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Worksheet: Checkpoint - Openings and Center

Topic: review | Level: 1 | Week 3

Review center control and early-game opening habits with a set of mixed practice exercises.

Why This Matters

  • A checkpoint helps confirm that your opening habits are becoming automatic.
  • You should now recognize center fights and choose developing moves more consistently.
  • If you miss a move, review the checklist and replay the model line slowly.

Objectives

  • Recall center squares and opening checklist.
  • Choose better opening moves in simple positions.
  • Self-check for development and king safety.

Practice Tasks

  1. Write the four center squares from memory.
  2. Pick the best move by rule: develop, center, or castle.
  3. Rate your game from 1-5 on opening checklist use.

Board Walkthrough

Follow the lesson one board at a time. The teacher answer key includes the move list.

Board 1
Board 2
Board 3
Board 4
Board 5

Answer Key

Checkpoint: Openings and Center

Teacher/parent key for Worksheet: Checkpoint - Openings and Center.

Worksheet Answers

  1. Prompt: Write the four center squares from memory.

    Center: e4, d4, e5, d5.

  2. Prompt: Pick the best move by rule: develop, center, or castle.

    Best moves usually develop pieces or castle in early game.

  3. Prompt: Rate your game from 1-5 on opening checklist use.

    A strong score includes center control and king safety by move 10.

Model Line

  1. Nf6
  2. d3
  3. Bc5
  4. O-O