| CODE | DGP0868 | ||||||
| TITLE | Chess Fundamentals for Beginners | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 00 - Mod Pre-Tert, Foundation, Proficiency & DegreePlus | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | Not Applicable | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Degree Plus Programme | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This course introduces beginners to chess's foundational principles and strategies, guiding them through essential rules, techniques, and tactics. Through hands-on practice, interactive lessons, and strategic exercises, students will develop a solid understanding of how to play chess, from setting up the board to planning advanced moves. Each session builds on the previous one, covering essential skills like attacking, defending, understanding check and checkmate, recognising patterns, and mastering the game’s different phases. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to play complete games with confidence and a strategic mindset. Unit Objectives: • Week 1: Rules of the Game • Week 2: Attacking and Defending • Week 3: Check and Checkmate • Week 4: Checkmate Patterns and Stalemate • Week 5: The Opening • Week 6: The Middlegame • Week 7: Tactics and Combinations 1 • Week 8: Tactics and Combinations 2 • Week 9: Structures and Mini Plans • Week 10: The Endgame. Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Understand and apply the basic rules of chess, including the movement of each piece and the game's objective; 2. Recognize and execute fundamental attacking and defending techniques; 3. Identify and implement check, checkmate, and stalemate scenarios to conclude games; 4. Apply common checkmate patterns and recognise stalemate situations; 5. Develop effective strategies for the opening phase of the game; 6. Understand the structure and purpose of the middle game, utilising it to control the board; 7. Utilize tactical moves and combinations to gain an advantage; 8. Plan and execute mini strategies within specific board structures; 9. Employ endgame techniques to finish games effectively and capitalise on positional advantages; 10. Engage in full chess games with a balanced approach to strategy and tactics while understanding the unique challenges of each phase of play. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to chess, promoting critical thinking, strategic planning, and sportsmanship. Unit Material: Chess board and pieces will be provided during the lectures. Assessment: In keeping with the spirit of the Degree Plus, there will be no formal assessment associated with this study-unit. A certificate of attendance and of satisfactory completion of the unit will be provided at the end of the semester. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | This unit may not be offered if there is an insufficient number of applicants. Sessions will be held at the UM Library Periodicals Department. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Practical | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Andrei Dobbin Matthias Timothy Gatt Raffaele Sigona Milena Stagno |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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