
This is a brief introduction to the course, outlining its content and explaining what you will be able to do after completing it.
This video covers the importance of setting up the board correctly for the start of the game. You will learn how to record your games and why that's important if you want to continue to improve after you finish the course.
This video explains how the major pieces move, how they capture your opponent's pieces and their greater powers when they have a more central position. The concepts of 'check' and 'checkmate' are introduced - with examples of a King assisting a Queen to deliver checkmate and a double Rook checkmate.
In this video the different strengths and limitations of Bishops and Knights are explained and there's an example of a rare 'smothered checkmate'.
The myth of the 'unimportant Pawn' is exploded in this video. The Pawn's strength when either attacking or defending is explained, as are the strengths and weaknesses of different Pawn formations. Pawn chains, isolated Pawns, doubled Pawns and passed Pawns are covered as is the en passant Pawn capture rule and the unique Pawn promotion capability which Pawns possess.
This video begins with a guide to the relative values of all the pieces and explains that these values can change according to the position on the board. The special King move 'Castling' is explained; how it's performed and the rules which apply to it.
How to win the game! Various checkmate positions are covered, from Fools Mate and Scholars Mate to major and minor piece mates and castled position mates. The concept of 'Stalemate' is also demonstrated.
How to play The Opening so as to enter the Middlegame in a promising position. The three main objectives of the opening (central control, piece development and King protection) and how purposeless play is punished.
This video covers the main tactical 'tricks and traps' to watch out for; opportunities for you to win material and dangers to be aware of. Various Forks, Pins (absolute and relative), Skewers, Discovered Attacks, Discovered Checks and Double Checks are all demonstrated.
This video reviews all of the material covered and affirms that you are now able to play and beat all but the strongest chess players. It stresses that you should now play as much chess as possible (by joining a chess club and/or playing chess online against players from all over the world).
What is this course about?
This is a complete guide to understanding and playing the game of chess; from the correct way to set up the board through to tactical ideas and the various ways to win the game.
How is the course delivered?
After the introduction video there are eight instruction videos followed by a course review video. These are in the form of slide presentations with 'voice-over' coaching. Each of the instruction videos is accompanied by a self-test question paper, an answer sheet and a key points summary sheet so that you can check your understanding along the way and have a 'hard copy' of the main learning points.
How long will the course take to complete?
The course is presented in 'bite-sized' pieces, each video lasting between five and ten minutes. The total video time is 70 minutes but you'll also be completing self-test question papers each containing ten questions, you'll be checking your answers against the provided answer sheets and reading the key points summary sheets. If you covered all of that in the one sitting it would take around two and a half hours.
Why take this course?
You'll want to take this course if you want to learn how to play what is unquestionably the best board game ever devised. This course will give you an accurate and solid grounding in all the rules and general principles of sound play and you'll find that, although becoming a very strong chess player can take years, learning how to play is easy.
Learning to play chess is like finding a new friend - one who's always there for you and who will give you a lifetime of pleasure.
'Chess, like love, is infectious at any age.' Salo Flohr - Soviet International Chess Master
In the video 'Learn to play winning chess! - Introduction'
A sincere welcome and an overview of the course content.
In the video 'How to correctly set up the board and the chess pieces ...'
In the video 'The Major Pieces'
In the video 'The Minor Pieces'
In the video 'The Power of the Pawns'
In the video 'Protecting Your King'
In the video 'Delivering Checkmate!'
In the video 'How To Play The Opening'
In the video 'Win Your Games Using These Tactical Themes'
In the video 'Course Review'