Level 1: Pawns
A person who is unfamiliar or just starting out with the game of Chess: a true beginner. At the end of Level 1, a student will have knowledge of:
- How to set up the board without any supervision
- How to play the game without making any illegal moves
- How to move all the pieces and how to castle
- How to put the enemy king in Check
- How to get Checkmate and win the game
- How to calculate the point values of each piece
Level 2: Knights
A person who has all the prerequisites from Level 1, this is someone who can play the game of Chess. At the end of Level 2, a student will have the knowledge of:
- Openings such as the Italian game and the French Defense
- Endgames such as King + Rook and 2 Rooks, so any potential student knows how to consistently get checkmate in most situations
- Basic tactics such as Forks (fried liver) and Pins (opera game) to enhance the tactical thinking of any student
Level 3: Rooks
A person who has all the prerequisites from Level 1 and Level 2, this is someone who is an above average Chess player. At the end of Level 3, a student will have the knowledge of:
- Openings such as the Sicilian and the and the Queen’s Gambit Declined
- Advanced tactics such as Discoveries, Removing the Guard, Sacrificing pieces, and Skewer
- How to notate Chess games and play with a clock in tandem
Level 4: Kings & Queens
A person at Level 4 has mastered all previous prerequisites and is now a tournament-ready Chess player. By the end of Level 4, a student will have the following knowledge and skills:
- Understanding how to compete in official USCF tournaments
- Developing strong preparation strategies, including managing time effectively under pressure.
- Adapting to different opponent’s styles such as open or closed games.