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Ok, a friend has asked me to give his son a few chess lessons and i was wondering if anyone had any good tips?

The purpose is not so much to improve his game, but to inspire the desire to play. I could really use an interesting puzzle(s), anyone got any ideas? 🙂

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Originally posted by Marinkatomb
Ok, a friend has asked me to give his son a few chess lessons and i was wondering if anyone had any good tips?

The purpose is not so much to improve his game, but to inspire the desire to play. I could really use an interesting puzzle(s), anyone got any ideas? 🙂
Take a look at chess mazes, the title of a book by Bruce Albertson, selections of which are available at ChessCafe.com

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Originally posted by Wulebgr
Take a look at chess mazes, the title of a book by Bruce Albertson, selections of which are available at ChessCafe.com
Will do, thanks for that. 🙂

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Originally posted by Marinkatomb
Ok, a friend has asked me to give his son a few chess lessons and i was wondering if anyone had any good tips?

The purpose is not so much to improve his game, but to inspire the desire to play. I could really use an interesting puzzle(s), anyone got any ideas? 🙂
There's a very good learning program for kids, "Fritz and Chesster": http://www.chessbase.com/shop/product.asp?pid=165

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Originally posted by Marinkatomb
Ok, a friend has asked me to give his son a few chess lessons and i was wondering if anyone had any good tips?

The purpose is not so much to improve his game, but to inspire the desire to play. I could really use an interesting puzzle(s), anyone got any ideas? 🙂
They have some great chess sites for kids. It's very enjoyable and the child can learn by himself as long as they know how to use a computer.

I don't have the links with me but type in Chess for kids and you should come up with this site.

chesskids.com or something and the other one is academicchess.org

or search academic chess.

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Originally posted by Nordlys
There's a very good learning program for kids, "Fritz and Chesster": http://www.chessbase.com/shop/product.asp?pid=165
Never trust a Nordy!

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Originally posted by Marinkatomb
Ok, a friend has asked me to give his son a few chess lessons and i was wondering if anyone had any good tips?

The purpose is not so much to improve his game, but to inspire the desire to play. I could really use an interesting puzzle(s), anyone got any ideas? 🙂
I have been teaching kids in schools for a couple years now, but it's normally in big groups. If you just want to inspire this kid to play, you should probably try to make the game as interesting as possible. Show him some variants that are fun, some fun combinations or puzzles. Definitely make it interactive or offer prizes for correct answers, etc....Keep them interested for sure, because kid's attention spans are very short. Good luck. 🙂

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Yeah & keep them away from symmetrical Italian games. That almost put me off chess until I learnt Sicilian & KG.

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i think starting out with simpler openings or closed openings. they aren't as dynamic as a open game so you can teach them how to attack pawn chains. if i were to teach a kid chess i would want to teach 2 at a time so i didn't have to play them you could watch them play and teach them. that way they dont get discouraged from you mauling them every game. although some kids learn by that i played my dad for 3 years strait and never won a game still determined i kept playing. after i got older and studied a lot he can't touch me ne more 😀 keep the game fun for them if they get discouraged then try something new

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http://chesskids.com/kidzone/index.shtml

though my best advice is to NOT teach little kids (especially boys) due to their lack of an attention span and overall ability to be piss-offs

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A good idea would be to start teaching the game from the end - after explaining how the different pieces move and how to set up a game, begin with the most simple mates.
Then show some endspiel situations, and show the openings at the end.

It worked for me.

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Originally posted by Bragolgirith
A good idea would be to start teaching the game from the end - after explaining how the different pieces move and how to set up a game, begin with the most simple mates.
Then show some endspiel situations, and show the openings at the end.

It worked for me.
No no, he is not a beginner! He's taken a game off me in the past. He's got lot's of natural ability, just lacking experience.

Thanks everyone for your input, it's appretiated! 😀

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Originally posted by Marinkatomb
No no, he is not a beginner! He's taken a game off me in the past. He's got lot's of natural ability, just lacking experience.

Thanks everyone for your input, it's appretiated! 😀
Work on endgames first.

Systematize tactics exercises to assure there are no holes in his vision. By systemize, I mean create a bunch of problems involving pins, another set for decoys, etc.

Do openings last.

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Originally posted by Marinkatomb
Ok, a friend has asked me to give his son a few chess lessons and i was wondering if anyone had any good tips?

The purpose is not so much to improve his game, but to inspire the desire to play. I could really use an interesting puzzle(s), anyone got any ideas? 🙂
I wrote an article a few years ago that was published for chess tutors. If you'd like to get it, give me your email address in a PM and I'll send it to you. It's in a Word doc file.

I do not give out email addresses.

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Originally posted by Wulebgr
Work on endgames first.
learning endgames bores the hell out of me now, I wonder what it'll do for a kid? does that reward thing you're doing help them stay interested?