A structured course in positional understanding, tactical awareness & practical openings

Taught by FIDE Master and PhD in Education Pavel Martynov

 

This course is designed for adult players who know the rules, play regularly, but feel stuck or unsure how to improve further.

If you often rely on intuition, struggle to find plans, or don’t fully understand why a position is good or bad — this course will give you a clear thinking framework at the board.

 

 

What you’ll gain

 

You will learn how to:

 

• Evaluate positions using clear positional principles

• Improve tactical awareness and reduce costly mistakes

• Build and understand a practical opening repertoire

• Connect opening ideas with middlegame plans and endgame goals

 

The focus is not memorisation, but learning how to think, so improvement continues long after the course ends.

 

 

Why this works

 

With structured guidance and systematic practice, players become:

 

• More confident in choosing plans

• More consistent under pressure

• Better at converting advantages and defending difficult positions

 

Many adult students see steady rating progress and gain confidence for OTB play.

 

 

Small-group learning

 

• Interactive discussion and guided analysis

• Exposure to different thinking styles

• Motivated, adult-only learning environment

• Clear structure, paced for understanding

 

 

Coach

 

Pavel Martynov — FIDE Master, PhD in Education and Head Coach at Scholastic Chess.

Known for a clear, structured teaching approach tailored specifically for adult learners.

 

 

Course details

 

• Duration: 10 weeks

• Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm

• Start: 3 February

• Level: Adult improvers

• Format: Weekly small-group sessions

 

Venue:

901 & 903 Yat Fat Building

44–46 Des Voeux Road, Central