satranc.yasinalev.com

Lessons

Every lesson is open: start with any lesson and go in any order.

Next lesson: The board and its squares

Start

Level 1: The rules

  1. The board and its squaresYou can name every square and set up the pieces.
  2. The rookYou can move the rook along files and ranks.
  3. The bishopYou can move the bishop along diagonals and know which squares it can never reach.
  4. The queenYou can move the queen both straight and diagonally.
  5. The kingYou can move the king one square in any direction and keep it off attacked squares.
  6. The knightYou can move the knight in an L and jump over pieces.
  7. The pawn and promotionYou can move a pawn, capture with it and promote it on the last rank.
  8. CapturingYou can capture with every piece and choose the free one.
  9. CheckYou can give check and get out of check in three ways.
  10. Checkmate and stalemateYou can tell checkmate from stalemate and checkmate in one.
  11. CastlingYou can castle on both sides and know the rules of castling.
  12. En passantYou can capture en passant and know it is only possible at once.
  13. DrawsYou know the five ways a game is drawn.

Level 2: Tactics and first mates

  1. What the pieces are worthYou know what each piece is worth and can pick a good trade.
  2. The rules of the openingIn the opening you play for the centre, develop your pieces and castle.
  3. The forkYou see and make a fork, one move that attacks two pieces.
  4. The pinYou see a pin, make one and use the pinned piece.
  5. The skewerYou make a skewer and take the piece behind when the front one moves.
  6. The discovered attackYou move one piece to open the line of the piece behind it and make two attacks at once.
  7. The back-rank mateYou give a back-rank mate and keep your own king safe from one.
  8. Mate with two rooksYou push the king to the edge with two rooks and mate it.
  9. Mate with queen and kingYou mate a lone king with queen and king, without stalemate.
  10. Mate with rook and kingYou mate a lone king with rook and king.

Level 3: Plans and endgames

  1. Stop the scholar's mateYou spot the scholar's mate early and stop it.
  2. The Italian gameYou know the first moves of the Italian game and what they are for.
  3. Remove the defenderYou remove the defender of a piece and win that piece.
  4. DeflectionYou deflect a defender from its job and win.
  5. The smothered mateYou spot and give a smothered mate with a knight.
  6. King and pawn against kingYou win with king and pawn and recognise the drawn positions.
  7. The oppositionYou take the opposition and push the other king back with yours.
  8. The rule of the squareWith the rule of the square you see at once whether the king catches the pawn.