Chess for intermediates 3
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- Start Date: 24 Jun 2025End Date: 22 Jul 2025Tue (Daytime): 15:00 - 17:00In PersonFull fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £84.00
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What is the course about?
The aim of this course is to develop the participants’ general understanding of chess. It includes evaluating and analysing positions to help with the development of planning skills, and practice in essential tactics including checkmates. We also explore key ideas from the opening, middlegame and endgame.
What will we cover?
Topics will include some popular openings beginning 1.e4 e5 and 1 d4 d5, active/inactive pieces, key pawn structures), the art of attack and defence in the middlegame and essential rook, bishop and pawn endings.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
be able to identify which of your pieces are/are not working well and know how to improve their activity
· will begin to understand how to analyse positions and form plans
· will be familiar with a range of openings and the principles behind them
· understand the strengths and weakness of certain key pawn structures
· be more confident when attacking and defending
· know some basic endgame theory.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is not a very advanced course, but you need to know chess notation and have a grasp of basic tactics (pins, forks and skewers), as well as some basic positional/strategic ideas such as the importance of the centre and the types of situations in which the different pieces may work best. The course is an ideal follow-on from Chess for intermediates 2. Newcomers familiar with the above skills are also very welcome.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course will give plenty of opportunities to play chess and receive tips and advice. We will also look at model games and positions. The tutor will suggest ways to practice outside the class for those who have time for this.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring a notebook and pen and folder for the handouts.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Please see City Lit's website for up-to-date information about forthcoming chess courses.
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.