Overview

Make “check” and “mate” part of your everyday chess vocabulary, with help from an international master of the game. Chess is a sport, a science, and an art. The fun of the game is that anyone can play, and there is always something more to learn—especially with the right guide. From the basics of the game to advanced strategy and tactics, these 24 lectures are any chess enthusiast’s opportunity to enhance your understanding of the game. International Chess Master Jeremy Silman offers strategic insight into openings and endgames, examines typical pitfalls to avoid, and highlights an array of famous gambits, positions, defenses, mates, and more.

Course Structure

01: The World of Chess

• Duration: 34 min

• Basics of chess, piece movements, and mathematical notation.

02: Secrets of the Pawns and Knights

• Duration: 32 min

• Movement and strategies for pawns and knights.

03: Castling, Checkmate, Chess Engines, Draws

• Duration: 37 min

• Review of basics and introduction to advanced game aspects.

04: Must-Know Tactical Patterns in Chess

• Duration: 27 min

• Introduction to tactical patterns including pins, skewers, and forks.

05: Chess Combinations and Kings in Check

• Duration: 34 min

• Study of combination moves and tactical traps.

06: Checkmate! Back-Rank, Smothered, and More

• Duration: 30 min

• Classic mating patterns and piece collaboration for checkmate.

07: Checkmate against a Castled King

• Duration: 31 min

• Strategies to checkmate a castled king.

08: Legendary Attacking Greats of Chess

• Duration: 32 min

• Tactics of famous players like Paul Morphy and Garry Kasparov.

09: A Cascade of Short, Brutal Chess Games!

• Duration: 34 min

• Review of common errors and famous quick defeats.

10: Chess Heroes of the Romantic Age

• Duration: 35 min

• Notable players and tactics from the 18th and 19th centuries.

11: Open Files and the Positional Rook

• Duration: 26 min

• Lessons on positional play and maximizing rook effectiveness.

12: Pawns: The Positional Soul of Chess

• Duration: 31 min

• Understanding pawn structure and its implications for strategy.

13: Positional Weaknesses and Targets in Chess

• Duration: 32 min

• Identifying and capitalizing on positional weaknesses.

14: Closed and Open Positions on the Chessboard

• Duration: 31 min

• Differences in strategy for open versus closed positions.

15: Chess Statics vs. Dynamics: An Eternal Battle

• Duration: 35 min

• Balancing static and dynamic play strategies.

16: Using Chessboard Imbalances to Create Plans

• Duration: 27 min

• Leveraging board imbalances for strategic advantages.

17: Legendary Teachers Who Transformed Chess

• Duration: 35 min

• Historical figures who shaped modern chess.

18: Chess Endgames and the King’s Magical Powers

• Duration: 31 min

• Introduction to endgame strategy focusing on the king.

19: Kings and Pawns in Next-Level Endgames

• Duration: 26 min

• Techniques for handling pawns in endgames.

20: Triangulation and Two Critical Rook Endgames

• Duration: 31 min

• Key tactics for king and rook endgames.

21: Chess Openings: The Right and Wrong Way

• Duration: 31 min

• Effective opening strategies and principles.

22: Chess Psychology and the Known Unknown

• Duration: 30 min

• Navigating psychological traps in chess.

23: The Chess Amateur’s Mind

• Duration: 27 min

• Common mistakes made by amateurs and how to avoid them.

24: Picking a Chess Hero

• Duration: 38 min

• Analyzing the strategies of chess greats.