Chess Steps Method
Chess-Steps has been developed in 1987 by Rob Brunia and Cor van Wijgerden in order to teach children to play chess.
Embraced by the Royal Dutch Chess Federation Chess-Steps became the single most popular method in The Netherlands. It spread throughout Europe and is now available world wide, including the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.. Chess-Steps is praised as one of the most innovative chess instructional programs in the world.
Princeton Chess Academy is the first chess school in USA that fully adopts the Steps Method as its core curriculum. After years of research, studying many popular manuals and curriculum from Kasparov Chess Foundation, ChessKids.com, Susan Polgar, and etc., we conclude that the Steps Method is the best system to teach children, moving them from total beginners to advanced chess players.
Embraced by the Royal Dutch Chess Federation Chess-Steps became the single most popular method in The Netherlands. It spread throughout Europe and is now available world wide, including the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.. Chess-Steps is praised as one of the most innovative chess instructional programs in the world.
Princeton Chess Academy is the first chess school in USA that fully adopts the Steps Method as its core curriculum. After years of research, studying many popular manuals and curriculum from Kasparov Chess Foundation, ChessKids.com, Susan Polgar, and etc., we conclude that the Steps Method is the best system to teach children, moving them from total beginners to advanced chess players.
overview
There are six steps in the Steps Method. We are focusing on the first 4 steps. Each step takes about 32 weeks (one school year). Each step has three workbooks: core, extra and plus, with about 500 problems each. We expect our students to reach the advanced level (1500) after the four-year training.
Here are the summaries of all steps.
Step 1: rules of chess, how pieces move, introduce attack and defend, check, checkmate
plus: advanced attack and defend, board vision, exchange, mate patterns, draw, passed pawn
Goal of Step 1: play a game from the beginning to the end confidently without any illegal move
Step 2: opening principles, basic tactics including: double attack, pin, eliminate defense, discovery attack, mate in two, and defend against mate
plus: simple pawn endings, mating net, how to defend, stale mate, route planner
Goal of Step 2: know most basic tactics, start playing in chess tournaments
Step 3: deep diving on the tactics learned in step 2, defend against double attack, attack pinned piece, X-ray, mini plan, introduce positional thinking
plus: key squares, pawn endings, opening revisit, development and tempo, intermediate move
Goal of Step 3: skillfully utilize the tactics to win games, become intermediate players (above 800, may reach 1200 or higher)
Step 4: opening advantage, interfering, luring, blocking, think ahead, weak pawns, attack the king
plus: seventh rank, end game strategies, trapping
Goal of Step 4: be able to analyze a position, plan for attack or defense, become advanced players (above 1500)
Step 5: advanced topics
Step 6: self study material, for expert players only.
Of course, even the best system requires hard work from the students. The students should play a lot of games, and work on thousands of tactic problems outside classroom, otherwise theory or knowledge will stay on paper and not in their games.
We wish your children could benefit from this wonderful system, and become confident, mature chess players who will enjoy chess for life.
Also see the official Steps Method website http://www.stappenmethode.nl/en/
Here are the summaries of all steps.
Step 1: rules of chess, how pieces move, introduce attack and defend, check, checkmate
plus: advanced attack and defend, board vision, exchange, mate patterns, draw, passed pawn
Goal of Step 1: play a game from the beginning to the end confidently without any illegal move
Step 2: opening principles, basic tactics including: double attack, pin, eliminate defense, discovery attack, mate in two, and defend against mate
plus: simple pawn endings, mating net, how to defend, stale mate, route planner
Goal of Step 2: know most basic tactics, start playing in chess tournaments
Step 3: deep diving on the tactics learned in step 2, defend against double attack, attack pinned piece, X-ray, mini plan, introduce positional thinking
plus: key squares, pawn endings, opening revisit, development and tempo, intermediate move
Goal of Step 3: skillfully utilize the tactics to win games, become intermediate players (above 800, may reach 1200 or higher)
Step 4: opening advantage, interfering, luring, blocking, think ahead, weak pawns, attack the king
plus: seventh rank, end game strategies, trapping
Goal of Step 4: be able to analyze a position, plan for attack or defense, become advanced players (above 1500)
Step 5: advanced topics
Step 6: self study material, for expert players only.
Of course, even the best system requires hard work from the students. The students should play a lot of games, and work on thousands of tactic problems outside classroom, otherwise theory or knowledge will stay on paper and not in their games.
We wish your children could benefit from this wonderful system, and become confident, mature chess players who will enjoy chess for life.
Also see the official Steps Method website http://www.stappenmethode.nl/en/
class design
We are offering the Step 1 to Step 3 classes in classroom setting all year-round. Each step will require 32 lessons, lasting one school year. Students can follow the steps and make progress at their own pace. At the end of the Step 3, we expect all students become experienced tournament players who can enjoy chess for life.
If you could not start a step in Fall, please consult us to see which step class you should pick to initiate your chess education.
Step 4 will be offered when there are enough interest. They will help prepare students for progressing to advanced level (above 1500).
Requirements for each class (other than completing the previous Steps class):
Novice (pre-Step): open to K-1 (age 5-6) total beginners, no knowledge required.
Step 1: has played chess for at least 3 months, USCF rating < 300
Step 2: can finish games confidently and quickly with no illegal moves, will learn tactics, suggested rating: 300 - 800
Step 3: open to rated tournament players, suggested rating: 700 - 1200
Step 4: open to rated tournament players, suggested rating: 1000 - 1500.
See our current schedule for Step Classes.
If you could not start a step in Fall, please consult us to see which step class you should pick to initiate your chess education.
Step 4 will be offered when there are enough interest. They will help prepare students for progressing to advanced level (above 1500).
Requirements for each class (other than completing the previous Steps class):
Novice (pre-Step): open to K-1 (age 5-6) total beginners, no knowledge required.
Step 1: has played chess for at least 3 months, USCF rating < 300
Step 2: can finish games confidently and quickly with no illegal moves, will learn tactics, suggested rating: 300 - 800
Step 3: open to rated tournament players, suggested rating: 700 - 1200
Step 4: open to rated tournament players, suggested rating: 1000 - 1500.
See our current schedule for Step Classes.
STEps description
|
Step 1 Topics
Board and pieces Moves of the pieces Attack and capture The pawn Defending Check and getting out of check Mate (1) Mate (2) Castling Profitable exchange Twofold attack Draw Mating with the queen Taking 'en passant' The notation Winning material Defending Mate Board vision Defending against mate Draws Creating mate The passed pawn |
Step 2 Topics
Activity of pieces Double attack: queen (1) Double attack: queen (2) The pin Eliminating the defence The 3 golden rules Mate in two Double attack: knight Mating with the rook Double attack: RBQK Discovered attack Defending against mate Short notation Mate Pawn endings The opening Defending Route planner Working out mate Stalemate Winning material Playing rules |
Step 3 Topics
Completing the opening Discovered and double check Attack on a pinned piece Mate through access The square of the pawn Eliminating the defence Defending against a double attack Mini plan Draw X-ray The opening Defending against a pin Mobility Key squares (1) Pinned pieces Threats Key squares (2) The X-ray effect Pinned pieces The rook pawn The intermediate move Vulnerability in the opening Mini plans Mate Elimination of the defence Under-promotion Development Pinning Defend against mate The square of the pawn The discovered attack |
Step 4 Topics
Opening advantage Interfering Luring Blocking Thinking ahead Placing the front and back piece The passed pawn Eliminating the defence The magnet Weak pawns Material advantage Chasing and aiming Attack on the king Seventh rank Endgame strategy Clearing Queen against pawn Attacking the king Vulnerability in the opening Interfering Blocking Draws Trapping Mini-plans Pawn endings Discovered attack Endgame technique Chess problems |
Step 5 Topics
Material and time Mate Breakthrough Using pawns Pawn race Seventh rank Discovered attack Pin The opening Rook against pawn Strong square Defending Rook endings Attack on the king Open file Draw Activity Pawn endings King in the middle The wrong bishop Vulnerability Queen endings Defending Eternal pins Bishop against pawn(s) Zugzwang |
FAQS FOR STEPS CLASS
Q: Why does PCA adopt the Steps Method system, moving away from generic Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced classes?
A: The biggest problem with most generic classes is they are too generic. It's difficult to measure a student is successful with the class or not, other than they got 8 or 10 hours of exposure to chess. It's equally difficult to decide whether he/she should stay in similar class or move up to next level, especially when he/she switches teacher. Different teachers have different definitions of beginner, intermediate and advanced. And teachers tend to randomly pull out a rabbit from their hats (their previous games or experience) to teach, which may or may not be helpful.
The Steps Method system provides a clear and standard way to measure a student's progress. Each lesson focus on one or two topics. We make sure that students grasp the concept and its applications, not just a name. We help student build a solid foundation systematically.
Q: Can my child enroll in a class without taking previous steps?
A: Sure, as long as he/she meets the minimum requirements. A lot of students come into the system at Step 2. If you are not sure, please contact us first.
Q: Can my child skip the one quarter?
A: It's not recommended for two reasons. First, a student needs time to assimilate the knowledge they learn in class. If a student is working extremely hard outside classroom and making much quicker progress (e.g. rating jump), of course he/she can skip a quarter. Most students won't do that. They need time to let the knowledge sink in. Second, we are using different workbook for each quarter. They are designed as a whole knowledge system for the specific level.
Q: Can my child join the class in the middle of a step, i.e., not in fall quarter?
A: Yes, we suggest you get an evaluation first.
See our current schedule for Step Classes.
A: The biggest problem with most generic classes is they are too generic. It's difficult to measure a student is successful with the class or not, other than they got 8 or 10 hours of exposure to chess. It's equally difficult to decide whether he/she should stay in similar class or move up to next level, especially when he/she switches teacher. Different teachers have different definitions of beginner, intermediate and advanced. And teachers tend to randomly pull out a rabbit from their hats (their previous games or experience) to teach, which may or may not be helpful.
The Steps Method system provides a clear and standard way to measure a student's progress. Each lesson focus on one or two topics. We make sure that students grasp the concept and its applications, not just a name. We help student build a solid foundation systematically.
Q: Can my child enroll in a class without taking previous steps?
A: Sure, as long as he/she meets the minimum requirements. A lot of students come into the system at Step 2. If you are not sure, please contact us first.
Q: Can my child skip the one quarter?
A: It's not recommended for two reasons. First, a student needs time to assimilate the knowledge they learn in class. If a student is working extremely hard outside classroom and making much quicker progress (e.g. rating jump), of course he/she can skip a quarter. Most students won't do that. They need time to let the knowledge sink in. Second, we are using different workbook for each quarter. They are designed as a whole knowledge system for the specific level.
Q: Can my child join the class in the middle of a step, i.e., not in fall quarter?
A: Yes, we suggest you get an evaluation first.
See our current schedule for Step Classes.