University of Toledo Curriculum

Week 2 - Assess, Plan, Calculate Algorithm and Transitioning Game States

Assess, Plan, Calculate

  • How to assess (IMPLODeS)

    • Short term vs long-term advantages

  • Planning

    • Planning based on assessments

    • List of potential plans

  • Calculating based on plans

    • Candidate moves

    • Exhaustive vs spiral calculation

    • Relative vs absolute assessments

Week 3 - Endgames

Basic endgames lichess study

Saint Louis Chess Club lecture

  • King activity

  • Zugzwang

  • Passed pawns

  • Pawn weaknesses

  • Planning for both sides

Week 4 - Tactical Play

  • Forcing moves

  • Zwischenzug

  • Assessing imbalanced material

  • List of logical moves expanded or contracted because of imbalances

Week 5 - Positional Feature and Strategic Play

  • Prophylaxis

  • Bishop vs knight

  • Long term vs short term advantages

  • Pawn weaknesses, isolated, connected, islands, hanging, passed

  • List of potential plans

Week 6 - Openings

  • Opening plans

  • Developing with initiative

  • Bad things for your opponent are good for you

  • Learning to use an engine/database