Tactics and Combinations (Ages 8-12)

At this level most games are won or lost through tactical mistakes. In this group students work systematically through tactical motifs such as forks, pins, discovered attacks, deflection, decoy and back-rank mates, and learn to calculate several moves ahead accurately.

How the sessions work

• Two 90-minute sessions a week, with no more than 10 students
• One theme per session: explaining the motif, 15-20 puzzles, playing from a themed position
• The “candidate moves” habit: checking checks, captures and threats before every move
• Analysing positions taken from students’ own tournament games

Who is it for?

Students rated 1000-1200 UKD or placed in that band by the level test. The group is a prerequisite for moving up to the Development group. Each month parents receive a report on how many puzzles their child solved and with what accuracy. Students in the group can also join the club team on online puzzle platforms and take part in weekly puzzle competitions if they wish.