The Instructor: Matthew Bergeron, a Chess Professional. ranked in the top 1% of competitive chess players globally. Dedicated chess coach and instructor, the co-founder of the Etobicoke Chess Club, a content creator, Youtuber, and host of a chess podcast. As a full-time chess entrepreneur, my main passion is teaching chess to both kids and adults, helping them improve their skills and enjoy the game. I have taught over 10000 kids through schools and private groups, and I also offer one-on-one private lessons. Beyond chess, I provide public speaking services to power and teach kids how to develop their public speaking skills.
Target Audience: Beginners/Intermediates/Advance chess players (separate classes if best)
Duration: 8 Weeks
Format: In-person
Frequency: Once a week
Minimum Participants: 10
Program Outline:
Week 1: Introduction to Chess
· History and basic rules
· Chessboard setup and piece movement
· Basic chess notation
Week 2: Opening Principles
1. Fundamental opening principles
2. Common openings for white and black
3. Opening traps to avoid
Week 3: Middlegame Strategies
1. Developing pieces to effective squares
2. Control of the center
3. Pawn structure and importance
Week 4: Basic Tactics
1. Forks, pins, and skewers
2. Double attacks and discovered attacks
3. Basic tactical puzzles
Week 5: Positional Play
1. Importance of piece activity
2. Strong vs. weak squares
3. Open files and diagonals
Week 6: Endgame Basics
1. King and pawn vs. king
2. Basic checkmates (king and queen vs. king, king and rook vs. king)
3. Opposition and zugzwang
Week 7: Analyzing Games
1. Going through famous games
2. Analyzing participant games
3. Learning from mistakes
Week 8: Tournament
1. In-class tournament
2. Applying learned skills in a competitive setting
3. Awards and feedback session
