Step 8: Club Player · about 25 min
In-Between Moves
Goal: Kids look for a check or bigger threat before automatically taking back.
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.“When your opponent captures, you usually take back. But first: CCA! Sometimes there's an even better move to play in between, and you can take back later.”
2.“This is a real trap. Black just took White's queen. White doesn't take back. Instead: bishop takes f7, check! The king must go to e7, and the knight jumps to d5. Checkmate, with Black still holding White's queen.”
3.“Here's a trap for Black. White's bishop just grabbed Black's queen on d8. Taking the bishop back looks natural, but Black plays bishop to b4, check, first! White's only block is the queen. Black takes it, White takes back, and THEN Black takes the bishop on d8. Black ends up a whole piece ahead.”
4.“The rule: before you take back, ask 'Do I have a check or a bigger capture first?'”
- Recapturing on autopilot.
- Playing an in-between move that isn't forcing, so the opponent saves their piece.
2 · Play it: Freeze! (10 min)
Set up: Normal game in pairs.
- Whenever your opponent captures, say 'Freeze!' and do CCA out loud before taking back.
- If you find an in-between move that's better, score two bonus points.
3 · Practice and pass check
On iPads, kids open Student → Step 8 → Wait! Check First. On paper, print the worksheet. A kid passes by getting 2 of 3 on the pass check. The pass code for this lesson is S8-L4-NZ.
🧩 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.Black just took your queen. Don't take back yet: checkmate in one! Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Rxe8#
2.Black just took your queen. Find the in-between check that leads to checkmate. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Bxf7+
3.Your opponent just captured one of your pieces. What should you do first?
- ✓CCA: look for checks and captures before taking back
- Always take back right away
- Resign
Pass check (3) with answers
1.Black: White just took your queen. Don't take back yet! Find the in-between check that wins. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Bb4+
2.Before taking back the queen: is there something better? Checkmate in one. Draw an arrow or write the move.
Move: Rxe8#
3.An in-between move works best when it is…
- ✓a check or a big threat
- a quiet pawn move
- a king move
Topic order based on: How to Win at Chess, ch. 9–11 (intermediate tactics). All wording is original.