Chess curriculum for kids: 5 stages, 7 levels, 98 lessons

1. 🏰

   Level 1 · Beginner stage · rating band New to 200 · 14 lessons

   Board Builder: how the pieces move

   What we teach: How every piece moves and captures.

   After this level your child can: set up the board, move and capture with every piece, and play a full game with help.

   Level test: 20 questions in 30 minutes. Pass with 16 to win the Level 1 certificate.

   All 14 lessons in Level 1+

   1. 1The chessboardPlace the board with a light square on the right; know files, ranks and diagonals.
   2. 2Naming squaresRead and name any square, like e4 or g7.
   3. 3Meet the armySet up all 32 pieces. The queen goes on her own colour.
   4. 4The rookMove and capture in straight lines. Rooks cannot jump.
   5. 5The bishopMove and capture on diagonals. Know light and dark bishops.
   6. 6The queenMove like a rook and a bishop together.
   7. 7The kingMove one square in any direction. The king matters most.
   8. 8The knightJump in an L-shape. The knight always changes square colour.
   9. 9The pawnMove forward, 2 squares on the first move, capture diagonally.
   10. 10CapturingCapture with every piece. Never capture your own piece.
   11. 11Attack and defendTell if a piece is attacked or protected.
   12. 12Starting a gameWhite moves first, players take turns, and the touch-move rule.
   13. 13Mini-gamesPlay pawn wars and win the race to the last rank.
   14. 14Level reviewMixed practice on all pieces.
2. 🏝️

   Level 2 · Beginner stage · rating band 200–400 · 14 lessons

   Checkmate Cadet: rules of the game

   What we teach: Check, checkmate, special moves, piece values.

   After this level your child can: play complete, legal games alone, know how games end, and mate in 1.

   Level test: 20 questions in 30 minutes. Pass with 16 to win the Level 2 certificate.

   All 14 lessons in Level 2+

   1. 1CheckSpot check and escape by moving, blocking or capturing.
   2. 2CheckmateTell check from checkmate. Checkmate wins the game.
   3. 3Stalemate and drawsKnow stalemate, not enough pieces and repetition.
   4. 4CastlingCastle on both sides and know when castling is not allowed.
   5. 5PromotionPromote a pawn, usually to a queen.
   6. 6En passantCapture en passant, only on the very next move.
   7. 7Piece valuesPawn 1, knight 3, bishop 3, rook 5, queen 9. Count material.
   8. 8Good and bad tradesTake free pieces and never give a queen for a pawn.
   9. 9Hanging piecesFind unprotected pieces, yours and your opponent's.
   10. 10Writing movesWrite moves in notation: Nf3, exd5, O-O.
   11. 11Mate in 1: queen and rookDeliver mate with the queen or rook.
   12. 12Mate in 1: all piecesMate with knights, bishops and pawns too.
   13. 13Pawn endings for beginnersPush a passed pawn with the king's help.
   14. 14Level reviewMixed rules and mate-in-1 practice.
3. 💎

   Level 3 · Foundation stage · rating band 400–600 · 14 lessons

   Treasure Hunter: winning material and basic mates

   What we teach: Winning material, basic checkmates, opening principles.

   After this level your child can: stop giving away pieces, open the game soundly and force mate with a queen or rook.

   Level test: 20 questions in 30 minutes. Pass with 16 to win the Level 3 certificate.

   All 14 lessons in Level 3+

   1. 1Attackers and defendersCount attackers and defenders before capturing.
   2. 2When to tradeTrade when ahead; avoid trades when behind.
   3. 3Two-rook mateMate with the ladder method.
   4. 4King and queen mateMate a lone king with queen and king, without stalemate.
   5. 5King and rook mateMate a lone king with rook and king.
   6. 6Back-rank mateUse and avoid the back-rank mate.
   7. 7Opening idea 1: the centreControl the centre with pawns and pieces.
   8. 8Opening idea 2: develop and castleDevelop knights and bishops and castle early.
   9. 9Opening idea 3: avoid early trapsKeep the queen home early and stop Scholar's mate.
   10. 10Handling threatsAnswer a threat: move, protect, block, capture or counterattack.
   11. 11The blunder checkBefore each move, look for checks, captures and threats.
   12. 12King and pawn vs kingWin with the king in front of the pawn.
   13. 13The rule of the squareTell if a king can catch a pawn.
   14. 14Level reviewMixed practice and a game with notation.
4. 🥷

   Level 4 · Intermediate stage · rating band 600–800 · 14 lessons

   Tactic Ninja: tactics I

   What we teach: Forks, pins, skewers, discoveries.

   After this level your child can: find the basic tactics in 1–2 moves and know one opening for White and Black.

   Level test: 20 questions in 40 minutes. Pass with 16 to win the Level 4 certificate.

   All 14 lessons in Level 4+

   1. 1Double attackAttack two things with one move.
   2. 2Knight forkFind knight forks, including royal forks.
   3. 3Other forksFork with the queen, pawn, bishop and rook.
   4. 4Absolute pinPin a piece to the king so it cannot move.
   5. 5Relative pinPin to a bigger piece and pile up on it.
   6. 6SkewerAttack a big piece to win the one behind it.
   7. 7Discovered attackMove one piece to uncover another's attack.
   8. 8Discovered and double checkUse checks that cannot be blocked.
   9. 9Removing the defenderCapture or chase the piece doing the defending.
   10. 10Mate patterns IBack-rank, smothered and supported queen mates.
   11. 11Mate in 2Find forcing 2-move mates.
   12. 12Opening: Italian Game (White)Play 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 with a plan.
   13. 13Openings for BlackAnswer 1.e4 with 1...e5 and 1.d4 with 1...d5.
   14. 14Level reviewMixed tactics.
5. ⛰️

   Level 5 · Intermediate stage · rating band 800–1000 · 14 lessons

   Endgame Warrior: tactics II and endgame basics

   What we teach: Deeper tactics and basic endgames.

   After this level your child can: see deeper tactics and win basic pawn and rook endgames.

   Level test: 20 questions in 40 minutes. Pass with 16 to win the Level 5 certificate.

   All 14 lessons in Level 5+

   1. 1DeflectionForce a defender away from its job.
   2. 2DecoyLure a piece onto a bad square.
   3. 3OverloadingSpot a piece doing two jobs at once.
   4. 4In-between movesPlay a stronger move before recapturing.
   5. 5Trapping piecesTrap pieces that have no safe squares.
   6. 6Batteries and X-raysDouble rooks; line up queen and bishop.
   7. 7Mate patterns IIArabian, Anastasia, Boden's and Légal's mates.
   8. 8The oppositionUse the opposition in king-and-pawn endings.
   9. 9King and pawn vs king, fullyKnow the winning and drawn positions.
   10. 10Pawn endingsOutside passed pawn and pawn breakthrough.
   11. 11Active rooksRooks on open files and the 7th rank.
   12. 12Basic rook endingsRook behind the passed pawn; cut off the king.
   13. 13Converting an advantageTrade pieces when ahead and avoid counterplay.
   14. 14Level reviewMixed tactics and endgames.
6. 🏯

   Level 6 · Advanced stage · rating band 1000–1200 · 14 lessons

   Grand Strategist: plans, middlegame and openings

   What we teach: Plans, middlegame and an opening repertoire.

   After this level your child can: make a plan, attack a castled king and play a small, sound opening repertoire.

   Level test: 20 questions in 40 minutes. Pass with 16 to win the Level 6 certificate.

   All 14 lessons in Level 6+

   1. 1Judging a positionCompare material, king safety, activity and pawns.
   2. 2Pawn structureIsolated, doubled, backward and passed pawns.
   3. 3Good and bad piecesGood and bad bishops; knight outposts.
   4. 4Weak squares and open filesUse holes and open files.
   5. 5Making a planFind a weakness and improve your worst piece.
   6. 6Attacking the castled kingPawn storms and bringing pieces over.
   7. 7Sacrifices for mateThe Greek gift (Bxh7+) and other typical sacrifices.
   8. 8DefendingProphylaxis, trading attackers and counterattack.
   9. 9White repertoireItalian Game plans with c3 and d4.
   10. 10Black vs 1.e41...e5 main lines and traps to avoid.
   11. 11Black vs 1.d4Queen's Gambit Declined ideas.
   12. 12From middlegame to endgameKnow when to trade queens.
   13. 13CalculationFind candidate moves and see 2–3 moves ahead.
   14. 14Level reviewStudy an annotated master game.
7. 👑

   Level 7 · Tournament stage · rating band 1200–1400 · 14 lessons

   Daizen Champion: tournament ready

   What we teach: Calculation, key endgames, tournament play.

   After this level your child can: calculate short forcing lines, know the key endgames and be ready for rated tournaments.

   Level test: 20 questions in 40 minutes. Pass with 16 to win the Level 7 certificate.

   All 14 lessons in Level 7+

   1. 1Forcing linesCalculate checks, captures and threats; mate in 3.
   2. 2CombinationsCombine 2 or more tactics in one sequence.
   3. 3Lucena positionWin rook and pawn vs rook by building a bridge.
   4. 4Philidor positionDraw rook and pawn vs rook with the 3rd-rank defence.
   5. 5Pawn races and queen vs pawnCount races; win queen vs pawn on the 7th.
   6. 6Minor-piece endingsBishop vs knight and the wrong-colour bishop.
   7. 7Endgame techniqueActivate the king and create a passed pawn.
   8. 8Opening reviewRefresh your repertoire and common traps.
   9. 9Space and coordinationUse a space advantage and coordinate pieces.
   10. 10Using the clockManage time in rapid and classical games.
   11. 11Tournament rulesTouch-move, clocks, notation, draw offers and FIDE ratings.
   12. 12Analysing your gamesFind turning points; use the engine after, not during.
   13. 13Chess mindsetHandle losses, stay focused and prepare for a game.
   14. 14GraduationFinal review and an in-house practice tournament.

Level 1 is free with a free account. Levels 2 to 7 need a Self-learning or Live Coaching plan and a pass in the level before. See the plans.