The real curriculum

The seven-level map

One hundred units from the first pawn move to Master Cub. This is the whole journey — nothing hidden, nothing vague. The entire curriculum is written; your child will never wait for the next level.

1

Beginner

The chess world from zero: every piece, check, checkmate and stalemate, safe opening habits — ending with a first mini-tournament.

Ages 5–8pre-rated ~400–600
2

Explorer

Chess literacy: reading and writing notation, the two-rook checkmate, piece values, good trades and bad trades — ending in the Explorer Arena.

Ages 6–9casual to ~600
3

Tactician

The weapons and the shields: forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks, removing the defender, mate-in-two calculation.

Ages 7–10~600–1000
4

Strategist

Thinking in plans: pawn structure, weak squares, open files, real openings (the Italian Game, meeting 1.d4), candidate moves.

Ages 8–11~1000–1300
5

Endgamer

Where games are won: king activity, the opposition, breakthroughs, rook endings, the art of the draw, full-game integration.

Ages 8–12consolidating ~1300
6

Competitor

Tournament craft: the clock, the laws of the arena, scoresheets under pressure, how ratings work, defense and counterattack.

Ages 9–12~1300–1500
7

Master Cub

The summit of the map — advanced, individual coaching for cubs who've climbed the first six levels. Every grandmaster started as a cub.

Ages 9–12+~1500+

How progress works on this map

One unit = one idea, taught across two live classes.
A mastery gate before every advance — scored, specific, and never rushed.
A graduation at the end of every level — ceremony, certificate, and skills your child can demonstrate on a real board.
Nothing is ever left behind: every week's homework deliberately reaches back to earlier units.
One price for the climb: $59/month covers all of it, Beginner through Competitor.

Find your child's starting point on the map

Book a Free Trial ClassTry a free sample unit

No credit card. No pressure. Includes your child's placement on our seven-level map and a written report.