Chess Masters Camp

Grades 4-5

Chess champions see the board differently. A five-day strategy syllabus will show campers just how to do it. Each session is guided by an expert instructor and includes collaborative challenges and plenty of chances to practice tournament tactics.

Day 1: Opening Moves Review the rules of the game and then immerse in the strategy of the ever-important opening moves to strategically open your board.

Day 2: Piece Development Explore pawn structure and strategic piece development as you move toward the middlegame with a competitive advantage*.*

Day 3: Middlegame Main Points The key to chess is to not blunder your pieces and to capitalize when your opponent blunders theirs. Today students will master the three-step "checks, captures, and threats" checklist and learn to see it from their opponent’s side, too.

Day 4: Middlegame Mastery Why wait for your opponent to make mistakes when you can force them to? Explore the strategic toolkit of pins, forks, skewers, and more as you learn to take control of the game.

Day 5: Checkmate Challenge Most chess matches end in a stalemate or draw because even when you have the advantage it’s hard to force that final checkmate. Learn strategies for getting that checkmate when you’re up...and for avoiding it while you’re down.