Chess Class for Beginners (Boys Ages 9–14)

Strategy & Mind Sports (9–14)Enrolling Now

MASTER THE ART & STRATEGY OF CHESS

A structured 8-week journey for boys ages 9–14. Build critical thinking, sharp focus, and lasting self-confidence.

Boys Ages 9 to 14 • 8-Week Cohort (2 hrs/week) • Sundays, Oct 18 – Dec 6, 2026•📍 1325 Rue Cartier, Saint-Laurent, QC H4L 2N6

Call: (438) 346-7103

Chess Instructors & Mentors (ELO 1300 on Chess.com)

Abdullah Alatassi & Joud Altabbalh

Passionate chess educators at Académie de l'Avenir Souriant committed to making chess an exciting, enriching, and confidence-building journey for every young learner. Our lead instructor holds a 1300 ELO rating on Chess.com.

Objective

Strategy, Logic & Focus

Cultivate observation skills, critical reasoning, and patient problem-solving while mastering piece mechanics, tactical motifs, and opening principles.

Schedule

Sundays · 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Weekly 2-hour interactive sessions every Sunday from October 18 to December 6, 2026 (8 sessions total / 16 hours) from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. In-person at our Saint-Laurent center (1325 Rue Cartier).

Who Is It For

Boys Ages 9–14 (Beginners)

Designed specifically for boys ages 9 to 14 with little to no prior chess experience. Small cohort strictly capped at 10 spots for maximum practice and personalized coaching.

Why Chess is More Than a Game — It's an Art of Thinking

Chess is universally celebrated as the greatest strategy game in the world. Far more than simple recreation, chess is an intellectual art form that sharpens critical reasoning, cultivates razor-sharp observation, and trains the mind to think ahead with patience and composure. The Académie de l'Avenir Souriant is proud to launch its dedicated 8-Week Chess Program for Beginners, specifically designed for boys ages 9 to 14 at our modern Saint-Laurent center (1325 Rue Cartier).

Led by enthusiastic instructors Abdullah Alatassi and Joud Altabbalh — with a lead instructor holding a 1300 ELO rating on Chess.com — this program transforms chess from an intimidating board game into an electrifying, interactive journey. Rather than passive lecturing, each weekly 2-hour session blends clear conceptual instruction with multimedia presentations, tactical puzzles on Chess.com, and immediate over-the-board practice on official tournament boards.

Running every Sunday from October 18 to December 6, 2026 (10:00 AM to 12:00 PM), the course offers an exceptional educational experience at a special launch rate of just $120 total ($15/session) for the full 8-week curriculum. To ensure every student receives personal attention and active board time, enrollment is strictly capped at only 10 spots.

Ready to Join?

Secure your spot today. Limited cohort capacity ensures personalized attention.

Our 8-week curriculum guides young beginners through every dimension of the royal game: from board geometry and piece values to the golden rules of the opening (rapid piece development, center control, king safety), core tactical patterns (forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks), and fundamental endgame checkmates.

Students also learn standard algebraic chess notation, analyze classic games played by masters on the HD projector, and develop essential sportsmanship and emotional control. The program culminates in Week 8 with an exciting friendly tournament and an official graduation ceremony awarding certificates of achievement.

Week 1

Week 1 — Introduction to the Game of Chess

Board Geometry, History & Piece Setup

➔The history, cultural heritage, and noble objective of the game of chess
➔Navigating the chessboard: ranks, files, diagonals, and square coordinates
➔Proper initial setup and alignment of pawns and major pieces
➔Fun mini-games to recognize piece movements and board vision

Week 2

Week 2 — Piece Movements & Special Rules

Mastering the Army & Essential Rules

➔Movement mechanics: pawns, knights, bishops, rooks, queen, and king
➔Special chess rules: castling (kingside & queenside), en passant, and pawn promotion
➔Understanding the concepts of check, checkmate, and stalemate
➔Guided practice exercises and simplified mini-matches

Week 3

Week 3 — Principles of the Opening

Starting the Game with Strength & Purpose

➔The 3 Golden Rules: rapid piece development, controlling the center, and king safety
➔Study of classic foundational openings (Italian Game, Spanish Opening / Ruy Lopez)
➔Common opening traps and how to avoid early blunders (Scholar's Mate defense)
➔Thematic mini-games with assigned opening positions

Week 4

Week 4 — Fundamental Tactics

Tactical Weapons to Win Material

➔Core tactical motifs: forks, pins, skewers, and discovered attacks
➔Calculating candidate moves and recognizing opponent threats
➔Interactive chessboard puzzle exercises powered by Chess.com
➔Mini-game challenge: 'Find the Best Move' speed rounds

Week 5

Week 5 — The Middlegame Strategy

Creating Plans, Outposts & Coordination

➔Understanding middlegame objectives and formulating attack or defense plans
➔Pawn structure fundamentals, strong squares (outposts), and piece harmony
➔Position evaluation and spotting imbalances on the board
➔Themed sparring games: attacking the castled king and fighting for central dominance

Week 6

Week 6 — Endgame Fundamentals

The Art of Converting Advantages into Checkmate

➔Recognizing the most common and essential endgame positions
➔Essential checkmating patterns: King + Queen vs King, King + Rook vs King
➔The principle of opposition, passed pawns, and pawn promotion races
➔Hands-on checkmate drills against coaches and peers

Week 7

Week 7 — Strategy & Chess Notation

Reading, Writing & Connecting the Phases

➔Introduction to standard algebraic chess notation (recording moves)
➔Connecting the phases: transitioning smoothly from opening to middlegame to endgame
➔Interactive analysis of a famous historical master game on the HD projector
➔Full practice games played with complete live move notation

Week 8

Week 8 — Friendly Tournament & Graduation

Putting It All Together & Celebrating Growth

➔Friendly end-of-course tournament (Swiss-system format)
➔Collective group game review with coaches highlighting brilliant moves
➔Reinforcing sportsmanship, gracious winning, and learning from defeats
➔Official graduation ceremony, presentation of certificates, and course celebration

♟️

Tournament Chess Sets

Official tournament-size chessboards with weighted Staunton pieces for paired over-the-board play.

💻

Chess.com Premium Platform

Teacher-guided digital tools: interactive AI analysis engine, tactical puzzle trainer, and video walkthroughs.

📽️

HD Presentation Projector

Large-screen interactive display for group lectures, master game analysis, and real-time tactical demonstrations.

📝

Notation & Study Materials

Official score sheets, workbooks, and tactical review sheets to record games and reinforce learning at home.

Tuition

$15 / session ($120 total for 8 sessions)

Duration

8 weeks · 2 hours/week (16 hours total)

Day

Sundays

Time

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Dates

October 18, 2026 – December 6, 2026

Audience

Boys ages 9 to 14 (Beginners)

Class Capacity

Strictly limited to 10 students

Instructors

Abdullah Alatassi & Joud Altabbalh (ELO 1300 on Chess.com)

Equipment Included

Official tournament boards, Chess.com Premium access, notation books

Graduation

Friendly tournament + official certificates of achievement

Location

1325 Rue Cartier, Saint-Laurent, QC H4L 2N6

Complete mastery of the chessboard, piece moves, values, and special rules (castling, promotion, en passant)
The 3 golden opening rules: rapid piece development, controlling central squares, and safeguarding the king
Crucial tactical patterns: forks, pins, skewers, and discovered attacks to outmaneuver opponents
Strategic middlegame concepts: pawn structures, outposts, and piece coordination
Essential endgame checkmating techniques with King + Queen and King + Rook
Learning algebraic chess notation to read, record, and review games like a tournament player
Developing vital mental faculties: focus, foresight, patience, logical analysis, and emotional resilience
Hands-on practice on official tournament boards paired with Chess.com Premium digital analysis
Exciting friendly end-of-term tournament with prizes + official certificates of achievement
Exclusive cohort strictly capped at 10 spots (boys ages 9–14) ensuring close guidance from passionate instructors

How to Register

Ready to ignite your child's passion for strategy and focus? Register online or contact us directly by phone:

Call to Register(438) 346-7103

Call to Register(514) 581-5305

📍 Center Location: 1325 Rue Cartier, Saint-Laurent, QC H4L 2N6

Direct Enrollment

Special launch rate: $120 total for the full 8-week course ($15/session). Strictly limited to 10 students — secure your spot now!

📞(438) 346-7103Call Now 📞(514) 581-5305Call Now

Useful Links

Chess Class for Beginners (Boys Ages 9–14)

$15/session