Step 6: Tactics I + CCA · about 25 min
Checks, Captures, Attacks
Goal: Before every move, kids look for checks, captures and attacks, for both players.
You need: One board and set per pair · Optional: a 'CCA' sign for each table
1 · Teach it (15 min)
Read these out loud, or put them in your own words. Show each board on screen or set it up on a demo board.
1.“Strong players have a habit. Before every move they ask three questions, in this order. C: what checks can I give? C: what can I capture? A: what can I attack?”
👉 Write C – C – A big on the board or a sign.
2.“Let's try it. Checks: the bishop can check on f7. Captures: the rook can take the queen on d6! Attacks: we don't even need to look further.”
3.“Here's the other half: ask the same questions for your opponent. What checks, captures and attacks could they make after your move? That's how you stop leaving pieces free.”
4.“From today, every game: CCA before you touch a piece. It feels slow at first. Soon you'll do it without thinking.”
- Only looking at their own moves, not the opponent's.
- Seeing a capture and grabbing it without checking whether it's protected.
2 · Play it: CCA Out Loud (10 min)
Set up: Normal game in pairs.
- Before every move, say your checks, captures and attacks out loud, even if there are none ('No checks, no captures, I can attack the bishop').
- Your partner can remind you if you forget.
- After 10 minutes, keep playing but switch to whispering it.
3 · Practice and pass check
On iPads, kids open Student → Step 6 → The CCA Habit. On paper, print the worksheet. A kid passes by getting 2 of 3 on the pass check. The pass code for this lesson is S6-L1-Q5.
🧩 Extra puzzles: 60 real puzzles from lichess.org for kids who finish early: the Extra puzzles button in student mode, or tick Extra puzzles on the worksheet page (8 per set).
Practice (3) with answers
1.Use CCA: checks, captures, attacks. Find the move that wins material. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Bxf7+ or Rxd6
2.The first C: find a check. (There are three!) Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Qb3+ or Qd5+ or Qd8+
3.What does CCA stand for?
- Castle, Capture, Attack
- ✓Checks, Captures, Attacks
- Center, Castle, Attack
Pass check (3) with answers
1.Use CCA. Find a move that wins material. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Qxa5 or Qd5 or Qd8# or Qe1
2.When should you use CCA?
- Only when you're losing
- ✓Before every move
- Only in the opening
3.Besides your own moves, whose checks, captures and attacks should you look at?
- ✓Your opponent's
- Nobody else's
Topic order based on: How to Win at Chess, ch. 7 (piece vision, tactics); How to Win at Chess, ch. 14 (the CCA habit). All wording is original.