The steps

For our lessons we use the Step Method developed by Rob Brunia and Cor Van Wijgerden. All information about this teaching method can be found at www.stappenmethode.nl.

The nice thing about the Step Method is that it is the common thread of chess training. But with taking the lessons and doing the exercises alone, you are not going to make much progress as a chess player. You can only get better by playing real games regularly. This gives you the chance to actually apply what you have learned in the lessons in a game. And this is not easy, because after every move in a game you have to make a new task as it were ... find the strongest move.

You can practice with other kids from the club, but participating in tournaments outside the club is also possible. For example, there are regular tournaments for beginners, the so-called 'debutant tournaments'. In Flanders there are also 11 youth tournaments which are part of a 'criterium'. As a club we participate in most tournaments and transportation is provided.

Wat zeker zo belangrijk is als het spelen van partijen, is het ‘analyseren’ ervan. Dit is samen met een sterkere schaker de gespeelde zetten overlopen en kijken wat je beter had kunnen doen. Zo leer je snel van je fouten en speel je de daaropvolgende partij wel een sterke zet. Wie zei er weer “Je leert tweemaal zoveel van een verloren partij dan van een gewonnen partij”?