About the Course
Introduction to Chess provides new or beginning students with a strong foundation in the game’s rules and strategies, and a community of enthusiasts to learn alongside. You’ll begin with a brief history of chess and unravel the secrets of chess through quizzes, videos, and games about how each piece moves.
At the end of most lessons, you’ll have the chance to play computerized chess challenges at varying degrees of difficulty, complete engaging and creative projects, and you’ll also have the opportunity to play with your classmates. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to read and write the algebraic notation for chess moves, understand the strategies and rules of the game, and competently attack your opponent’s king while defending your own.
Learning Objectives
- Read and write the algebraic notation for chess moves
- Correctly set up a game of chess and know the legal moves of each piece
- Understand and explain how a game of chess can end in a win or draw
- Understand and perform the strategies for basic openings and end games
- Competently attack the opponent’s king while defending your own king
About Advanced Enrichment courses
These courses offer above-grade-level material that is presented in a novel context, explored with other advanced learners, and guided by a CTY educator to help prepare students for higher-order thinking and college-style academic challenges.
Requirements
CTY courses have grade-level requirements and most require minimum test scores. Some courses may also have prerequisites.
Identification DetailsDates and Tuition
Online
You will be asked to join or sign in first.
Register by: December 15, 2025
Time Commitment:
Please acquire all course materials by the course start date, unless noted as perishable. Items marked as “perishable” should not be acquired until the student needs them in the course. If you have questions about these materials or difficulty locating them, please contact [email protected].
We recommend that you have a real chessboard to play and practice on at home.
Time Commitment: 4-5 hours per week (1 hour of class time, 3-4 hours of independent work).
This course meets every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Eastern time).
Students will be expected to spend an additional 3-4 hours per week completing independent work.
Registration Fee and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees will be waived or reduced for students who qualify for financial aid.
Learn more about Financial Aid