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

Training Goals - Club

The Club Level Classroom is for the player who has already begun regular chess Tactics training, has begun playing through well annoted games of chess Masters, and has had an introduction to basic chess Endgames. The Club level player consistently plays well against Beginner or Novice players, but has trouble against a player who plays regularly at a chess club.

1. Continue studying chess games that were played by Masters and explained by great teachers. ('C.J.S. Purdy's Fine Art of Chess Annotation, Volume One', Purdy; 'The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played', Chernev) - Why: Playing through well annotated chess games that explain why Masters make certain moves and avoid others will teach you how to think more like a Master. When you begin to think more like a Master, you'll start to play more like a Master.
   
   
2. Continue learning basic endings. ('Pandolfini's Endgame Course', Pandolfini) - Why: A player who knows basic endings has a huge advantage in the middle game because he can better direct the course of the game to a favorable conclusion.



3. Begin learning basic strategy. ('Chess For Tigers', Webb) - Why: You already know how the pieces move, now you need to know how to plan your moves.



4. Continue to study tactics in order to calculate three to four moves ahead. ('Chess Target Practice', Pandolfini) - Why: Tactics trumps positional play. Positional players must consider tactical refutations before acting on their plans. At every level you reach, you will always need to study and practice chess tactics.

Recommended Tools

1. Visit the WML Software for Chess web site and download the Free Version of the ChessPad program.



2. Install the Crafty Chess Engine: 1. Download the Crafty 20.13 archive file.  2. Unzip the contents (the Crafty 20.13 folder) into your ChessPad folder.  3. Follow the directions in the Crafty Read Me.pdf file, located in the Crafty 20.13 folder.  The free Acrobat Reader will be required to view this file. 



3. ChessPad & Crafty Game Review : Describes how to use the ChessPad / Crafty tool to review your own chess games.



4. Visit the Chess.com web site and sign up for a free basic membership. You'll be able to play your friends on-line at any time, making it easier to get in your practice games.

Projects

Study:

1. Download ChessPad. Install the Crafty chess engine. Study the "ChessPad & Crafty Game Review" document. Print a copy if you would like to refer back when you are entering your own games.



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 Module 01, units 06 - 51. By now you should see the difference the Chessimo Tactics training has made in your awareness of what is going on in your games!



3. Run the Endgame Training in Chessimo at least three times per week, for at least 30 minutes each session. Repeat these sessions until you complete Endgames Module 01, units 01 - 20. If you have any trouble understanding the concepts in these Chessimo drills, immediately refer to the appropriate section in 'Pandolfini's 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 lessons!



4. At least twice per week, play through a Master level chess game like those in 'C.J.S. Purdy's Fine Art of Chess Annotation, Volume One' by Purdy or 'The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played' by Chernev. Make sure that the games you choose have lots of notes explaining why some moves were good, and why some were mistakes. Continue playing through Master games until you have studied 25 games. Ask your chess coach or mentor to explain any of the notes that you didn't understand. Look for examples of the chess Tactics you've been studying in the previous Classroom levels!



5. If you don't read every book from this section, at the very least read 'The Most Instructive Games of Chess Ever Played', by Chernev and 'Pandolfini's Endgame Course' by Pandolfini. So far, you've been focussed on chess Tactics. While this is still by far the most important topic for the Club level, it is time for an introduction to Strategy and Endgames. 'The Most Instuctive Games Ever Played' features a great treatment of Strategy using high quality games. 'Pandolfini's Endgame Course' gives brilliant lessons on the most basic and important Endgame ideas.



6. 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 in the next levels.

Practice:

1. You've reached the ChessNuts Club Level Classroom, now you need to join a chess club. If there is no local club in your area or school, start a chess club with your coach or mentor. Ask your friends to join, and hold meetings at least once per week. Record your club games on a Chess Score Sheet. Use a chess clock for all of your club games. If neither you nor your club have a chess clock, check the ChessNuts Chess Shop for super deals on great chess equipment.



2. While you are completing your Study Projects, continue to play games with your friends and record the moves on a Chess Score Sheet. Each week you should be able to record 10-20 games. Games you play at chess club count towards your total. 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.

Once you have completed Study Projects 1-5, you will be ready to join the Class D Level. (Expected completion time: 12-14 weeks)
 

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.