Category Archives: teaching chess to kids

I have posted “Pawn Battle Rules and Strategies” on the web for chess teachers to use in their classes. I developed it for the dozen 8-year-olds I am currently teaching once a week after school. I found it very effective … Continue reading →

White to play and win. Black to play and win. I have recently been coaching a young player, which I am learning is a little different from teaching chess to kids. For one thing, you can go much deeper into … Continue reading →

Black to play. Mate in one. Teachers often ask themselves whether or not their students are actually learning. “Yes, I’ve been teaching them and we have covered what is important. But are they any better?” Sometimes it’s tough to know … Continue reading →

I have discovered the most important item in the chess teacher’s toolbox: the lollipop. Specifically, I recommend “ring pops,” since they are less likely to end up on the chessboard and because they most resemble a pacifier, which is the … Continue reading →

I will be teaching a chess class to ten 10-year-old boys on Thursdays from 4:00- 5:30 p.m. for a few months and thought I’d reflect in these pages on my lessons. We have met twice so far and I think … Continue reading →

White to play. Today I meet again with the 6- to 8-year-old chess students. They are a great bunch of kids and all very bright. Not having had experience with kids this age, though, I have to admit I was … Continue reading →

Tomorrow I teach my chess class to over a dozen 6- to 8-year-old boys. Some seem interested in playing in their first tournament come the end of next month (when a scholastic event is being held in their home town), … Continue reading →

Thursdays have become my big chess day. At night, of course, I attend the Kenilworth Chess Club (now starting at 7:00 p.m. with lectures by NM Scott Massey on the ending or FM Steve Stoyko on the opening). And from … Continue reading →

I recenly began teaching chess to a dozen 6-to-8-year-olds. It is a sometimes chaotic scene, especially since they all have varied skill levels. Many of them did not even know how the pieces moved, while others have played a lot … Continue reading →