The essence of this method is that you learn certain themes, first in their easiest appearance but with each step some complexity is added.
There is a strong emphasis on tactics.
The “Steps method” contributed to give a good
chess education to a whole generation of young dutch chessplayers.
What I like the most is that within the method chess knowledge and
skills are nicely structured. This means
that the method’s serious student rarely fails
in endgames with a few pieces, and rarely misses a combination too.
The authors explain that it is required to integrate a serious study of
the “Steps method” with:
- Playing
serious games;
- Analysis of
the games played.
Concerning Step 4 http://www.chess-steps.com/step4.html
I have studied the first 4 lessons of the manual and I have gone through the
same number of exercises in the workbook, with a success rate of about 85% So I
can say that the indication that Step 4 is for players up to a USCF rating up
to 1750 is quite ok.
Additional material to the standard Steps is available as well:
At last we want to highlight that International Master Cor van Wijgerden
helped Chessity to develop an exciting new training concept:
To conclude, I can say that the material is well organized and
challenging. Highly recommended.
PS my thanks to IM Gerard Welling for being a constant source of chess
inspiration.
