Farai Mandizha is an International Master and inspirational chess coach known for his unique tactical playing style. His teaching centers around helping students understand the unique properties of each piece and the various ways they cooperate to achieve goals. To Farai, the essence of chess is that it is constantly changing, so rather than asking students to strictly memorize, his focus is on how to help students think through various positions.
Chess in the Schools Programs
Why Chess?
- Positive youth development.
- Promotes social, emotional, cognitive, and educational benefits.
- Builds competitiveness, empathy, and respect.
- Builds soft and core skills
- Fosters attentiveness and critical thinking
- Greatly enhances problem solving ability.
Curriculum Chess Classes : Grades k-3
- Introduce chess to students in a way that strategically introduces the basics first, so that students quickly learn to play a legal game of chess;
- Facilitate progressive growth through the sequential introduction of increasingly complex skills;
After-School Chess Classes
Grouped by skill level and age, children will grow through sections beginning with Head Start™ for absolute beginnings, Advancing (planning a game), and GM Inspired tactics™ (diabolical). All levels will emphasize the fun and sport of the game. Promotions within sections will automatically occur during the semester
Beginner Level - Course Details
Who is this Level Best Suited For?
Students who are either complete beginners or who have only learned and played chess at home. This course is best for students with no tournament experience or formal chess instruction.
Course Topics
Topics taught in the Beginner Level include, but are not limited to: piece movement, check, checkmate, stalemate, fundamental checkmates, checkmate patterns, piece values, and chess vocabulary.
Course Goals
Students will be able to play a complete legal game of chess with confidence. Students will clearly understand how a game ends and how to execute basic checkmates.
Upon completion of the Beginner Course, students will be encouraged to play in our Unrated Practice Tournaments and move on to the Intermediate Courses. Students who progress to the next level receive a graduation certificate.
Materials
All materials are provided for class.
Intermediate Level - Course Details
Who is this Level Best Suited For?
Students who have graduated from the Beginner Level course. Students who have had formal instruction but possibly even some tournament experience. Unrated players, and those with US Chess ratings under 600, and online ratings under 1000.
Course Topics
Topics taught in the Intermediate Level include, but are not limited to: basic chess tactics, basic chess strategy, abstract checkmate patterns, notation, tournament etiquette, thinking more than 1 move ahead.
Course Goals
Completing the intermediate courses should give parents and coaches the confidence that students are ready to play in rated tournaments at an introductory level (US Chess ratings between 100-600).
Materials
All materials are provided for class.
Advanced Level - Course Details
Who is this Level Best Suited For?
Students who have graduated from the Intermediate Level course. Students who have had formal instruction and tournament experience. Great for players with US Chess ratings 600-1000, and those with online ratings between 1000-1500.
Course Topics
Topics taught in the Advanced Level include, but are not limited to: studying classic games and champions, deeper opening concepts, middlegame positions, basic pawn structures, fundamental endgame technique, evaluation of chess positions.
Course Goals
Completing the Advanced Course should give parents and coaches the confidence that students able play at a US Chess rating level over 1000.
Materials
All materials are provided for class.
Master Class - Course Details
Who is this Level Best Suited For?
Students who have graduated from the Advanced Level course. Students who have had regular formal instruction and significant tournament experience. Great for players with US Chess ratings 1000-1600.
Course Goals
To ensure that students are properly trained as they work their way up the rating ladder. Chess becomes increasingly more difficult as you get better.
Materials
All materials are provided for class.