Online Group Course for Adults 16+
EXPERIENCED BEGINNERS / INTERMEDIATE CLUB (900 – 1600 ELO)
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS (7 – 8.30PM)
SUMMER TERM 2024 (For Adults Aged 16+)
Course Theme: Fighting the French & Caro-Kann Defences.
Introducing the Sharpest French (3. Nc3). In class, we will be looking at and playing out middlegame positions arising from a selection of sharp but dependable attacking lines for white in the Classical (3…Nf6), Winawer (3…Bb4) and Burn variations (3…dxe4). Many white players reject 3. Nc3 and the brilliant attacking possibilities afforded by this direct approach to the French owing to the mistaken notion that playing 3. Nc3 requires huge theoretical knowledge. My goal in this course is to dispel this notion by taking an in-depth look at positional attacking lines whose starting points are easy to reach, so students focus on choosing a lines that play to their individual strengths, i.e. sharp middlegame plans for tactically minded players or more subtle positional approaches for strategic thinkers. On this course, I will also be looking at an unassuming positional approach against the Caro-Kann that scores extremely well for white in top-flight chess (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c3 Nf6 5. Bf4). The line in question also often arises in a critical counter-attacking line of the London System (1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. Nf3 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 Bf5 6. c3) and was memorably used by Ding Liren to defeat Ian Nepomniatchi in their World Championship Match in 2023.
Practical play and analysis will be the order of the day on this course. Students will be given workbooks with thematic puzzles to solve and tricky middlegame challenges to mull over. For the duration of the course, students will have access to the Chess Bud Learning Portal (powered by Chesslang) where they will be able to play through solutions to the workbook puzzles and also play through new annotated games each week in the lines covered on the course.
The Chess Bud Annotated Games Database currently includes many deeply annotated games on the Advanced variations (3. e5) against both the French and Caro-Kann Defences that students can also review.
Finally, I’m delighted to announce that a significant new feature has just been added to the Chess Bud Learning Portal which now enables students to play through annotated games in a much more spacious Board Area. Annotations and sidelines are now much easier to read on whatever device you are accessing the portal on. As an added bonus, you can now also explore other lines and possibilities not covered in the annotated game you are playing through by simply making moves on the Board. You also can use an engine to look a little deeper and find your own new ideas!
COURSE DURATION: 6 weeks
COURSE TIMES: 7 – 8.30pm
COURSE DATES: May 8th/ 15th/ 22nd/ 29th & June 5th /12th 2024, every Wed for 6 weeks.
COURSE FEES: 102 Euros (17 Euro per student per class)
Each class will run with a minimum of 8 students. If cancelled, a full refund will be issued.
If you out find out about the course, a few weeks into the term . . . No worries! There is continuous enrolment 🙂
You can sign-up mid-way and just pay for the remaining classes.
Just email mark@chessbud.ie to find out the correct amount based on the remaining classes in the term.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCED BEGINNERS / INTERMEDIATE ADULT COURSE
A six-week online course for EXPERIENCED BEGINNER to INTERMEDIATE LEVEL players. An EXPERIENCED BEGINNER knows how all the pieces move, understands key concepts such as checkmate, stalemate, en passant etc., but is hoping to expand their knowledge of the game, discover new opening strategies, learn the key concepts and ideas to help push their game to the next level and beyond. In class, you will have the opportunity to play out middlegame position in simuls against Mark or training games against other students. There will also be various themed tournament throughout the course where you can try out the French and Caro-Kann lines with white and black as well as fortnightly Chess Bud Online Tournaments. Relevant games from these Chess Bud Tournaments or recent over-the-board league or games students have played (which they send to Mark) course work and class content around student games.
The group meets once a week for 90 minutes on Wednesday evenings from 7 – 8.30pm The Online class is conducted using Zoom. This course is reserved for adults aged sixteen or more and will suit players who are experienced beginners or who have been playing at home for some time without any formal training or are rusty chess warriors returning to the game. This course is geared towards players who have a chess.com or lichess online rating or over-the board rating between 900 and 1600 Elo. On enrolling in the course you will be issued with your own personalised login to the Coaching Portal on the Chess Bud website (www.chessbud.ie) This log-in will remain active for the duration of the course.
In class, students will have the opportunity to play out middlegame position in simuls against Mark or training games against other students. There will also be at least two themed online Chess Bud tournaments during the course where students can try out the French and Caro-Kann lines explored in class with white and black. In class, Mark regularly reviews and analyses games from Chess Bud Tournaments as well as games students send him from over-the-board league, weekend tournaments or national championships.
BOOK NOW!
TO SECURE YOUR PLACE ON THIS COURSE,
PLEASE FILL OUT THE APPLICATION FORM BELOW AND FOLLOW PAYMENT STEPS TO SECURE YOUR BOOKING.
SECURE YOUR BOOKING:
You can choose one of the following payment options to secure your place on this course:
- Revolut to:
+353-85-1526889 or by using this link – https://revolut.me/markmtykf
2. Paypal to:
mark@chessbud.ie or through searching my username: @chessbud
3. EFT to Chess Bud IBAN:
IE82AIBK93319864200001
When paying by EFT, please don’t forget to include your name,
so that I know who the payment is for. Many thanks!
IM Mark Quinn,
Chess Bud Ireland
