Step 7: Starting Well · about 25 min
A Plan for Black: Answer in the Center
Goal: Kids answer 1.e4 with ...e5 and 1.d4 with ...d5, then develop and castle.
You need: Demo board · One board and set per pair
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.“Black's plan is simple: copy the idea. If White puts a pawn on e4, Black answers e5. If White plays d4, Black plays d5. Black gets a share of the center right away.”
2.“After 1.e4 e5: knight to c6 to guard e5, then bishop to c5 or knight to f6, then castle. It's the Italian plan, with Black's pieces.”
3.“After 1.d4 d5, White often plays c4 to attack d5. Black keeps the pawn there with e6. Then: knight to f6, bishop to e7, castle.”
4.“If White plays something you don't know, use the rules. Take a center square, develop a new piece each move, castle.”
- Answering 1.e4 with an edge pawn.
- Grabbing pawns with the queen instead of developing.
- Playing ...f6 to guard e5 (it weakens the king).
2 · Play it: Mirror Openings (10 min)
Set up: In pairs. The coach calls out 'e4!' or 'd4!' for White's first move.
- White plays the called move. Black answers in the center (e5 or d5).
- Both sides develop and castle. Stop after 8 moves each and check: did Black follow the plan?
- Swap colors and play again, then finish a game.
3 · Practice and pass check
On iPads, kids open Student → Step 7 → Black's Plan. On paper, print the worksheet. A kid passes by getting 2 of 3 on the pass check. The pass code for this lesson is S7-L6-F6.
🏠 Practice at home: older kids can drill the Black replies (1...e5 and 1...d5) in OpeningLab, our free sister site (works offline too).
Practice (3) with answers
1.Black: White played e4. Answer in the center. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: e5
2.Black: White played d4. Answer in the center. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: d5
3.Black: develop your next piece. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Bc5 or Nf6
Pass check (3) with answers
1.Black: White attacks d5. Protect it with a pawn. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: e6 or c6
2.Black: develop a piece so you can castle soon. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Nf6 or Be7
3.Black: White castled. Keep developing. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Nf6 or d6
Topic order based on: How to Win at Chess, ch. 8 (opening traps, a first repertoire); Fundamental Chess Openings (move orders only). All wording is original.