2025 Fall Chess Class syllabus.
Class 1 (Elementary)
Teacher Contact Information:
Chess Class Director：Yuanhua Wei
(608)335-2292
Master Coach：Alex Betaneli
Associate Coach：Neo Wei
Assistant Coach：Drake Jiang
Course Description:
课程描述:
This class is for students who are new to chess or have very limited experience with the game. The class will introduce the fundamentals of chess, including the rules, piece movement, and the basic objectives of play. For this semester, I will teach them chess etiquette, the foundations of strategy and tactics, and ways to begin developing strong habits as chess players. The class will encourage students to enjoy the game while building confidence and creating a solid foundation for future growth.
Planning Your Tournaments:
Name
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Date
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Location
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Link
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2025-2026 Wisconsin Junior Open
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November 8-9
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Manitowoc, WI
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https://www.kingregistration.com/event/2025Jr
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2025 Madison Country Day School Chess Championship
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Saturday, December 13th
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Madison Country Day School (5606 River Road, Waunakee, WI 53597
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https://www.kingregistration.com/event/MCDS2025
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2025 North Central Open (top section is FIDE rated)
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December 26-28 (or 27-28 for 2-day schedule)
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Madison Marriott West, Middleton, WI 53562
1313 John Q Hammons Dr., (608) 831-2000
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https://www.kingregistration.com/event/2025NCO
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www.notamate.com
Notamate helps players convert handwritten score sheets into clean PGNs with AI and intuitive UI, so they can save time, fix mistakes easily, and focus on improving their game.
Course Learning Goals:
课程目标：
1. To develop good learning and thinking skills
2. To be prepared for a chess tournament
3. To learn chess notation
4. To learn and practice sportsmanship and grow as a chess player
5. To learn and have fun with chess
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9/14/2025
Miscellaneous
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Welcome back to chess class!
Introduction to the course. Get to know students
Introduction to the syllabus and the new material
Class with Alex
Play some chess trivia
Look over fundamentals and goals of chess as well as piece movement
Practice making a list of candidate moves in every position as well as looking at opponent’s threats
Break
Play games with only king and pawns
Homework: Choose 3 Lichess Chess basics levels under the “Chess pieces” section and fully complete them.
Link: https://lichess.org/learn
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9/21/2025
Opening
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Warm up: Chess puzzles
Learn opening principles and the Italian Opening
Look at Scholar’s mate and how to defend it
Break
Play a few games of chess and practice getting a good position after the opening
Homework: Fully complete the remaining 3 Lichess Chess basics levels under the “Chess pieces”
Link: https://lichess.org/learn
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9/28/2025
Middlegame
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Warm up: Chess puzzles
Learn middlegame principles through puzzles and example positions
Learn how to decide when to or when not to trade
Break
One to two rounds of chess
Homework: Complete 10 puzzles on Lichess.org or Chess.com
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10/5/2025
Endgame
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Warm up: Chess puzzles
Learn endgame principles and how to checkmate using pieces and the king
Break
Play practice games where students have a king and one or two additional pieces against a lone king, focusing on checkmating the opponent
Homework: Play one online game and try to apply opening, middlegame, and endgame principles in each game.
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10/12/2025
Miscellaneous
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Warm up: Class with Alex
Review basic checkmates from last class
Look at special moves like en passant
Learn how to take notation
Break
Play some games while taking notation
Homework: Play a game at home, and take notation of the game you played. We will review these games next class
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10/19/2025
Opening
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Warm up: Review chess games from last week’s homework
Learn the French and Sicilian openings
Break
Play some games using a 10 minute time control
Homework: Complete 10 puzzles on Lichess.org or Chess.com
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10/26/2025
Middlegame
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Warm up: Review knight and bishop checkmates
Look at the Halloween gambit
Middlegame tactics, pawn structure, and piece activity
Break
Play a game with notation using 20 minute time control
Homework: Fully complete both Lichess Chess basics levels under the “Advanced” section
Link: https://lichess.org/learn
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11/2/2025
Endgame
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Warm up: Chess puzzles
Look at the concepts of opposition, fortresses, and zugzwang
Look at king activity and pawn promotion
Look at fun puzzles involving pawn breaks like winning when there are 4 pawns vs 4 pawns
Break
Play 5 minute blitz games
Homework: Complete 10 puzzles on Lichess.org or Chess.com
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11/9/2025
Opening
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Warm up: King and pawn vs. King opposition practice
Learn the Queens pawn opening
Break
Play games using Queens pawn opening
Homework: Choose one opening we learned this semester and review it thoroughly, including the main ideas, typical moves, and common plans.
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11/16/2025
Miscellaneous
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Warm up: Class with Alex
Have the class work together to perform a knight’s tour on the board
Look at hard chess puzzles
Break
Play games with 10 minute time control
Homework: Complete 10 puzzles on Lichess.org or Chess.com
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11/23/2025
Middlegame
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Warm up: Chess puzzles
Learn how to create and attack weaknesses
Learn typical patterns for attacking the king
Break
Play games using an opening we learned in class
Homework: Play a game at home, and take notation of the game you played. We will review these games in the next class
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11/30/2025
Endgame
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Warm up: Review chess games from last week’s homework
Study rook endgames principles like putting the rook behind the pass pawn
Break
Play games with notation
Homework: Complete 10 puzzles on Lichess.org or Chess.com
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12/7/2025
Miscellaneous
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Warm up: Chess puzzles
Play a 10 minute time control tournament
Homework: Complete 10 puzzles on Lichess.org or Chess.com
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12/14/2025
Miscellaneous
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Warm up: Class with Alex
Play fun chess game modes
No Homework!
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Course Supplies:
Notation booklets will be supplied.
Note: Notation booklets are required for a USCF Tournament.
