Choose one decision to practise
A useful theme is narrower than an opening name. Try deciding when to break in the centre, when to activate a rook, or how to gain king opposition. Tell students what you will discuss afterward so their attention goes to the decision, not just the result.
Choose positions appropriate to the group. Some teaching exercises deliberately give one side extra material or an immediate threat. Rotate roles and evaluate explanations; their results should not be treated as equal-strength competitive tests.
Prepare and check the position set
- Choose a teaching pack or prepare your own opening, middlegame or endgame positions.
- Confirm the side to move, castling rights and the intended teaching question.
- Play from both sides before the session. A valid FEN alone does not establish that the exercise teaches what you intend.
- Give each position a clear label so you can select the right one for each round.
Bring the lesson into the tournament form
Use a pack's “Prepare a thematic tournament” action to open a draft with its two positions. Choose your students, review the format and time control, and select the starting position for the rounds. The draft does not send invitations or start play until you complete the normal coach workflow.
Save reusable themes when you expect to teach the topic again. Keep the label tied to the learning objective so the next session starts with a clear purpose.
Example: a king-opposition session
Show the first opposition position and ask which square each king wants to enter. Give students a short game, then swap colours or use the second position with a different side to move. Ask them to explain how the available waiting moves changed their plan.
Use a 35-minute outline: five minutes to introduce, ten minutes for each position and ten for discussion. This is a suggested classroom activity, not a claim of measured learning improvement.
Coach the whole room in one place
CoachMate keeps boards, chat and standings together; Solo adds coach video for tournaments. Review a useful position with the group, then return to play. Keep a note of one student decision to revisit in the next lesson.