This women-only course is ideal for women (only) who only know how the chess pieces move, up to players with up to about 1600 FIDE rating (if you don't what that means, this course is for you!).

The course consists of 12 sessions – 6 interactive, practical lessons and 6 (optional) practice sessions. There will also be two (optional) social events, and lessons are available as catch up videos throughout the course. You'll be joining an awesome, diverse community of amazing, friendly women who also meet online weekly to play chess and chat.

Piece Play

Grandmasters say focusing on how each piece moves, how they work together and what they can achieve (including checkmates), is the best way to improve your chess. If you're very new to the game, this will help cement your knowledge. If you've been playing chess for years, you'll come out of this course with fewer blunders and a deeper understanding of the game on a whole new level.

Improve your chess knowledge and skill, and have a lot of fun along the way!

Week 1: Queen of the world! Use (and keep) your most powerful piece

Week 2: Hands up, it's a rookery - the 7th, open files, pawn promotion, novel checkmates

Week 3: Ooh-err, bishop - scissoring, imbalances, good and bad bishops

Week 4: Pawn play: "pawns are the soul of chess"

Week 5: Hippy hoppy little barstewards - knight hacks

Week 6: The game of kings - kings as attackers, the opposition, the last defence

You don't need a chess board, or anything other than an internet connection and a computer, laptop or tablet (a phone is okay, but perhaps a bit small).

Any questions at all, please do email Amanda at casualchesscafe@gmail.com - if  your questions is, 'Can I do this course if I only know how the pieces move/if I'm going to miss some lessons?' the answer is, YES, absolutely! :)