Develop your chess playing skills in this friendly, supportive course for post-beginner players who have mastered how the pieces move and understand check, checkmate and stalemate.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
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The principles of tactics and strategy in the chess opening, middle game and endgame.
What will we cover?
Chess notation. The relative value of the pieces. The distinction between major and minor pieces: mate with the king and major pieces. Basic pawn endgames: rule of the square, the opposition and the fight for the key squares. Basic tactics: what to do if a piece is attacked, double attack, fork, discovered attack, discovered check, double check, pin, skewer, removal of the guard. Typical mating patterns in the middlegame. Opening principles: development, central control, king safety.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Deliver checkmate with king and queen or rook, • know how to promote a pawn with the help of your king, • keep your pieces safe and win your opponent's pieces with simple tactics, • checkmate a poorly defended king in the middlegame, • start the game in a logical manner by rapid central development.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is suitable for those who know how the pieces move and understand check, checkmate and stalemate. It is an ideal follow-on course from Chess for beginners.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Each session will introduce topics in short lectures, demonstrated on chess playing software. New skills will be practised by solving problems from worksheets and by playing against other learners. A further worksheet will be handed out at the end of each session to be completed for the next session.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All materials will be provided.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You might be interested in the follow-on course UBD58 More chess for improvers.
After 19 years in the education field overseas, David Rowson returned to London in 2000 to work as a teacher and manager in a college for overseas students. Twelve of his years abroad were spent in Georgia, working for the British Council during the period which saw the break-up of the Soviet Union, and then directing a UNDP-funded project for the Georgian government. His initial experience was in teaching English as a foreign language, but in the UK he seized on opportunities to teach History and Politics when they presented themselves. He has master’s degrees in History and Education. His latent interest in history came to life as he observed and sought to understand the rapid changes that took place in the USSR and post-USSR in the years after 1988. David also teaches chess, a game which has fascinated him since secondary school. He is currently a Kingston Chess Club captain, and was a member of the Surrey team which won the 2011 English County Championship. His believes that teaching should be a co-operative project between students and tutors, in which, guided by the tutor, those involved raise questions and explore answers together, developing their skills, knowledge and unde
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/chess-for-improvers135867Chess for improvershttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/c/h/chess-for-improvers-ubd52.jpg149149GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Health & wellbeing/Games/Courses/Health & wellbeing/Games/Chess/Courses/Health & wellbeing22851199120012491228512491199Develop your chess playing skills in this friendly, supportive course for post-beginner players who have mastered how the pieces move and understand check, checkmate and stalemate. <div data-content-type="html" data-appearance="default" data-element="main">The principles of tactics and strategy in the chess opening, middle game and endgame.</div>452989355Chess for improvers149149https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/c/h/chess-for-improvers-ubd52_16.jpgInStockDaytimeTueKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-01-20T00:00:00+00:00Jan 2026Health & wellbeingUBD52149149Chess for improvers11997149David Rowsonchess-for-improvers/ubd52-2526Develop your chess playing skills in this friendly, supportive course for post-beginner players who have mastered how the pieces move and understand check, checkmate and stalemate.0000-Available|2026-01-20 00:00:00The principles of tactics and strategy in the chess opening, middle game and endgame.Develop your chess playing skills in this friendly, supportive course for post-beginner players who have mastered how the pieces move and understand check, checkmate and stalemate.Chess notation. The relative value of the pieces. The distinction between major and minor pieces: mate with the king and major pieces. Basic pawn endgames: rule of the square, the opposition and the fight for the key squares. Basic tactics: what to do if a piece is attacked, double attack, fork, discovered attack, discovered check, double check, pin, skewer, removal of the guard. Typical mating patterns in the middlegame. Opening principles: development, central control, king safety.• Deliver checkmate with king and queen or rook, <br/>• know how to promote a pawn with the help of your king, <br/>• keep your pieces safe and win your opponent's pieces with simple tactics, <br/>• checkmate a poorly defended king in the middlegame, <br/>• start the game in a logical manner by rapid central development.The course is suitable for those who know how the pieces move and understand check, checkmate and stalemate. It is an ideal follow-on course from Chess for beginners.Each session will introduce topics in short lectures, demonstrated on chess playing software. New skills will be practised by solving problems from worksheets and by playing against other learners. A further worksheet will be handed out at the end of each session to be completed for the next session.All materials will be provided.You might be interested in the follow-on course UBD58 More chess for improvers.GamesChessvirtual11914997UBD52NONETue20/01/26 - 17/02/2614:45 - 16:4514:4516:455 sessions (over 5 weeks)55-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetDavid RowsonAvailable courses2026-01-20T00:00:00+00:00Jan 2026Health & wellbeing149149Chess for improverschess-for-improvers/ubd52-2526Develop your chess playing skills in this friendly, supportive course for post-beginner players who have mastered how the pieces move and understand check, checkmate and stalemate.0000-Available|2026-01-20 00:00:00The principles of tactics and strategy in the chess opening, middle game and endgame.Develop your chess playing skills in this friendly, supportive course for post-beginner players who have mastered how the pieces move and understand check, checkmate and stalemate.Chess notation. The relative value of the pieces. The distinction between major and minor pieces: mate with the king and major pieces. Basic pawn endgames: rule of the square, the opposition and the fight for the key squares. Basic tactics: what to do if a piece is attacked, double attack, fork, discovered attack, discovered check, double check, pin, skewer, removal of the guard. Typical mating patterns in the middlegame. Opening principles: development, central control, king safety.• Deliver checkmate with king and queen or rook, <br/>• know how to promote a pawn with the help of your king, <br/>• keep your pieces safe and win your opponent's pieces with simple tactics, <br/>• checkmate a poorly defended king in the middlegame, <br/>• start the game in a logical manner by rapid central development.The course is suitable for those who know how the pieces move and understand check, checkmate and stalemate. It is an ideal follow-on course from Chess for beginners.Each session will introduce topics in short lectures, demonstrated on chess playing software. New skills will be practised by solving problems from worksheets and by playing against other learners. A further worksheet will be handed out at the end of each session to be completed for the next session.All materials will be provided.You might be interested in the follow-on course UBD58 More chess for improvers.GamesChessconfigurable
