9/13/2026

Miscellaneous

1. Welcome back to chess class!
2. Introduction to the course. Get to know students
3. Introduction to the syllabus and the new material
4. Learn chess rules, play some chess trivia, and play a chess memory game
5. Break
6. Finish learning the chess rules and play games
7. Homework: Go to https://lichess.org/learn and complete the lessons for any chess piece that you aren’t 100% confident with

9/20/2026

Opening

1. Warm up: Review chess pieces and do some puzzles
2. Learn the goals of the opening
3. Learn the three main opening principles: control the center, develop your pieces, and castle
4. Learn the Italian Opening and the ideas behind the opening
5. Break
6. Play games starting with the Italian Opening, focusing on developing pieces and castling quickly
7. Homework: Play a game at home and identify three opening principles you used during the game

9/27/2026

Miscellaneous

1. Warm up: Find the opponent’s threat in several positions
2. Learn how to look for checks, captures, and threats before making a move
3. Practice identifying what your opponent is attacking and finding candidate moves
4. Break
5. Class with Alex
6. Homework: Complete 10 puzzles on Lichess.org

10/4/2026

Middlegame

1. Warm up: Chess puzzles focused on forks and pins
2. Learn the goals of the middlegame
3. Learn basic tactical patterns, including forks, pins, skewers, and discovered attacks
4. Practice recognizing tactical opportunities for both sides
5. Break
6. Play games with a focus on looking for tactical opportunities before every move
7. Homework: Complete 10 puzzles and write down one tactic you missed or found interesting

10/11/2026

Endgame

1. Warm up: King and pawn vs. king positions
   Learn the goals of the endgame
2. Learn king and pawn endgames, including opposition and how to promote a pawn
3. Practice knowing when a king can catch a pawn and when a pawn can promote
4. Learn basic checkmates, including king and queen vs. king and king and rook vs. king
5. Break
6. Play games starting with only kings and pawns to practice opposition, king activity, and promotion
7. Homework: Go to https://lichess.org/training/pawnEndgame and complete 10 king and pawn endgame puzzles

10/18/2026

Miscellaneous

1. Warm up: Review opening, middlegame, and endgame principles
2. Learn chess notation and how to record a game correctly
3. Play games while practicing notation
4. Break
5. Class with Alex
6. Homework: Play a game at home and take notation of the entire game

10/25/2026

Opening

1. Warm up: Review notation and practice notating moves
2. Learn the Queen’s Gambit and the basic ideas behind offering and accepting a pawn sacrifice
3. Compare the Queen’s Gambit with the Italian Opening and discuss different opening plans
4. Look at the Halloween Gambit
5. Break
6. Play games beginning with the Queen’s Gambit or the Italian Opening and practice developing pieces while maintaining control of the center
7. Homework: Review the Queen’s Gambit or the Italian Opening and identify the main opening principles it demonstrates

11/1/2026

Middlegame

1. Warm up: Find the worst-placed piece in several positions
2. Learn how to improve piece activity and find useful squares for your pieces
3. Practice the idea of moving your least active piece to a better position
4. Learn pawn weaknesses, including doubled, isolated, and backward pawns, and how to attack them
5. Break
6. Play games with a goal of improving the activity of all your pieces before launching an attack
7. Homework: Complete 10 puzzles on Lichess.org

11/8/2026

Endgame

1. Warm up: Rook vs. pawn and basic rook endgame positions
2. Learn basic rook endgame ideas, including using the rook behind passed pawns and cutting off the enemy king
3. Introduce the basic ideas behind the Lucena position
4. Break
5. Play simplified games starting with kings, rooks, and pawns to practice rook activity and promoting passed pawns
6. Homework: Go to https://lichess.org/training/rookEndgame and complete 10 rook and pawn endgame puzzles

11/15/2026

Miscellaneous

1. Warm up: Chess trivia and puzzles
2. Learn how to attack and defend a king, including common attacking patterns and the importance of opening files
3. Practice identifying weaknesses around the king and recognizing when an attack is possible
4. Break
5. Class with Alex
6. Homework: Play one game at home and identify one moment where you attacked or defended a king

11/22/2026

Opening

1. Warm up: Opening puzzles and identify which pieces should be developed first
2. Learn the Sicilian Defense and the basic ideas of playing against e4
3. Compare the Sicilian Defense with the Italian Opening and discuss how different pawn structures can lead to different plans
4. Break
5. Play games beginning with the Sicilian Defense and practice developing pieces while responding to your opponent’s plans
6. Homework: Choose one opening we learned this semester and review its main ideas and typical plans

11/29/2026

Thanksgiving Break

No class - Thanksgiving break.

12/6/2026

Miscellaneous

1. Play a 10 minute time control tournament
2. Homework: Complete 10 puzzles on Lichess.org

12/13/2026

Miscellaneous

1. Warm up: Chess puzzles
2. Play fun chess game modes
3. Break
4. Class with Alex
5. No Homework!