Teachers

Our flagship program for teachers is the Teachers Chaos to Control program. Teachers Chaos to Control requires zero knowledge of chess. The program will take you from ground zero to having all the skills and tools you need to manage a chess program at your school or educational facility with confidence.

Support diversity

Your school chess club can become a hive of social integration and a supporter of diversity. Chess has no barriers and can provide an outlet for students with diverse backgrounds.

Be valued

Students will value the opportunity you have given them to not just improve their thinking skills but offer a way to succeed. Staff will value your leadership contribution in supporting diversity and inclusion.

Create champions

Supporting your students in chess creates a unique opportunity for them to achieve real success both individually and as a team on a regional and national stage.

Your trainer, Paul Macdonald

Accredited professional chess coach
Experienced Coach Trainer
FIDE Instructor
FIDE National Arbiter
New Zealand Major Open National Champion

Build structure

Learn how to build a proven structure for your classes so things run smoothly

Management

Learn how to communicate effectively, support and manage students

Tournaments

Build knowledge and skills to run successful tournaments and events

Engagement

Learn how to build strong engagement through demonstrating chess ideas with confidence

Coach

Learn how to plan, structure and effectively deliver chess lessons

Resources

Access a wide array of tools and resources so you are never at a loose end

Program Structure

Essentials package - The essentials package includes the bare minimum resources to get you up to speed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Foundation package - The foundation package includes all the key resources you need to become a competent chess teacher and program facilitator.

Premium package - The premium package is comprehensive and includes the full program included advanced lessons and full support resources.

You can also purchase modules individually, based on your most pressing needs. Just expand the module you are interested in below, and hit the BUY NOW button.

All courses are fully accessible immediately after purchase, on demand. Access modules in any order and watch at your pace.

MODULE 1 - The value of Chess COMING SOON!

· Course approach

· Who is Chess Power?

· What is APCC?

· Benefits of Chess

· Why children enjoy Chess?

· Skills required to play Chess well

MODULE 2 - The world of Chess COMING SOON!

· The history of Chess

· Today in chess

· Chess player pathway

MODULE 3 - Learning Theory COMING SOON!

· Classes of competence

· Learning styles

· The learning process

· When can you learn Chess?

· How do you teach Chess?

· The 5 most important skills

MODULE 4 - Coaching Fundamentals COMING SOON!

· Coach's Code of Ethics

· The parts of Chess

· The heroes of Chess

· Topic and Material

· Glossary of Terminology

· Material Sources

· Lessons to Teach

· Using Students as Teachers

· Lesson Planning

· Creating your own Chess Lesson

· The 5 most important areas of skills

MODULE 5 - Coaching the Right Way COMING SOON!

· Setting the right pace

· Positive statements

· Rewards and Recognition

· Not knowing the answers

· Supporting girls

· Handling multiple children

· Activities for classes

· Resources

· When to engage a professional coach?

· Accelerating your students ability

MODULE 6 - Rules of the Game COMING SOON!

· Introduction

· History of the game

· Setting up the board

· The pieces

· The rook

· The knight

· The bishop

· The queen

· The king

· Check

· Checkmate

· The touch-move rule

· The pawn

· Pawn promotion

· En passant

· Castling

· Draws

· Stalemate

· Insufficient material

· 3rd repetition

· Perpetual check

· 50-move rule

· Agreed draw

· Fair play

MODULE 7 - Chess Terminology COMING SOON!

· Introduction

· The Basics

· The Basics - Part 2

· The Platinum Rules

· The Phases of the Game

· The Golden Rules

· The Opening

· Pawn Wall

· Pawn Chain

· Weak Spot

· 2-move Checkmate

· 3-move Checkmate

· 4-move Checkmate

· Names of openings

· The Silver Rules

· Fork

· Pin

· Motorway

· Open Road

· Red Light, Traffic Jam

· Pawn Structure

· The End-game

· The Bronze Rules

· Runway

· Electric Fence

· Royal Waltz

· Famous Players

· Classification of Pieces

· Rook Strategy

· Bishop Strategy

· Knight Strategy

· Pawn Strategy

· Explain any game

MODULE 8 - Mini-Games COMING SOON!

· Rook journey

· Knight journey

· Bishop journey

· Queen Spelling Bee

· Queen Journey

· King Maze

· Mini Pawn Wars

· Mega Pawn Wars

· Mixups

· Yummy Game

· Taming the Dragon

· Forks & Skewers

· Magna Carta

· Rook vs Pawns

· Marching Ants

· Four-Queens Chess

· Electric Fence Heaven

· My Kingdom for a Horse

· Pawns vs Knights

· King Wars!

· Queen vs Pawns

· Smile Game

· Rook+2 pawns vs Knight+ Bishop

· Knight Joust

· Knight vs Two Isolated Pawns

· Queen vs Rook+ Knight

· Small World

· Sparta

MODULE 9 - Foundation Principles AVAILABLE NOW!

9+ hours on-demand video
36 videos
4 Quizzes

1 end of module assessment
1 downloadable printable poster
Certificate of completion

Access on mobile and TV
Full lifetime access
Access anywhere worldwide

BUY NOW!

30-day money back guarantee

Once you complete this module you will be able to:

Understand what is going on in every chess position.
Explain any chess position to your students in a clear, concise and educated way.
Understand the different priorities in chess, and how priorities change through the phases of the game.
Develop a strong understanding of opening, middlegame and endgame ideas.

9.1 Introduction [Video length 3:01]
The Foundation principles are the building blocks of Chess, allowing you to break chess down into simple easy to understand concepts. These principles give you the capability to understand every chess position and also explain it to others in a clear, concise and educated way.

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9.2 The Platinum Rules [Video length 6:22]
The Platinum rules are the first set of founding principles that every player should follow to play the whole game well.

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9.2.1 The Platinum Rules Example lesson 1 (Be safe) [Video length 10:26]
An example game illustrating the first platinum rule, "Be safe".
9.2.2 The Platinum Rules Example lesson 2 (Always take back) [Video length 7:57]
A game between two beginners where one of the players loses his power because he doesn't take back.
9.2.3 The Platinum Rules Example lesson 3 (Never give up) [Video length: 10:42]
Several examples illustrating the importance of not giving up and the power of stalemate to save lost games.
9.3 The Golden Rules [Video length 13:22]
The golden rules are founding principles for the opening phase of the game. Learn these well and your students will be playing the opening like a grandmaster! Note: Define what is the opening and when it transitions to the middle-game.
9.3.1 The Golden Rules Example lesson 1 (Control the centre) [Video length 16:58]
A nice game showing the value of a pawn wall to force opponents pieces into poor positions.
9.3.2 The Golden Rules Example lesson 2 (Control the centre) [Video length 12:27]
A dynamic game illustrating the power of a mobile pawn centre in creating surprising attacking opportunities.

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9.3.3 The Golden Rules Example lesson 3 (Get your team in the game) [Video length 17:35]
A short and beautiful game showing how to accelerate development of the pieces finishing with an explosive sacrifice.
9.3.4 The Golden Rules Example lesson 4 (Get your team in the game) [Video length 16:39]
White develops his pieces fast, sacrifices the queen and then co-ordinates all four minor pieces perfectly to finish with a beautiful checkmate.
9.3.5 The Golden Rules Example lesson 5 (Castle) [Video length 25:57]
An incredible gambit-style game featuring rapid development, castling and a swathe of cascading sacrifices ending with a picturesque smothered mate.
9.3.6 The Golden Rules Example lesson 6 (Castle) [Video length 16:09]
White castles fast and then uses the power of the rook to create nice tactical opportunities.
9.4 The Silver Rules [Video length 21:10]
The silver rules are the founding principles for the middle-game that guide students on a sound strategy after the opening phase.
9.4.1 The Silver Rules Example lesson 1 - Part 1 (Get active) [Video length 15:48]
The game is all about getting the pieces into powerful central attacking positions so that everything is prepared well for the coming attack.
9.4.2 The Silver Rules Example lesson 1 - Part 2 (Get active) [Video length 15:27]
One of the most famous games of the 19th century, this game is all about getting the pieces out fast, always with a threat and then activating them into powerful central attacking positions for a grand finale.
9.4.3 The Silver Rules Example lesson 2 (Trade if you are up) [Video length 12:19]
A collection of examples illustrating the concept of trading when you have extra material as the most effective way of converting a winning advantage.
9.4.4 The Silver Rules Example lesson 3 (Improve your worst piece) [Video length 21:22]
A collection of examples illustrating the concept of identifying your worst piece and then working out how to improve it and turn it into a superhero!
9.5 The Bronze Rules [Video length 05:22]
The bronze rules form the founding principles for playing the final stage of the game well. Young players often play the endgame poorly not recognising this phase of the game has very different priorities than the opening or middle-game phases.
9.5.1 The Bronze Rules Example lesson 1 (Get your king active) [Video length 14:13]
How your king can be used to attack and win pawns, supporting your pawns to the queening square and prevent your opponents king from getting active.
9.5.2 The Bronze Rules Example lesson 2 (Get your king active) [Video length 14:24]
Two examples showing the immense power of king activity to compensate for significant material deficits.

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9.5.3.1 The Bronze Rules Example lesson 3 (Get your king active) [Video length 16:27]
Transforming positions to create strong winning chances using powerful king activity.
9.5.3.2 The Bronze Rules Example lesson 3 (Get your king active) addendum [Video length 26:12]
An insight into winning endgame tactics using advanced techniques.
9.5.4 The Bronze Rules Example lesson 1 (Win pawns) [Video length 20:02]
How to win pawns in the endgame to create winning chances with the help of the two bishops.
9.5.5 The Bronze Rules Example lesson 2 (Win pawns) [Video length 21:29]
How to win pawns by attacking pawns that cannot be easily defended.
9.5.6 The Bronze Rules Example lesson 3 (Win pawns) [Video length 13:04]
How to build resilience and not lose your pawns in the endgame.
9.5.7 The Bronze Rules Example lesson 1 (Queen pawns) [Video length 13:17]
Awesome endgame tactics to help queen pawns.
9.5.8 The Bronze Rules Example lesson 2 (Queen pawns) [Video length 16:55]
Weighing up two principles: winning pawns vs queening pawns.
9.5.9 The Bronze Rules Example lesson 3 (Queen pawns) [Video length 14:05]
Giving back material to queen your pawns faster.
9.5.10 The Bronze Rules Example lesson 4 (Queen pawns) [Video length 19:42]
The power of the passed pawns in forcing your opponents pieces into defensive roles and transform it as an attacking weapon.
9.5.11 The Bronze Rules Example lesson 5 (Queen pawns) [Video length 11:13]
Weighing up two principles: king activity vs queening pawns.

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9.5.12 The Bronze Rules - Bringing it all together lesson 1 [Video length 14:36]
Bringing the endgame together by combining all three endgame principles.
9.5.13 The Bronze Rules - Bringing it all together lesson 2 [Video length 18:40]
Bringing the endgame together by prioritising principles to build a phased endgame plan.
9.5.14 The Bronze Rules - Bringing it all together lesson 3 [Video length 10:50]
Bringing the endgame together by creating attacking opportunities using breakthroughs.
9.5.15.1 The Bronze Rules - Bringing it all together lesson 4 (Part I) [Video length 29:38]
Part 1 of a two-part lesson in bringing the endgame together by building a cohesive plan to eliminate and defend weaknesses with a focus on Rook+Knight vs Rook+Knight.
9.5.15.2 The Bronze Rules - Bringing it all together lesson 4 (Part II) [Video length 14:37]
Part 2 of a two-part lesson in bringing the endgame together by building a cohesive plan to eliminate and defend weaknesses this time focussing on Rook+Pawn vs Rook.
9.6 Module wrapup [Video length 2:59]
A summary of the learning completed for this module and recommended next steps.

MODULE 10 - Essential Lessons AVAILABLE NOW!

8+ hours on-demand video
35 videos
9 Quizzes

1 end of module assessment
16 practice activities
Certificate of completion

Access on mobile and TV
Full lifetime access
Access anywhere worldwide

BUY NOW!

30-day money back guarantee

Once you complete this module you will be able to:

Introduce chess to students using a simple and progressive approach
Build a strong foundation for students introducing them to essential chess concepts
Learn how to deliver the following lessons:

Escaping check
Value of the pieces
Four-move checkmate and the Weak Spot
Essential Queen vs King and two Rooks vs King checkmates
Using a Pawn Wall as a pre-requisite to attacking the king
Using a Pawn Chain to create strong defensive structures
Using Forcing moves to obtain the initiative
Determine the power of each player using Team count and Power count
Improving board vision by visualising all forcing moves in a position
Learn over twenty common checkmate patterns
Learn how to create a checkmate
Learn about open files and how to use them
Get inspired by famous players, why they are important and how to find out more about them.

10.1 Introduction [Video length 2:03]
An introduction to the 16 essential chess lessons to build a strong chess foundation.

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10.2 When to check [Video length 12:15]
The Platinum rules are the first set of founding principles that every player should follow to play the whole game well.

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10.3 How to escape check [Video length 9:55]
Learn the best ways to get out of check safely.
10.4.1 Value of the pieces introduction [Video length 10:15]
Learn the value of each piece and how it relates to the outcome of the game.
10.4.2 Value of the pieces Example lesson [Video length: 10:19]
Learn how to adjudicate various positions that have material imbalance to determine who is winning.
10.5.1 Four-move Checkmate introduction [Video length 14:02]
Learn how to win the game super-fast using the four-move checkmate and various ways to defend against it.
10.5.2 Four-move Checkmate example lesson [Video length 11:00]
Learn how to play and defend against the four-move checkmate through a real game with two good players.
10.6 The Weak spot [Video length 12:27]
Learn about the dangers of moving your f-pawn early in the game.

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10.6.1 The Weak Spot Example lesson 1 [Video length 14:10]
A powerful tactical game by Bugs Bunny showing how to use tactics to expose a weakness on the h4-e1 diagonal.
10.6.2 The Weak Spot Example lesson 2 [Video length 12:07]
Dory shows how dangerous the fried liver attack can be, forcing Black to bring his king right into the open.
10.7 Queen vs King checkmate [Video length 15:39]
Learn how to use your Queen and King to checkmate the King in less than 12 moves! This is the most fundamental and common checkmate in chess.
10.8 Electric fence checkmate (aka Ladder mate) [Video length 14:50]
Learn how to use two rooks to checkmate the King. The electric fence also works when you have two queens or a rook and a queen.
10.9 Pawn Wall [Video length 7:01]
Learn how to create a pawn wall and how it is used to attack your opponents pieces, gain space, control the game and establish a pre-requisite to attacking your opponents king.
10.9.1 Pawn Wall Example lesson 1 [Video length 19:20]
A model game by the fifth world champion, Max Euwe, showing how to create a pawn wall then use it to dominate the centre, drive opponents pieces back, gain space and ultimately attack the king.
10.9.2 Pawn Wall Example lesson 2 [Video length 18:17]
Black uses a tactical trick to take full control of the centre, preventing white from taking any active role in the game. Black dominates the game throughout and fiinishes with a nice discovered checkmate.
10.9.3 Pawn Wall Example lesson 3 [Video length 19:43]
The great Candlestick, Lumiere quickly establishes a superwall early. He then pushes the superwall forward before Cogsworth has time to castle. The game finishes quickly as Cogsworth cannot get his king to safety.
10.10 Pawn Chain [Video length 10:45]
Learn the key elements of a pawn chain and how it is a strong and solid defensive structure that can act as a powerful barrier to your opponents pieces. We will also learn how to navigate around the pawn chain in an effort to improve the position of our pieces.
10.10.1 Pawn Chain Example lesson 1 [Video length 16:01]
Miss Sensible creates a pawn chain which Fun Master Mike then proceeds to attack using his pawns and pieces. Miss Sensible doesn't have any option but to break her pawn chain which in turn opens to the game for a rapid attack against her king.
10.11 Forcing moves [Video length 8:32]
Forcing moves are the starting point of any attack. Therefore it is important to understand what forcing moves are, how to find them and how to defend against them.
10.12 Team count and Power count [Video length 10:58]
Team Count and Power Count are two great tools for evaluating the amount of power you have in any position. We will learn how to calculate both team count and power count and also how to interpret the results.

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10.13 Spot count [Video length 8:28]
Spot count is a valuable and practical tool to see all the forcing moves in a position and is an excellent estimate of understanding the attacking potential of each player. Calculating the spot count helps improve your chess vision.
10.14.1 Common checkmates 1 [Video length 9:28]
Learn about the most common checkmates in chess. We look at Scholar's mate, Fool's mate, The electric fence, queen and helper and rook and helper mates.
10.14.2 Common checkmates 2 [Video length 12:47]
Learn about the most common checkmates in chess. We look at Apollo's mate, criss-cross mate, Boden's mate, Back-rank mate and Smothered mate.
10.14.3 Common checkmates 3 [Video length 11:26]
Learn about the most common checkmates in chess. We look at Swallow's mate, Epaulette mate, Sunrise mate and Anastasia's mate.
10.14.4 Common checkmates 4 [Video length 17:12]
How to build resilience and not lose your pawns in the endgame.
10.14.5 Common checkmates 5 [Video length 17:44]
Learn about the most common checkmates in chess. We look at Damiano's mate, Greco's mate and Lolli's mate
10.14.6 Common checkmates 6 [Video length 13:17]
Learn about the most common checkmates in chess. We look at Blackburne's mate and Pillsbury's mate
10.15.1 How to create a checkmate introduction [Video length 14:39]
Learn how to put pressure on your opponents fortress and break through to deliver a checkmate.
10.15.2 How to create a checkmate advanced example [Video length 25:08]
How to create a checkmate advanced example
10.16.1 Open files - Finding and using them [Video length 15:24]
Learn how to use and create open files so you can optimise the power of your rooks.

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10.16.2 Open files - Practical examples [Video length 13:33]
Practical examples of how to optimise the use of rooks featuring the greatest endgame player of all time, José Raúl Capablanca.
10.17 Famous players [Video length 2:22]
An introduction to famous players, why they are important and how you can find out more about them.
10.17.1 Famous players Example lesson 1 [Video length 21:46]
Famous players Example lesson 1
10.17.2 Famous players Example lesson 2 [Video length 23:28]
Famous players Example lesson 2
10.17.3 Famous players Example lesson 3 [Video length 28:30]
Famous players Example lesson 3
10.18 Module wrapup [Video length 3:26]
A summary of the learning completed for this module and recommended next steps.

MODULE 11 - Tactics COMING SOON!

· Defining tactics

· Double Attack

· Knight Fork

· Pin

· Skewer

· Discovered Attack

· Discovered Check

· Overload

· Double check

· Decoy

· Deflection

· Clearance

· Back Rank

MODULE 12 - Chess Variants COMING SOON!

· Introduction

· Caïssa

· Fischer Random (Chess960)

· X-Chess

· Crazyhouse

· Zombie Chess

· King of the Hill

· Tower Chess

· Transfer (Bughouse)

· Other variants

MODULE 13 - Tournament Fundamentals COMING SOON!

· Tournament games

· Arbitration & Adjudication

· Tournament rules

· Tournament formats

· The Swiss system

· Tournament rewards

MODULE 14 - Management Fundamentals COMING SOON!

· Finding funding

· Volunteers

· Equipment

· Tips for Best-Practise chess clubs

· Communication

· Group Management strategies

· Student Management strategies

· Positive Statements

· Rewards and Recognition

· What you don't know the answers

· Beginning and Ending Sessions

MODULE 15 - Resources COMING SOON!

· Accessing resources

· Mini-games

· Puzzles

· Character games

· Database Management Software

· Playing and Learning about Chess

· What's going on in the Chess World

· Chess Events

· Organising Chess Tournaments

· Chess Apps

Access the tools and resources to facilitate a chess club. Focus is on management and support. Only bare minimum technical chess resources.

Access the tools and resources to facilitate a chess club and tournaments. Equal coverage of management, support and chess knowledge.

Full access to all tools and resources. Teach basic and intermediate-level chess topics, manage tournaments with student support for regional and national events.

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Note you can purchase modules individually by expanding available modules above and clicking Buy Now.

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