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Chess Lessons

Individual Lessons cover a structured curriculum that takes a student from Beginning to Intermediate and Advanced levels of play. Progress is tracked as proficiency is achieved on 30 topics within each level. (Please see the description of topics covered in the curriculum on the Classes page). Lessons are offered both in-person and online. Both lesson formats utilize the same curriculum.

Availability: Lessons are available throughout the year, purchased month-to-month. Please see the Sign Up page or email info@PlayMoreChess.com for available time slots.

Description: Students have one lesson a week, 45 minutes in length. Each week chess topics are reviewed and new topics are learned and assigned for the week ahead. Students usually move forward with one or two new topics each week, though the pace is customized for each student. An achievement chart is also maintained to keep track of each student's progress.

Curriculum: Play More Chess Academy students follow established curriculum, chess topics and tactics drawn from the following sources:

• The Chess-Steps Method - "The World's Leading Teaching Method in Chess; with a Steps curriculum that can take students from a rating of 800 to 2100!"
  
  
• Chess4Life Workbook(s) - Sample topics listed on the Classes page.
  

• The Chess Tactics Workbook, 4th Edition, by Al Woolum; (for beginner/advanced beginner/intermediate players)

Chess Tactics Workbook, 4th Edition, by Al Woolum
"A best seller on the scholastic market, with over 25,000 copies sold. It has been the "chess problem" book of choice for the CHESS IN THE SCHOOLS Program of NY, and school districts nationwide. It features 870 problems in a structured format, 6 diagrams per page, answer keys in the back. 160 pages."

This workbook is used for classes offered in conjunction with the Hamden Adult Education program (Chess 101 - Beginner; Chess 102 -Tactics);

Additional book options for adult lessons:

• Complete Book of Chess Strategy by IM Jeremy Silman. This is comprehensive in that it has descriptions of a lot of openings; guidance on the phases of the game and a lot of information about strategy and tactics. 360pgs. Adults students who are returning to chess after a number of years away often like using this book for chess improvement.
  
  
• How to Reassess Your Chess by IM Jeremy Silman. This is the most advanced book that we use in adult instruction. It goes beyond tactics to include more positional understandings and is organized primarily around types of imbalances found in chess games 658pgs.

Additional Information:
Lessons are purchased in advance, four lessons at a time, on a month-to-month basis. A lesson time-slot is guaranteed as long as monthly payments are current.