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Advanced Beginner Level : Systematically Enhancing Your Chess Understanding

Welcome to the Advanced Beginner chess level at Upstep Academy. This level is aimed at the students who are not beginners anymore but still need guidance in important concepts winning the game. If you want structured training in basic tactics and the most important opening principles, this level will provide you with a serious boost that is required to get the better of amateur players.

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Enrollment Requirements and Program Goal

This level is going to be the compulsory next step in our curriculum aimed at going deeper into the Student’s basic understanding before introducing the complexity of strategies.

Who Should Enroll?

A student should sign up for this course if they have attained a certain level of the basic rules of chess:

  • Curriculum Completion: The student has gone through the Beginner level at Upstep Academy and is therefore ready for the next stage.
  • Equivalent Knowledge: The student has through a readiness assessment demonstrated that he/she has knowledge equivalent to the beginner topics (piece movement, special moves, and checkmate rules).
Course Outcome
  • Thorough Understanding: By the end of the Advanced Beginner chess level, the students will be acquainted with basic tactics and opening concepts thoroughly.
  • Practical Advantage: The curriculum offers a practical approach to outsmarting the amateurs to compete with them, thus making the student an effective user of the theory.

Detailed Curriculum: Core Concepts and Application

The foundation of this level has already been laid by systematic coverage of the basic techniques that would give the player a material advantage and lead to checkmate.

Essential Basic Tactics (Difficulty Level: Easy)

The section deals with identifying the forced sequences and single-move moves of one or two:

Forced Checkmates: Students are able to carry out and execute the different patterns of checkmates with very little material:

  • Identifying the immediate forced finish (positions for mate in one).
  • Performing the basic technical checkmates (i.e., with a Queen and 2 Rooks).

Fundamental Motifs (Tactics): The Training focuses on the basic tactical themes for winning material:

  • Double attack and the specific Knight Fork.
  • Exploiting piece alignment through Skewer and Pin.
  • Recognizing back rank vulnerabilities (Back Rank & Pin).
  • Calculating short forced wins (Mate in two positions).

Advanced Beginner Techniques: Students will be taught to those who know how to clear the way for an attack:

  • Elimination of the defender or Diverting the defender's attention.
  • Creating threats by disclosing an attacking piece (Discovered attack & Check).
  • Combining these simple ideas (Mixed motifs).

Opening and Notation

  • Basic Opening principles: The importance of these basic rules - the control of the center, the quick development of pieces, and the safety of the King - is made clear to the students as they are the strategies for optimal game start.
  • How to write a game: By learning the conventional chess notation, a skill that is essential for the students to be able to review and analyze their own games, the students will acquire the knowledge.

Coaching and Monitoring Methodology

The Upstep Academy’s comprehensive method brings about a very trustworthy and quantifiable progress of the student.

  • Practical Application: It is not only the theoretical knowledge of basic tactics and basic openings that the coaches impart but also their practical application in the games played during the coaching sessions.
  • Personalized Study Plan: Every week, our trainers prepare a personalized program and method of study for each student, depending on the chosen type of class, to facilitate steady development.
  • Accountability: After every class, the coach goes through the student’s homework assignments very carefully, so the students receive immediate feedback from the coach.
  • Progress Monitoring: Our coaches are in close check of the students’ progress as they administer periodic tests and, at the same time, dedicate time to addressing any doubts the students may have about the material.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary aim of the Advanced Beginner Level?

The primary aim is to lead the learner from mere knowledge of the rules to actual use of basic tactics and opening principles. The result is to provide the learner with practical advice for winning against beginners at a competitive level.

What are the prerequisites (required knowledge) for this course?

The student is required to have been through our Beginner Level and to have gained corresponding knowledge. In other terms, they should be aware of the movements of all the pieces, the special moves (like castling), and the rules for check and checkmate.

What kind of tactics will be taught in particular?

We concentrate on basic tactical patterns such as Knight Fork, Double attack, Pin, Skewer, and short forced wins (Mate in one and Mate in two positions). The level of difficulty is set to “Easy” to ensure that a strong foundation is built.

What is the required equipment for online classes?

A stable internet connection along with a computer or tablet is all that is required. Our sessions are live and interactive, and there is no need to download any special software.

In what way is the student’s progress monitored at this level?

The three ways that progress is monitored are: the weekly homework review, the periodic tests which the coach issues, and the detailed analysis of the games played during the coaching sessions.

What is a "personalized plan," and what benefits does it offer?

At the onset of each week, the coach presents a tailored plan and study approach. This not only guarantees that the student directs his efforts toward the right areas for his consistent progress but also helps in keeping the student accountable.

Which level is next after the Advanced Beginner Level?

Once the student has acquired the skills of this level, he advances to the Intermediate Level. The curriculum at this stage deals with examining various tactics, learning theoretical endgames, and planning for the middlegame.

Is it possible to take a break, and if so, what will the impact be on the curriculum?

Yes, but only if you arrange it beforehand with our Relationship Manager, who will assist in making the transition of your personalized plan back into action upon your return, thereby reducing the disruption to the curriculum to a minimum. However, it needs to be completed before the expiry of the level/course.

Ready to solidify your chess foundation with structured learning?

Book a FREE Demo Class to assess your readiness for the Advanced Beginner chess level today.