What Do Chess Classes Cover at Different Levels?
Parents often wonder what chess classes at different levels actually cover.
The answer varies depending on the academy you choose—each coach has their own way of structuring a syllabus.
But broadly, chess learning can be divided into two stages:
1.Pre-FIDE Rating Levels
These are the stages before a player gets an official FIDE rating.
Beginners (4–6 months)
This is where you learn the rules of the game and some basic concepts—piece values, types of exchanges, and simple checkmating patterns. It’s the foundation stage.
Intermediate (7–10 months)
Here you’re introduced to calculation and tactical themes—Pin, Skewer, X-Ray, Forks, etc. You also learn basic endgames and elementary strategic principles.
Advanced (6–9 months)
At this stage, the focus shifts to middlegame strategy and deeper endgame play. By now, you should be comfortable with tactical patterns and short calculations.
👉 By the end of these three levels, a motivated student can often achieve an elementary FIDE rating of ~1400. From scratch, this journey typically takes 18–22 months, provided you put in steady effort outside of class as well.
2. Post-FIDE Rating Levels
Once you have a FIDE rating, progress is usually tracked in rating bands:
Training at these levels becomes more personalized, with focus on consistency, complex positions, and refining your decision-making.
Closure:
Chess improvement is not just about completing levels or following a timeline.
Yes, the path looks like:
Rules → Tactics → Strategy → Ratings.
But the speed of the journey is different for every student.
Some may reach FIDE 1400 in a year.
Others may take 2–3 years.
And that’s completely okay.
What truly matters is:
Thinking habits – Evaluating positions, making decisions, and calculating effectively.
Tournament exposure – Learning from real games, not just practice boards.
Psychology & discipline – Handling wins and losses with balance.
Consistency – Solving puzzles daily, reviewing games, and steady effort.
This is what great coaches emphasize: Don’t measure progress only by rating jumps or months spent at a level. Measure it by how much better you are at thinking today compared to yesterday.
So instead of asking—
“How fast can I reach 2000 Elo?”
A better question is—
“Am I building the right habits that will eventually take me there?”
Because in chess—and in life—habits decide how far you go, not shortcuts.
Vaishnav Jangam
FIDE Rated Chess Player
