Step 4

The level of difficulty in Step 4 is higher than in the third. This is mainly the consequence of the increasing number of moves in the solutions of the exercises. With most of the topics the solution is 2½ moves deep. A good command and application of the topics from Step 3 (and lower) is therefore absolutely required!

Tactics are largely about the preparatory move. A direct attack does not yet work and a preparatory action is needed. All known forms of preparation are introduced: luring, eliminating the defence, chasing, aiming and clearance.

Gradually, positional aspects also play a more and more (modest) role in the games of a fourth-step player. The lessons on material advantage and endgame strategy contain a lot of strategic content. The lesson on weak pawns also makes pupils play more consciously with their pawns.

The 'fourth Step' consists of a manual and four workbooks.