The Steps method

The Steps method is a teaching method designed to help children and adults learn how to play chess (better), from beginner to a high level (top 700 of the Netherlands). Many schools and chess clubs in the Netherlands (since 1987), Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, and the United States use the method for their chess lessons.

Many of the books have been translated into other languages: English (32), German (32), French (32), Georgian (19), Swedish (15), Greek (15), Turkish (10), Azerbaijani (5), Spanish (6), Czech (4), Romanian (4), Korean (2), Danish (1), Galician (1), and Malay (1).

The method consists of six steps. Each step has a manual with lessons for the trainer / teacher / parent and workbooks with exercises for the students.

The links above (course material, order, info, puzzle) speak for themselves. Trainers can download the answers of the workbooks. You can also download samples of the various manuals and workbooks. To get an idea of the level, try a page with 12 exercises from each workbook.

New edition in 2026:

• Step 5 plus workbook (4 languages)
• Manual for chess trainers Step 2 — 2026, 256 pp.