Classes
En Passant Academy chess classes are suitable for all kids aged over 6 and students are grouped by their playing ability and not by age.
The students are classified as follows
Beginner : It typically takes around 6 months of coaching to achieve skill set listed below Each class is 35-45 minutes long and is offered as a private lesson for kids under 8 and as a group of 2 kids of same ability for older kids
Understand how to setup a chess board
Understand names of all chess pieces, how they move and their values
Understand all chess rules
Understand the concept of Attack and Defense and calculate number of Attackers and Defenders.
Understand check and checkmate
Understand basic checkmates like Scholars mate and Fools Mate
Able to solve 1 move puzzles easily.
Understand Stalemate and En Passant chess move .
Able to participate in a chess tournament and have USCF (United State Chess Federation) chess rating of 100 to 300
Intermediate : Each class is 45-60 minutes long and is offered as a private or in a pair of 2 players of similar ability. Kids of this level have following skill set.
Understand all three phases of a chess game 'Opening', Middlegame and Endgame
Know principles of chess openings
Know common chess tactics used in middle games like pins , forks, skewers
Know basic Endgame techniques
Able to solve 2 move chess puzzles easily
Play regularly in a chess tournament and have USCF chess rating of 301 to 800
Advanced : Each class is 60 minutes long and is offered as a private or in a pair of 2 players of similar ability. Kids of this level have following skill set
Understands a few opening theories in detail with differences in Kings pawn and Queens pawn theories.
Understand advanced chess tactics like Overloaded chess pieces, discovered attacks and combination of chess tactics
Understand complex chess end game theories
Understand basic chess positional theory
Able to visualize a chess board and do some basic calculations blindfolded
Knows how to attack as well as defend and has good grasp of understanding chess game on hand
Knows how to study and learn from other games.
Play regularly in chess tournament and have USCF chess rating of 801 to 1200