AXIORA CHESSPRACTICE TO MASTERY

Teacher guide

Lesson scripts

For coaches and parents running these lessons with a student: how to open, what to ask, and where to stop talking.

BOOK 01

What Is a Tactic?

Hook
Most players invent a plan in this position. Strong players ask a different question first.
Teach
Define tactics as forcing operations. Walk through CCT on Diagram B.
Then stop and ask
Pause on Diagram A. List White's legal checks, captures, and threats before choosing a move.
Homework
Annotate one game for every CCT moment.

BOOK 01

CCT Scanning

Hook
Look at this Italian position. Most club players develop on autopilot.
Teach
Run CCT out loud for White, then for Black.
Then stop and ask
Pause. Write three threats Black must respect.
Homework
Twenty CCT-only puzzles.

BOOK 01

Loose Pieces

Hook
Equal material. Still, Black is already losing something.
Teach
Define loose pieces. Mark defenders on Diagram B.
Then stop and ask
Pause. Name every unprotected Black unit.
Homework
Tag loose pieces in three of your games.

BOOK 01

King Safety & Open Lines

Hook
This file looks empty. It is actually a weapon.
Teach
Connect open lines to Morphy's Opera Game themes.
Then stop and ask
Pause. Who benefits if the center opens?
Homework
Replay Opera Game and mark every opened line.

BOOK 01

Forks

Hook
King and queen look safe. A knight says otherwise.
Teach
Show royal fork geometry on Diagram A.
Then stop and ask
Pause on Diagram C. Find the fork.
Homework
Twenty knight-fork puzzles.

BOOK 01

Creating and Avoiding Forks

Hook
The fork is not on the board yet. You can still build it — or walk into it.
Teach
Show preparatory ideas and prophylaxis on Diagram A.
Then stop and ask
Pause. How does White avoid the fork?
Homework
Five creation + five avoidance drills.

BOOK 01

Pins & Skewers

Hook
This bishop looks active. It cannot move.
Teach
Absolute vs relative pins on Diagram A.
Then stop and ask
Pause. Is the pin absolute?
Homework
Fifteen pin/skewer puzzles.

BOOK 01

Discovered Attacks

Hook
The bishop moves. The queen delivers the punch.
Teach
Battery anatomy on Diagram A.
Then stop and ask
Pause. Where can the bishop move with tempo?
Homework
Fifteen discovery puzzles.

BOOK 01

Deflection, Decoy & Overload

Hook
One piece is doing too much work.
Teach
Overload on Diagram A.
Then stop and ask
Pause. What are the defender's two jobs?
Homework
Twenty deflection/overload puzzles.

BOOK 01

Zwischenzug, Candidates & Blunder Checks

Hook
Everyone wants to take back. The winning move is something else.
Teach
Define zwischenzug and candidate lists.
Then stop and ask
Pause. Name three candidates before capturing.
Homework
Start the five-game tactical autopsy.