This is the third system I recommend. There are 9+1 books. 3 books each level: build, boost, and evolve. The 1 extra book is level 1 test. According to the Introduction, the books are for 1500, 1800, and 2100 level players. They are for advanced players. This is also the natural extension of Steps course. One could try this after s/he finishes at least Step 4. 

Here are the books:

ChessOK apps cover all phases of chess education, from beginners to master players.

Beginner

• Capturing Pieces 1
• Capturing Pieces 2
• Mate in 1
• Simple Defense
• Chess: Year 1
• Chess School for Beginners

Intermediate

• Elementary Chess Tactics 1
• Elementary Chess Tactics 2
• Advanced Defense (Chess Puzzles)
• Mate in 2
• Mate in 3-4
• Chess Tactics for Beginners
• CT*Art Chess Mate Theory
• Chess Strategy for Beginners
• Chess Tactics Art1400-1600
• Learn Chess: From Beginner to Club Player
• Chess Endings for Beginners
• Chess Endgame Studies
• Chess Opening Blunders
• Chess Opening Lab1400-2000

Advanced

• Chess Combination vol 1
• Chess Combination vol 2
• Chess Strategy and Tactics vol I1600-2000
• Chess Strategy and Tactics vol 21800-2200
• Chess Strategy1800-2400
• Manual of Chess Combinations
• Total Chess Endings1600-2400
• CT*Art 4.01200-2400
• Chess Middlegames I
• Chess Middlegames II
• Chess Middlegames III
• Chess Middlegames IV
• Chess Middlegames V
• Encyclopedia Chess Combinations Vol. 1 Informant
• Encyclopedia Chess Combinations Vol. 2 Informant
• Encyclopedia Chess Combinations Vol. 3 Informant
• Manual of Chess Strategy vol I
• Manual of Chess Strategy vol II
• Chess: a Positional Opening Repertoire I
• Chess: a Positional Opening Repertoire II
• Universal Chess Opening 1. d4 2. Nf3 3. e3

There are also two series, one about world champions and another one about tactics in specific opening.

Other than Steps, ChessOK is the second system I recommend. I discovered the ChessOK in 2006, when I read the book "Rapid Chess Improvement". The book is talking about an adult player, who trains himself to improve from 1321 to 2041 in two years, with the help of the software named "CT*Art". No coach, just repeating and strenuous training. That's sounds interesting. As an adult player, if I could improve without any coach, it's a very attractive proposal. I started the research and found out ChessOK is the publisher of CT*Art. Not only they published the CT*Art, they also published a series of software. It's a great treasure chest. I started to buy their software for me and for my daughter.

We started with Chess Tactics for Beginners, which is geared for students from 300 to 1000. Then we worked on Chess School (no longer available), Chess Tactics for Intermediate Players, and CT*Art. I myself had done the CT*Art for 3 times. I never tried the Seven Circles recommended in the book. In my mind, it's close to insane and very unlikely we could execute it. We also did several other software from ChessOK, mating, endgames, studies, opening lab, and etc. 

Nowadays, all software have their app version. ChessOK (aka ChessKing or ChessQueen) has published more than 40 chess apps. They are also offered as subscription: https://learn.chessking.com/learning/purchases/subscriptions-info

You can find the full list at ChessOK.com or ChessKing.com. There are apps for every level, from beginners (mate in 1) to expert players (2400). If you are interested, you could read the following article about how to train an IM with ChessOK software: https://chessok.com/?p=21207

I didn't improve 700 in 2 years, but I went from 1326 to 2034 in 11 years.

​Steps literally means you learn chess step by step. It was developed in 1987 by Rob Brunia and Cor van Wijgerden in order to teach children to play chess. Embraced by the Royal Dutch Chess Federation Chess-Steps became the single most popular method in The Netherlands. It spread throughout Europe and is now available world wide, including the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Chess-Steps is praised as one of the most innovative chess instructional programs in the world. 

I have studied many curriculum before I settled on to the Steps method. My research guideline is:

• progressive training (sometimes can even self-study for a mature student)
• complete knowledge system
• transparent and transferable skill set (parents and students know their levels precisely, and can move to another chess teacher with minimum explanation). Most chess schools have Novice, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. These labels have big difference from school to school. A teacher can never be sure what the new student had learned from previous school.
• Enough exercises for each topics. This is very important. Chess is not just theory. You need practice. Other than tournaments, the best practice is puzzles. The good curriculum should equipped with enough puzzles for teacher to choose as homework assignment. I assign 3 pages a week (12 problems per page). 

There are two official website, the Netherlands one:
https://www.stappenmethode.nl/en/
and the USA one:
https://www.chess-steps.com/home.php

The whole system is like this:

​There are 4 workbooks per Step. I am using basic, extra, and plus workbooks. Each workbook is of 56 pages, containing about 600 problems. So after each Step (about a year), a student should have done at least 1000 problems as homework, or as much as 1800 problems (excluding the Mix workbook). It's very good for the student to build a solid foundation.

For marketing purpose (to sell more books), some rating suggestion are published like these.

From my own teaching experience in the last 5 years, it's more close to the following:
Stepping Stone: for K-1 (age 5-6) total beginners
Step 1: suggested USCF rating < 300
Step 2: suggested USCF rating: 300 - 800
Step 3: suggested USCF rating: 700 - 1200
Step 4: suggested USCF rating: 1000 - 1500
Step 5: suggested USCF rating: 1250 - 1750

After 3 or 4 years of training with proper tournament play, our students should reach the advanced/club player level (USCF class C, 1400-1600). The best students can definitely achieve more and faster.

There are some articles about Steps method:
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/2014/11/16/the-chess-steps/
https://www.chesslife.com.au/exclusive-interview-with-creator-of-step-by-step-method/

Grandparents might buy a chess set from toy stores and give it to your child as a holiday gift. This might be the first seed that ignites your child's interest in chess. But such a set is rarely good for the long run. Here are couple of reasons:

1. Sets from toy stores are usually smaller in size. Some pieces are difficult to distinguish, for example Bishop and pawn, King and Queen and etc. Because they are small, it's very easy to lose a piece.

2. Sets from toy stores  are often colorful, which is not good for eyes, if your child plays for long hours.

3. When your child goes to a class or goes to a tournament, the sets will be bigger. It's much better to let him/her practice with normal size set at home.  Being familiar with the sets is a very small advantage. That's why USCF rule lets black side have the right to choose equipment.

For normal size sets, the board is 20" x 20", with King at least 3.75" tall.

Usually I suggest green board, no colorful piece, black/white or black/yellow. A set at wholesalechess is quite cheap, a little above $10. If you want to support my blog, you could order through the wholesalechess picture on the right side, or click the picture below. ​