missed. Some of this material MAY be review, but in order to build a solid foundation it is important to set the building blocks of chess skills in the correct sequence. You will use the material in this and all previous Classrooms in order to progress more quickly as you continue to improve to the Expert and Master levels.

Practice:

1. You've reached the ChessNuts Class A Level Classroom, have joined a chess club, are a tournament chess player, and are mentoring a student player. The USCF rating range for Class A is 1800-1999 and is an accurate measure of your chess knowledge. If you have done all the exercises in the previous ChessNuts Levels, your USCF rating should fall into the Class A range once you have played 20-25 rated games. You are now qualified to mentor players in ChessNuts levels Beginner through Class C. Continue to mentor your chess students.



2. While you are completing your Study Projects, continue to play games with your friends and record the moves on a Chess Score Sheet. Keep playing at your chess club at least once per week, and record those games also. Each week you should be able to record 10-20 games. If you can't meet them in person, then arrange to play your practice games on-line at Chess.com with a free basic memebership.

Review:

1. Select 2 of your own games every week to review with your chess coach or mentor.



2. Select 4 of your other games every week to review with the ChessPad / Crafty tool from the Club Classroom level.



3. Review at least 2 games every week with each of your chess students.

Once you have completed Study Projects 1-6 and have attained a USCF rating of 2000 or more, you will be a chess Expert. (Expected completion time: 40-50 weeks) If you experience difficulty in reaching the next level, review the material in this and the previous level, repeat the Study exercises, Practice, and Review with your chess coach or mentor. Once you fully understand the material and use it in your chess games, your rating will reach 2000 and you will be a chess Expert. There are no short-cuts.
 

Recommended Books

I own a copy of each of the following books, and recommend them for this specific training level because their content and presentation is consistent with this level's Training Goals.

                    

Hover your mouse over any of the pictured books to get a Power Preview from Amazon.com, or click on any book image to go to Amazon.com for descriptions and reviews.

 

This project is a work in progress. As I find more useful material, I'll pass it along. If you know of a CHESS book or tool that might interest other ChessNuts, please contact The ChessNut.