Stappenmethode.nl

Info

■  New workbooks

■  The steps on CD

■  Certificates

■  Background

■  Frequently asked questions

  New workbooks

For many trainers the number of exercises in the ordinary workbooks is enough, but not for everyone. For many years there has been asked for 'more'.

Therefore, next to the existing workbooks the Extra workbooks and the Plus workbooks will be published. The students will be able to do more exercises on almost the same level and consequently remain busy with the same step for a longer period. It is important that the difficulty level does not go up too quickly. The problem of proceeding (too) quickly to the next step, that a lot of children are not yet ready for, can be prevented in this way.
Is it useful to solve many exercises?
In her column on Chesscafe Susan Polgar gives the following suggestion how the beginner should play better chess.
One of the first things I suggest you to do is study middlegame tactics and endgame techniques. There are many tactical puzzle books that you can learn from. I would say you can start with 10-20 puzzles daily. These puzzles can be checkmate in 1 or 2 or tactics that involve pins, forks, discovered attacks, etc. As you get better and more efficient, you can increase to maybe 30-40 puzzles daily. If you have time, the more puzzles you solve, the better you will become.

Plus workbook
This book contains:

New subjects
Subjects which have been given too little attention in the 'ordinary' books due to the lack of space
Broadening of the important subjects
Subjects from a previous step on a higher level

There will come for sure Plus workbooks for all steps. Step 1 plus is avaibable in English. Five are published so far (in German and Dutch)

Extra workbooks
A workbook with just one reminder and further merely exercises. In the first half there are only exercises on the same subjects as in the 'steps'. They are not only useful as an extra practice but also as a repetition.
In the second part all exercises are of the mixed type. The subject of the exercises is not indicated therefore they resemble positions from a real chess game. In the original step book there are too few exercises of this kind due to the lack of space.
It is sure that extra books for all steps will appear. Five are published so far (in German and Dutch).

For the trainer satisfied with the present situation nothing has to change. He may continue giving lessons with the manual and the ordinary workbook. For those who want more the extra workbooks will come with more exercises of the same kind and the plus books for additional subjects.

The Steps on CD

Do you want to learn individually or are you looking for more lessons and exercises? You have a choice.

Tasc Chess CD

With the Tasc Chess CD you can be busy for many years.
On the CD you will find the first 5 steps with lessons and exercises. (totally more than 2600 puzzles - different ones than in the books).
The course is in 4 languages: English, German, French and Dutch.

At least one American chessplayer is impressed:
"Of course I was spoiled by my earlier exposure to the excellent training CD made by TASC called “Chess Tutor”. I later found out that this was a highly successful 5 step method pioneered by Rob Brunia and IM Cor van Wijgerden. .........
I cannot give this CD enough praise, every beginning to intermediate player should own it, or at least be exposed to its methodology."
Click to check: sanchopawnza

You can order the CD: Order form.

Chess Tutor

The Chess Tutor is a Windows program for the learning of chess, based on the Stepmethod by Brunia/van Wijgerden. It brings a new dimension to the learning of chess: it has solid pedagogical foundations, it is effective… and fun. It constitutes the ideal starting point for children (8 years and older) and adults of all ages – a fact which has already been confirmed many thousands of times.

In the first step, the elementary knowledge is acquired which every successful chess player needs. The early stages of the program thus present easily comprehensible steps and exercises, which are immediately assimilated through play. In addition, in the Chess Tutor the Stappenmethode is complemented by a lot of new activities for learning and practice. None of the chess positions and the practice exercises in the program have yet been published, meaning that even those who know the books of the Stepsmethod will be able to discover much that is new to them.
Step 1 contains 23 lessons, 1800 exercises and 66 games.

The second step is about the basic rules of tactics and positional play. You will learn many attacking patterns and techniques to win material. Step 2 contains 21 lessons, 1960 exercises and 84 games.

In the third Step you learn about important opening principles and elementary endings. Then comes an introduction to finding a plan and a broadening and deepening of your knowledge of tactics. Step 3 contains 23 lessons, 2150 tasks and 93 games.

The most frequently asked question has been: What is the difference between the ´old´ Tasc Chess Tutor and the new Tutor? Here at a glance are some of the most important differences:

Under the surface of the program, another program is working, a chess program, an engine. The old Tasc Tutor was not able to play chess, which of course was an enormous failing. Every reply from the user had to be anticipated. The sheer weight of the numbers involved led to there being usually only the answer “The answer is wrong”. Now the response is much more flexible (“The king is in check, but Black still has a move.”) and the computer demonstrates the reply. The user learns much more like that.
The fact that there is a chess program now makes it possible to employ the knowledge which has just been acquired. Positions can be played out to a finish and even complete games can be played. In Step 1 even a beginner is able to win, because the engine plays badly, yet in an intelligent way. It also sometimes loses pieces and allows itself to be checkmated.
A special chess program was developed for the games in Step 1: games without kings, trapping pieces, collecting coins, etc.
Over the years, the print version of the Stepmethod has also changed. A lot of new exercises have been added to the extra booklets, exercises which are not only useful but also fun. Exercises of this sort (e.g. the route planner) have also been included in the Tutor.
Every step now contains much more material. Every lesson (except the first 6 in step 1) consists of: an introduction, basic exercises, games, extra exercises, tests and the opportunity to play games of chess.
Naturally there has been an enormous leap forward in the graphics capabilities of computers. Good use is made of this in the Tutor. Learning is supported by graphic symbols, numbers and letters.

You can download a free, restricted version of Chess Tutor Step 1 and 2 and test it without obligation. The demo version contains a limited choice of lessons, games and exercises taken from the full version.

Chess Tutor works on all Windows PCs with Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7. The size of the download is approx. 31 MB.

Demo step 1

Demo step 2

Demo step 3

More information (screenshots, developers) you will find on: Chess Tutor

You have a choice between a download or a CD. The price is € 19.95.

Download

Download Chess Tutor

As soon as your payment for the Download-version has been received, you will be sent by e-mail your personal registration code and a download link for the program you have chosen. If you pay by credit card, PayPal or giropay you normally receive the code and download link immediately. The transaction is carried out via our partner website Shredderchess.
For schools and chess clubs you can order licenses:
Prices you will find in this window.

CD

You can order Step 1, 2 and 3: Order form.

Certificates

Each step can be completed with an exam. Students who score sufficiently get a certificate appropriate to each step.
It is advisable when preparing for the examination to let the children make a test examination first, and if necessary a second time in case of doubt. However, try to prevent that they do test examinations many times. It will put a severe strain on their enthusiasm, and it emphasizes the examination and the certificate too much.
The English version will appear in 2005.
Rupert van der Linden has designed a colourful certificate.
The piece on the statue will change for each step. As a foretaste, you can see here the German version.

Background

The Steps method of Rob Brunia and Cor van Wijgerden has already been existing since 1987.
In the eighties Cor van Wijgerden made many stencils with exercises for the Dutch youth and women top players (he was at that time the national trainer of the Royal Dutch Chess Federation). The demand for this kind of exercises on a lower level was getting bigger and bigger which gave the start to the plan of developing exercises for different levels. Another experienced trainer Rob Brunia was ready to help.
The profound knowledge of chess technical and didactic aspects of both authors resulted in a solid teaching method that fits the development of a child.
In 1987 the first manual and (loose-leaf) stencils appeared. In 1990 the manual Step 5 was published and the teaching method was approximately ready. Since then many adjustments and improvements have been introduced (unfortunately without Rob Brunia who in 1991 has to cease his cooperation because of other activities).

An (incomplete) view of some big and small changes since 1991:

The loose-leaf stencils are replaced by workbooks.
The workbooks are thicker and adjusted. The too difficult and incorrect exercises have been simplified, changed or replaced.
Various new topics have been added to the manuals. The original lessons have been extended with instruction examples.
New in the manuals are summaries, search strategies, lists of concepts.
In 1999 appeared Step 6, in 2003 two stepping stones (Step 1 for young children up to 8 years).
The extra and plus books have been added.
The books are illustrated by Rupert van der Linden.

Frequently asked questions

· How long shall I be busy teaching step one?
As long as possible. The ability to solve the exercises and getting the certificate not always correspond to the playing skills. Only then when the student can use the material in his games regularly, the following step can be introduced. It is no use to teach Step 2 to children who in their own games fail to catch the unprotected pieces of their opponents. In the manual step 1 you can read the following: The basic material seems to be simple and some trainers manage to complete step 1 within 3 months. That is not the best approach. Essential chess skills such as giving mate require a long learning period. It is better to devote at least a year to the first step to master the basic skills very well (there are always exceptions). The lost time can be easily recovered later.

· When will the English version be ready?
Workbook Step 1 extra and Step 1 plus are available. Step 6 is scheduled for August 2011. The other Plus and Extra workbooks will appear one by one.