Our Highly-Structured Chess Curriculum

Welcome to Our Chess Academy!

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CHESS PROGRAMS

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Structured Levels for Strategic Growth and Lifelong Skills

Serving Ashburn and Northern Virginia

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At Virginia Commonwealth Chess Kids, we believe chess is one of the most powerful tools for developing strategic thinking, discipline, and academic confidence. Our structured, level-based chess pathway guides students from foundational skills to advanced competitive play — at the pace that is right for them.

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Led by a licensed LCPS educator with nearly 20 years of teaching experience, our program combines clarity, structure, and personalized coaching in a supportive small-group setting.

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Our Three-Level Chess Pathway

We group students by skill, not age, ensuring each child receives instruction that matches their readiness and ability.

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LEVEL 1 — BEGINNERS

Learn the Game • Build Confidence • Develop Fundamentals

Level 1 is perfect for students who:

• Have never played chess

• Know only some of the rules

• Need support to understand piece movement

• Want to learn the game in a fun, structured way

What Students Learn in Level 1

• How each piece moves

• Basic rules: check, checkmate, stalemate, draws

• Board setup and notation introduction

• Opening principles: development, center control, king safety

• Simple tactics: forks, pins, skewers, mate-in-one patterns

• Good sportsmanship and etiquette

• Playing full games with teacher support

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Outcome:

Students become independent, confident chess players ready to grow into Level 2.

➡️ Ideal for beginners and young strategists.

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LEVEL 2 — INTERMEDIATE

Strengthen Strategy • Deepen Thinking • Improve Consistency

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Level 2 is designed for students who:

• Know the rules and how to play a full game

• Understand basic tactics

• Want to improve their planning and strategy

• Need structured guidance to reach the next level

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What Students Learn in Level 2

• Tactical patterns: double attacks, discovered attacks, back-rank combinations

• Middle-game strategy and positional concepts

• Threat recognition and calculation techniques

• Piece coordination and activity

• Basic endgames: king activity, pawn structures, rook fundamentals

• How to analyze completed games and learn from mistakes

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Outcome:

Students begin to think deeper, plan ahead, and make stronger decisions on the board.

➡️ Ideal for improving players ready to take the next step.

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LEVEL 3 — TOURNAMENT PREPARATION

Advanced Training • Deep Study • Competitive Readiness

Level 3 is for dedicated students who:

• Play chess confidently and independently

• Have mastered intermediate tactics

• Show maturity and focus

• Are interested in tournaments or advanced study

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What Students Learn in Level 3

Advanced Tactics

• Sacrifices, combinations, attacking motifs

• Overloading, underpromotion, deflection, interference

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Opening Preparation

• Building a personal opening repertoire

• Understanding openings by plans, not just moves

• Responding to common variations

Positional Understanding

• Pawn structures & strategic plans

• Weak squares, outposts, space, initiative

• Transitioning between opening → middle → endgame

Endgames

• Key theoretical positions

• Rook endings

• Opposition, triangulation, zugzwang

Tournament Readiness

• USCF rules and etiquette

• Time control strategy

• Mindset, confidence, and focus

• Game notation and post-game analysis

Outcome:

Students become independent, competitive thinkers capable of performing successfully in school teams, regional tournaments, and higher-level chess environments.

➡️ Ideal for serious players seeking advanced mastery.

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Why Our Chess Program Works

• Veteran Chess Coach

• Nearly two decades of professional teaching experience ensures structured, effective instruction.

Skill-Based Grouping

• Students learn with peers at the same level, maximizing growth and engagement.

Small Class Sizes

• Every child receives personalized attention and meaningful feedback.

• Balanced Instruction + Gameplay

• Each class includes teaching, guided practice, and competitive play.

Focus on Long-Term Growth

Beyond chess, we build:

• focus

• perseverance

• emotional control

• sportsmanship

• problem-solving

• academic confidence

Proven Success

Our students have experienced success in:

• school chess clubs

• county and regional tournaments

• Virginia state competitions

• national-level events (historically)

But equally important:
They become more confident and disciplined thinkers.

What Parents Will See in Their Child

• Greater patience and concentration

• Improved decision-making

• Better academic engagement

• Increased confidence and resilience

• Stronger logical reasoning

• More maturity in handling wins and losses

Chess teaches life skills that extend far beyond the board.

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Class Schedule

• Level 1 (Beginners) — Monday or Thursday, 6:00–7:00 PM

• Level 2 (Intermediate) — Friday, 5:00–6:30 PM

• Level 3 (Tournament Prep) — Wednesday, 5:30-7:00 PM

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➡️ View Tuition & Enrollment →

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Enrollment Information

• Programs run January through June

• Tuition is billed monthly

• Class sizes are limited

• Students may move levels as they progress

• No equipment required — everything is provided

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➡️ Register Now and Give Your Child the Gift of Strategic Learning

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Chess Program FAQ

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Everything Parents Need to Know About Our Chess Levels

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1. How do I know which chess level is right for my child?

We place students based on skill level, not age.
Here’s a quick guide:

• Level 1: New to chess or still learning the rules

• Level 2: Plays independent full games and knows basic tactics

• Level 3: Strong, experienced players preparing for competitive or advanced study

We also evaluate each student individually and recommend the best placement.

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2. Can my child move up a level during the program?

Yes. Students may advance at any time when their skills show readiness.
We continuously monitor progress and communicate with parents when a level change is appropriate.

3. My child has some experience—should we start in Level 1 or Level 2?

If your child understands:

• piece movement

• check and checkmate

• basic tactics

• and can complete full games…they are usually ready for Level 2.

We can assess them during the first session to ensure the best fit.

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4. What should my child bring to class?

Nothing.
All boards, clocks, and teaching materials are provided.
Students only need to arrive ready to learn.

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5. How big are the class sizes?

We maintain small groups to ensure:

• personal attention

• stronger instruction

• focused gameplay

• individualized teaching

This is essential to our program’s success.

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6. Do you offer makeup classes if my child misses a session?

We do not offer makeup classes due to small group structure, but we provide:

• progress notes

• practice recommendations

• optional review material

This helps your child stay on track.

7. Are parents allowed to stay and observe?

Parents are welcome to observe briefly, but we recommend allowing students to learn independently.
This supports confidence, focus, and student-teacher rapport.

8. Does my child need any prior experience for Level 1?

No experience is needed.
Level 1 is designed for brand-new players and beginners.

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9. What makes your chess program different from online chess apps or clubs?

Our instruction is:

✔ Teacher-led

✔ Structured

✔ Skill-based

✔ Personalized

✔ Focused on cognitive and academic development

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Apps teach moves.
We teach thinking, strategy, discipline, and confidence.

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10. How is your program different from a typical school chess club?

School clubs are great for exposure, but they cannot match:

• expert-level instruction

• structured lesson progressions

• small group teaching

• tournament preparation

• deeper strategy lessons

• individualized feedback

We are an academic enrichment program, not a recreational club.

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11. Does my child need to join tournaments?

Participation in tournaments is optional.
Level 3 prepares students for competition, but all levels focus on:

• strategic thinking

• cognitive development

• academic confidence

Tournaments are encouraged only when the student is ready and interested.

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12. Will chess help improve my child’s academics?

Yes. Research consistently shows chess strengthens:

• concentration

• problem-solving

• memory

• logic

• decision-making

• persistence

Parents often report better performance and confidence in school.

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13. Can siblings or friends join the same level?

Yes, as long as they meet the skill requirements.
We place students where they will grow the most.

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14. Do you offer private chess lessons?

Private lessons may be offered depending on availability.
Please contact us if you are interested.

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15. How does enrollment work?

Enrollment is monthly and ongoing.
Students can join at any point in the program as long as space is available.

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➡️ Visit our Enrollment Page to sign up

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