Chess Beginners I (In-Person) - Spring Session

This is an Introduction to Chess course for children who are new to chess!

Our chess classes for young beginners introduce children to the world of chess through storytelling, games and interactive activities. Children learn pieces names, movement and capture, as well as basic chess strategies.  Equally important, children learn such critical skills as patience, persistence, logic and reasoning skills. 

This course is designed to teach chess to children who have none or limited prior knowledge of the game. Students are introduced to the basic history of chess and learn pieces names, value, movement, and capture, good trades vs. bad trades, as well as board notation and setup.  The concepts of check, checkmate, stalemate and castling will follow.  Finally, they will briefly learn central control and development, and two checkmates. Classes for younger students are taught in an interactive and playful form. Part of the class is board demonstrations and part practical interaction (playing chess) This course is typically completed within one school year.  After this course, students are ready for the more advanced tactics and strategies!

Please ensure this is the correct level for your child: This class is for children who range from having no background in chess to those who have learned how the pieces move but who still don’t have a strong, automatic command of all piece movements. The children who take this class may not know how to checkmate or castle.