Prodigy Program
Start your journey towards chess mastery with Chess University’s Prodigy Program, the world’s #1 live online chess coaching program.
Each month, the Prodigy Program offers 12+ hours of live online classes, a core curriculum consisting of videos and study materials, and personalized game analysis. Ready to improve? Apply now to join!
About Prodigy Program
Chess University created the Prodigy Program with the belief that everyone should have access to world-class chess education from the leisure of their home.
Through the Prodigy Program, we offer a comprehensive, effective, and enjoyable chess learning experience that includes live lessons, video lessons, core curriculum, curated study materials, and personalized game analsysis every month.
The Prodigy Program team is led by best-selling chess coach Kairav Joshi, FM Dalton Perrine, and FM Arne Jochens. Legends such as GM Vishy Anand and GM Anatoly Karpov have taught in the Prodigy Program and enriched our curriculum.
If you’re serious about improving at chess, fill out the application form.
Prodigy Program Details
Chess University’s Prodigy Program provides chess players of all ages a clear path to significant chess improvement. Each month, the Prodigy Program offers 12 hours of interactive live training and a core curriculum for students to complete at their convenience. Here are the details for what our live training and core curriculum include each month.
Prodigy Program Live Training
All Prodigy Program students gain access to 12 hours of live online classes that focus on improving chess skills across the board. Half of these classes are catered to beginner/intermediate players whereas the other half are aimed at advanced students. However, students from any section can attend all 12 live classes each month.
These live classes are typically taught from 10:30-11:30 AM, 12:00-1:00 PM, and 1:30-2:30 PM Pacific Time during the last two weekends of each month. Can’t attend live? All our live lessons get recorded so students can review on-demand afterwards.
Each month, Prodigy Program students can submit one of their own chess games for personalized analysis and annotation. Our coaches will analyze the game to identify patterns in your mistakes and provide feedback for improvement.
Prodigy Program Perks
We often surprise our Prodigy Program students with extra lessons or resources for improving at chess. Anybody that enrolls in the Prodigy Program in December will receive lifetime access to GM Viswanathan Anand’s recorded 1-hour masterclass on tactics and calculation.
Prodigy Program Core Curriculum
The Prodigy Program core curriculum is divided into four rating sections: 900+ (beginner), 1200+ (intermediate), 1500+ (advanced), and 1750+ (very advanced). Each month, enrolled students gain access to a new monthly curriculum for their section which includes:
– Syllabus
– 6+ hours of core video lessons, playthrough lessons, or prerecorded lessons.
– Detailed study guide with assignments, recommended training tools and curated materials.
– 1 puzzle packet and 1 monthly quiz with solution videos
With the changes implemented in 2020, all new students begin the Prodigy Program by studying the “Month 1” curriculum for their section and participating in the live training available to all enrolled students that month.
The tuition for each month’s Prodigy Program is $150 which covers a monthly core curriculum package, one personalized game analysis per month, and the 12 hours of interactive live online classes per month.
The schedule and other details pertaining to a certain month of the Prodigy Program are provided below on this page.
How To Enroll
- Fill out the form above to get started.
- Complete checkout if you know which rating section to join.
- Check your email (including spam folder) for free sample Prodigy Program lessons and placement assistance.
- The tuition for each month of Prodigy Program is $150.


How You Learn
- Participate in interactive live online classes each month in which you can ask questions through chat or voice.
- Work through our core curriculum (videos, guides, etc.)
- Get personalized advice from game analysis.
- You get lifetime access to each month’s curriculum you have paid for so review often!
What You Get Each Month
12+ hours of interactive live classes with top coaches
Core curriculum with 6+ hours of video lessons
Playthrough video lessons, PGNs, bonus materials
World-class coaches available at your fingertips
Personalized analysis and feedback on 1 game
Detailed study guide, puzzle pack, assignments
Bonuses (1-hour GM Anand recorded lesson in Aug)
Lifetime access to months you've paid for!
Prodigy Program Core Curriculum – Month 1
900+ Section (Beginner)
- Basics of thinking
- Fundamental endgames
- Endgame principles
- Introduction to tactics
1500+ Section (Advanced)
- Creating forcing plans
- Development and initiative
- Rook endgames and queen endgames
- Understanding when forcing moves aren’t best.
1200+ Section (Intermediate)
- Mastering basic endgames
- Improving forcing play
- Understanding critical squares
- Improving thought process
1750+ Section (Very Advanced)
- Understanding how masters calculate
- Techniques for simplifying calculation
- Analyzing in-between moves
- Creating combinations
Prodigy Program December 2020 Schedule
Lesson | Date | Level | Instructor |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | Dec 19th @ 10:30-11:30 AM PDT | Group A: 900+ and 1200+ | FM Dalton Perrine |
#2 | Dec 19th @ 12:00-1:00 PM PDT | Group A: 900+ and 1200+ | FM Dalton Perrine |
#3 | Dec 19th @ 1:30-2:30 PM PDT | Group A: 900+ and 1200+ | FM Arne Jochens |
#4 | Dec 20th @ 10:30-11:30 AM PDT | Group B: 1500+ and 1750+ | FM Arne Jochens |
#5 | Dec 20th @ 12:00-1:00 PM PDT | Group B: 1500+ and 1750+ | FM Arne Jochens |
#6 | Dec 20th @ 1:30-2:30 PM PDT | Group B: 1500+ and 1750+ | FM Dalton Perrine |
#7 | Dec 26th @ 10:30-11:30 AM PDT | Group A: 900+ and 1200+ | FM Dalton Perrine |
#8 | Dec 26th @ 12:00-1:00 PM PDT | Group A: 900+ and 1200+ | FM Dalton Perine |
#9 | Dec 26th @ 1:30-2:30 PM PDT | Group A: 900+ and 1200+ | FM Dalton Perrine |
#10 | Dec 27th @ 10:30-11:30 AM PST | Group B: 1500+ and 1750+ | FM Dalton Perrine |
#11 | Dec 27th @ 12:00-1:00 PM PST | Group B: 1500+ and 1750+ | FM Dalton Perrine |
#12 | Dec 27th @ 1:30-2:30 PM PST | Group B: 1500+ and 1750+ | FM Dalton Perrine |
Prodigy Program Key Areas of Study - December 2020
The Prodigy Program live classes in December 2020 will focus on:
- Learning from typical mistakes
- Common middlegame misconceptions
- Improving at forcing moves and calculation
- How to find unexpected and unusual tactics
- Ways to improve strategic thinking and decision making
Why Join Prodigy Program?
The Prodigy Program is the world’s premier comprehensive live online chess course.
The program is taught by best-selling, world-class coaches who have proven their ability to help students improve fast.
With detailed study guides, homework assignments, puzzle/quiz videos, one-on-one emailed game analysis, and guidance all in addition to the live lessons and video lessons, the amount students learn each month exceeds what they would get out of 10-15 private lessons with a coach.
Students of all ages, including seniors, have seen their ratings improve by hundreds of points.
One of our students broke the record for the youngest-ever chess master in American history at that time.
Five-time world champion Vishy Anand, describes our program as: “a brilliant solution for chess players around the world.”
This is the highest quality of chess instruction available in the world. Period.
Occasionally, the Prodigy Program hosts celebrity guest instructors. Where else can you participate in live online classes with legends such as GM Vishy Anand, GM Anatoly Karpov, and GM Peter Heine Nielsen?
Testimonials
We enrolled Christopher in Chess University’s Prodigy Program because we were looking for an organized and focused chess curriculum, which is pretty rare, but that’s exactly what we got!
Each instructor does a great job getting you to see chess on a deeper level. They provide a structured program to build your skills and each lesson really sticks with you.
Registration Instructions
To sign up for Chess University’s Prodigy Program, fill out the form on the right. Check your email (including your spam folder) afterwards for further instructions.
Once you apply, we can help answer any questions you have about the program including placement. Enrollment is limited to 100 students so go ahead and apply today to reserve your spot!
So what are you waiting for? Start your journey towards mastery today. We look forward to seeing you in the Prodigy Program very soon!