Step 2


       



The 'real' work begins in the second step. After the rules of the game and the basic skills from the previous step, the first principles of tactics and positional play are on the program now.
We are going to teach attacking techniques and how to win material in a clever way. Tactics are very important in playing chess. The tactical possibilities seen by advanced chess players originate from good positional play; in the case of the students of step two they come out of thin air. At this level all games are decided by tactics, so it is logical to pay a lot of attention to this matter. Positional play is still less important at this level than tactics. The problem is that to introduce even the most simple positional concepts is aiming too high. This introduction is made in the second step, but at the beginning it is better to point out the positional elements when analysing the children's games.

The 'second step' consists of a manual and 3 workbooks.

■  Manual for chess trainers Step 2

■  Workbook Step 2

■  Workbook Step 2 extra

■  Workbook Step 2 plus

 

  Manual for chess trainers Step 2  

Manual for
chess trainers
Step 2
1st edition 2004
124 pages
with drawings

Contents:

Introductory articles about:



For the students almost everything is new in the second step. That is why there is a smaller number of lessons than in the other steps.
  1: Activity of pieces
  2: Double attack: queen (1)
  3: Double attack: queen (2)
  4: The pin
  5: Elimination of the defence
  6: The 3 golden rules
  7: Mate in two
  8: Double attack: knight
  9: Mating with the rook
10: Double attack: RBQK
11: Discovered attack
12: Defending against mate
13: The short notation

 

  Workbook Step 2


Step 2
2nd edition 2006
56 pages
with drawings

Next to the exercises there are reminders in the workbook. These are short recapitulations of the material from the manual for the students.

There are 9 reminders.

On the remaining 46 pages there are always 12 diagrams.
That means a total number of 46x12-26 ( the drawings) = 526 positions.

Try one?    Double attack with the queen
The issues of the exercises correspond to those in the manual.
See Manual for chess trainers.

 

 Workbook Step 2 extra 


Step 2 extra
1st edition 2011
56 pages
with drawings

Read more about the Extra books in info.

In the extra workbook there are 54 pages with exercises, which means as many as 54x12=648-31 (drawings) = 617 positions.
There is also a reminder with hints how to proceed with the mixed tests.

At the beginning come the exercises with the familiar items from Step 2 and some from the first step on a higher level:

The last 26 pages contain tests.

Take the challenge!    Test

 

 Workbook Step 2 plus 


Step 2 plus
1st edition 2011
56 pages
with drawings

Read more about the plus books in the info.

The contents of the Workbook Step 2 plus:

More or less new topics:


Elaborating the already introduced material:

Getting out of check in a cunning way, choosing the correct capture, defending agaisnt a passed pawn.
Creating mate with 2 pieces, mating patterns
Forcing stalemate, avoiding stalemate, lifting stalemate, stalemate as weapon, unavoidable stalemate
Have a try:  Lifting the stalemate
Cashing in a passed pawn and defending against a passed pawn
Exercises to raise skills (give check, choose the safe route, deliver mate as soon as possible, capture all the pieces)