By National Master Evan Rabin. What does it mean to learn chess? Many beginners think they know how the rules since they know piece movement , but do not know castling , the differences between check, checkmate and stalemate , en passant , promotion , etc.
Does one know chess if he just knows the rules-no. It typically takes kids learning in groups lessons, kids learning in private lessons lessons and adults lessons to know chess. Chess is easy to learn but difficult to master. The more advanced you get, the less you know. When I am playing a beginner, he will often immediately capture one of my pieces, without seeing it was protected.
He gets happy that he sees a potential capture and assumes it is a good idea. Likewise, I often see the scenario where a class player and titled player analyze together.
The class player will quickly access a position as winning for one side. The titled player will discuss how the position is unclear. Parents and adult improvers often ask me what is the best way to start learning chess- self practice , private lessons , group classes, camps , etc. It always depends what their goals are, what their budget is and how quickly they want either themselves or their kids to improve.
Ideally, a player should have a full-stack approach to chess improvement , with all three options; however, that is not feasible for most, time wise and monetarily. Group classes are the most economic way to learn but students will take longer to learn as instructor needs to cater to all students of varying levels. While a few students in a class may understand a subject, others may need review. When I worked at Chess in the Schools in , Ron Boocock taught me how the goal of a curriculum class semester is to get 2nd and 3rd graders to go from little to no chess knowledge mostly not knowing how the pieces move to knowing the rules and basic strategy and more or less, being ready for tournaments.
