Stage 8 Learning Outcomes

Our Stage 8 Squad is suitable for students ranging from 1300 - 1750 rating points.

Stage 8 students are advanced players participating regularly in adult club tournaments. Stage 8 students aspire to gain titles such as
Chess Power JM (Junior Master) title. The course materials are centred around advanced strategic concepts, technical proficiency, calculation accuracy and continues study of highly respected strategical games with deep strategical plans. Work is done on developing opening repertoires, improving planning skills and improving skill when calculating variations. The Stage 8 Programme provides continuity for the students that have completed the Stage 7 Programme and also offers an option for strong junior chess players that are regularly participating in a local chess club and open tournaments (5+ years).

By the end of the Stage 8 program you should expect to have learned:

Openings

Openings & Middle-Game

Continuing the process of building opening repertoires against common openings.

  • Opening repertoire (Black vs. the Reti / White vs. the King's Indian)
  • Pawn sacrifices in the opening

Be able to understand and implement typical middle-game plans in the following complex openings:

  • Sicilian Defence Kalashnikov Variation (GM Nicholas Pert)
  • Sicilian Defence Scheveningen variation (GM Lubomir Ftacnik)
  • The Leningrad Dutch (IM Andrew Martin)
  • The Trompowsky Attack (IM Andrew Martin)

As part of this study we will look at typical middle-game plans and the correct strategies for both White and Black.

Attacking

Tactics

Extending students' tactical and calculation skills:

  • Calculating short variations
  • Intermediate checks
  • Intermediate moves

Attacking

Attacking

Extending students' skill in building an attack by studying new attacking methods:

  • The double bishop sacrifice
  • Active moves
  • The principle of two weaknesses
  • Counter-blows

Strategy

Strategy

Continuing the foundation work from Stages 4,5 and 6, students will further their strategical understanding of Chess with more advanced strategical concepts:

  • Exploiting weaknesses
  • Better pawn structures
  • The pawn phalanx
  • Don't be too hasty!
  • Pawn play
  • Improving the position of your pieces
  • An advantage in space
  • The centre in the opening
  • The correct exchanges

Endgames

Endgames

Further developing more advanced practical endgame skills:

  • Endgame technique
  • Endgame tactics