My kids' school has asked me to coach the chess club. They have never had one before. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? I want it to be fun at this stage. Also any very beginning books to recommend would be appreciated. What are some ways you would structure an hour after school with this? Thanks. Kirk
Originally posted by kirksey957Congratulatons Kirk! They couldn't ask for a better coach! Just don't teach them about the lady chablis when you explain the different ways the queen can move...
My kids' school has asked me to coach the chess club.
Not that I have any recommendations for you, but how old are the kids you will be coaching?
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Originally posted by kirksey957Well first off you should just explain where chess came from..which you can either get the Oxford Companion to Chess or I am sure there is info online.
My kids' school has asked me to coach the chess club. They have never had one before. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? I want it to be fun at this stage. Also any very beginning books to recommend would be ap ...[text shortened]... you would structure an hour after school with this? Thanks. Kirk
Secondly run down the list of World Champions
1.Staunton (unoffcial)
2.Morphy (unofficial)
3.Steinitz
4.Lasker
5.Capablanca
6.Alekhine
7.Euwe
8.Botvinnik
9.Smyslov
10.Tal
11.Petrosian
12.Spassky
13.FISCHER
14.karpov
15.Kasparov
And quit there on WC's...all of the crap since then is enough to confuse the hell out of a kid.
Then you should go over a game with them..I suggest Morphy vs. Duke of Brunswick...this is a classic game that is short and to the point.
From there of course let them play a few games amongst them selves.
That should be enought to break the ice with them and show them that you are there for everyone to have fun.
Have lots of ideas for further lessons...just like the ones I did for scholastics 😀
Dave
Originally posted by SchliemannWhen I started in a school chess club in elementary school, the 'coach' made us play the Giuoco Piano exclusively. Up until I was 10 I thought this was how the opening had to go, that anything else would be a mistake. My only advice is to try to stay out of the way of their natural inquisitiveness and creativity. Children are learning machines, after all. Whatever you can do to get them to appreciate the complexity and elegance of the game will be time well spent.
Also an excellent game..one of the greatest ever...but the tactics that flow through that one are for a later date then just the beginning of the teaching semester 😀
Dave
Originally posted by !~TONY~!No it doesn't, and neither does the Petrov, the second opening I learned, though I just stumbled upon it myself (not hard, considering...). but I'm sure it had a formative effect on my playing. I've been told I'm a stodgy positional player.
The Giouco Piano is so fun! I still think it's more fun to play the the Ruy Lopez, although it prolly doesn't rack up the points like the Lopez does!
Originally posted by bbarrBut what does it matter if all the openings they will ever choose have been predetermined? 😉
When I started in a school chess club in elementary school, the 'coach' made us play the Giuoco Piano exclusively. Up until I was 10 I thought this was how the opening had to go, that anything else would be a mistake. My only advice is to try to stay out of the way of their natural inquisitiveness and creativity. Children are learning machines, after all. ...[text shortened]... do to get them to appreciate the complexity and elegance of the game will be time well spent.