Last updated February 27, 2008.
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Grading Criteria

Grade One
Grade Two
Grade Three

Grade One: White

  1. Getting Started
    • Chess Etiquette
    • Board placement
    • Algebraic names of the squares
    • Initial set-up of the pieces
    • Playing the game
  2. Names and Moves of the pieces
    • King
    • Queen
    • Rook
    • Bishop
    • Knight
    • Pawn
  3. Rank Order of the Pieces (as shown here)
    • King
    • Queen
    • Rook
    • Bishop = Knight
    • Pawn
  4. Ending Principles
    • Check
    • Checkmate
    • Stalemate
    • Dead Position

Grade Two: Orange

  1. Rules of the Game
    • Castling
    • Pawn Promotion
    • En Passant pawn capture
    • Algebraic names of the pieces
  2. Opening Principles
    • The Centre
    • Efficient Development
    • King Safety
  3. Tactics
    • Taking and defending free pieces
    • Forks
  4. Checkmating Patterns and Attacks
    • Fool's Mate
    • Back Rank checkmate
    • Queen checkmates on g7
    • Queen checkmates on h7
  5. Endgame Principles
    • King, Queen and Rook vs King
    • King and 2 Rooks vs King
  6. Relative Values of the Pieces
    • Pawn = 1
    • Bishop = Knight = 3 (minor pieces)
    • Rook = 5 (major pieces)
    • Queen = 9 (major piece)

Grade Three: Red

  1. Rules of the Game
    • Touch-move
    • Draw offers
    • Resignation
    • Algebraic symbols
  2. Tactics
    • Pins
    • Skewer
    • Exchanging to win material
  3. Mating Patterns and Attacks
    • Scholar's Mate
    • Philidor's Legacy (smothered mate)
    • Checkmates-in-one and simple mates-in-two
  4. Ending Principles
    • King and Pawn Endings
    • King and Queen vs King
    • King and Rook vs King
    • King and Pawn(s) vs King
    • King and Rook's Pawn vs King
    • King, Minor piece and Pawn vs King
    • King, Minor piece and Rook's Pawn vs King
  5. Relative Values of the Pieces
    • Queen = Rook, Minor Piece and Pawn
    • Queen = Two Minor Pieces and three Pawns
    • Rook = Minor Piece and two Pawns
    • Two Rooks = Queen and Pawn
    • Two Minor Pieces = Rook and two Pawns
    • Three Minor Pieces are better than a Queen or Two Rooks
Although the relative values given throughout these grades are a good guide, they are only a guide after all. The position on the board will determine the exact value at any given time.