Stage 6 Learning Outcomes

Our "Stage 6" Squad is suitable for students ranging from 1050 - 1550 rating points.

Stage 6 students are advanced playing regularly in adult club tournaments. Stage 6 student aspire to gaining titles such as the Chess Power JM (Junior Master) title and the FIDE CM (Candidate Master) title. The course materials are centred around more advanced strategic concepts and shifts to highly respected strategical games with deep strategical plans. Work is done on developing opening repertoires, improving planning skills and developing priorities when calculating variations. The "Stage 6" Programme provides continuity for the students that have completed the "Stage 5" Programme but 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 6" program you should expect to have learned:

Openings

Openings & Middle-Game

Starting the process of building opening repertoires against common openings.

  • Opening repertoire for Black against 1.e4
  • Opening repertoire for White - the French Defence
  • Opening repertoire for Black against 1.e4

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

  • The Grunfeld defence
  • The Modern Benoni
  • The Benko Gambit
  • The Czech Benoni

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

Attacking

Attacking

Progressing from elementary tactics and combinations to studying methods for attacking with various piece combinations:

  • Attacking the king
  • Calculating short variations

Defending

Defending

Progressing from elementary defence to studying more advanced methods for defending before positions become critical:

  • Trapping pieces
  • Line Blocking
  • Blocking combinations

Strategy

Strategy Foundation

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

  • Exchanging
  • Priorities when calculating variations
  • Time in the opening
  • Improving your pieces
  • The open file
  • Fighting against the pawn centre
  • Weak Points

Endgames

Endgames

Further developing more advanced practical endgame skills:

  • Pawn endings
  • More pawn endings
  • Simple rook endings
  • Simple rook endings 2