Chess for Beginners: Rules, Tactics & Strategy by Mayur Bhawnani

Course Modules / Weekly Breakdown:

🔹 Session 1: Introduction to Chess

• History of chess (brief and fun)

• Chessboard layout and orientation (ranks/files/colors)

• Board setup and naming squares

🔹 Session 2: The Pieces – Movement & Value

• Pawns, rooks, knights, bishops, queen, and king

• How pieces move and capture

• Basic material value

🔹 Session 3: Special Moves

• Castling (kingside and queenside)

• En passant

• Pawn promotion

🔹 Session 4: Basic Rules & Game Structure

• Turns and how the game flows

• Touch-move rule

• Three ways to end the game (checkmate, stalemate, draw)

🔹 Session 5: Check, Checkmate & Stalemate

• What is check?

• Legal vs illegal moves

• Simple checkmate patterns (e.g., back rank, two-rook mate)

🔹 Session 6: Opening Principles

• Development

• Center control

• King safety (early castling)

• Common beginner mistakes

🔹 Session 7: Basic Tactics & Patterns

• Forks

• Pins

• Skewers

• Simple traps

🔹 Session 8: Endgame Basics

• King and pawn vs king

• Opposition concept

• Queen checkmate

• Rook checkmate

🔹 Session 9: Practice Games and Review

• Play slow games with guidance

• Pause-and-discuss positions

• Learn from common mistakes

🔹 Session 10: Mini Tournament or Game Day

• Friendly round-robin or Swiss games

• Emphasis on sportsmanship and fun

• Prizes or certificates (optional)