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Chess Advice for Parents, Coaches, and Tutors
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
I have been repeatedly asked by parents, coaches, and tutors who
have browsed my Beginner's pages many of the questions answered
below. Therefore, I provide the information below with the hope
that it will reduce the weight of email in my inbox. If you are
a parent, coach, or tutor, then please read (or at least scan)
the information below before you request further information from
me.
- How can my child/student start to improve their game?
- Beginners should play (in tournaments, against computers,
and with chess club members), record and analyze their games,
study tactics, middle game strategies, positional elements, tactics,
endings, openings, tactics, grandmaster games, tactics, and
attend the tutorials provided by respected players at your local
chess club. There is no simple way to learn chess (if there were,
there would be more grandmasters). Chess is a game of tactics,
strategy, tactics, psychology, and tactics---all aspects must
be learned. Tactics are relatively easy to learn by solving tactical exercises like those found
here.
Tactical ability will help the most in the beginning. After
becoming proficient in tactics, beginners should learn the positional
elements of chess and their relationships to tactics, pawn structure,
and middle-game planning. It is also valuable to learn basic ending play.
- What age is good to start teaching chess to children?
- Many top chess players began learning chess before the age of 8. Some as early as 4 years of age. (I began at
5.) If your child shows interest, then teach them the rules of chess. The game of chess has many parallels in life. Seize the opportunity to teach chess and life. Show how adults win graciously, and lose with dignity.
 | Praise carefully planned moves even if inaccurate at first.
| Teach your child the proper way to point out bad moves. "Your move is weaker than this one, because..." sounds so much better than the abuse they all too often get from their peers and immature adults. ("That was a stupid move" or something equally degrading.) We learn from our mistakes on a chess board -- and in life. If your child is abused after every mistake, then he/she will learn nothing but how to abuse in kind. Ugly criticism has no place in chess.
| Tournament games begin and end with a respectful handshake.
| Two players often meet to analyze their game after the result is posted.
| The path to victory is paved with many loses. Each lose teaches a lesson.
| etc.
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- Can you comment on chess skills and their relationship to intelligence and academic ability?
- I believe that Chess makes kids smart. My experiences
show it to be true. Students who learn to play chess show noticeable
improvement in grades, standardized test scores, and attention
span. Chess play hones spacial and sequential logic skills. Many
teachers are finding that chess shows children the rewards of
study and practice. Through independent reading and research,
students learn principles that they can apply immediately not
only to chess but also to real-life problems as well.
Mr. John A. Bain reports in his Chess Tactics For Students, "The Spring 1993 Issue of Chess Coach Newsletter noted the educational value of chess instruction in public schools. ... A New York public school study shows chessplaying students gain in reading comprehension skills at a greater rate than non-chessplaying peers."
Many parents and teachers have used chess as a tool for teaching
critical thinking skills by emphasizing that learning how
to solve a problem is more important than the solution. Through
chess, students learn how to analyze a situation by focusing on
the important factors and discarding the distractions. They learn
to devise creative solutions and to put their plans into action.
Chess helps to encourage patience, sharp memory, the ability to
concentrate, problem-solving skills, and the understanding that
certain behaviors carry certain consequences. Chess works well
with developing minds because it is self-motivating. It is fun
to play.
I sincerely believe that chess play improves intelligence and
academic performance.
- Is there any way to beat the current world chess champion; Kasparov?
- Yes.
- What books can you recommend?
-
- Nimzowitch, My System (Somewhat advanced.)
- Chernev, Logical Chess Move by Move (An excellent beginners book.)
- Pandolfini, Endgame Course (Finding the errors in the book is half the fun.)
- Mullen and Moss, Blunders and Brilliancies (Tactical beauty.)
- Fischer, My 60 Memorable Games (Some of the best games by one of the greatest players of history.)
- Pelts and GM Alburt, Comprehensive Chess Course Volumes 1 & 2 (Very good all purpose beginners instruction.)
- Bain, Chess Tactics For Students (Mr. John A. Bain's work book is one of the best modern books on tactics training. A common error for beginners is to focus too much on opening theory. Whereas, many strong players give equal study time to chess openings, middle game planning, and endings. The beginning player should focus on learning tactics after learning the rules of chess. Chess openings, middle, and end games all build on a foundation of tactics. In addition, the chess coach who is not skilled in chess tactics will find Mr. Bain's Teacher's Edition very useful.)
- If you had to choose one book to help a chess newbie, what would it be?
- Chernev, Logical Chess Move by Move
Every move in every game is explained. Some very young readers may require help reading this.
- Where can I buy chess books and equipment?
- An excellent source and good value of chess stuff.
- Where can I get more information?
- First, understand that there are more books written on the
subject of chess than any other single subject. (Isn't that an
amazing statement?!) There are many periodicals and web sources
of information. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the amount
of quality information and instruction available once you begin
looking. All beginning browsers of chess information should start
with the USENET chess FAQ.
Be guided by this advice. One book well understood is better
than 100 on the shelf.
Still want more information? Try:
- Chess is Fun
- Chess In Schools
- History of Chess
I am always interested in receiving comments on how these pages
can be improved. If you have comments or questions about beginning
or improving chess play that have not been answered above, then
send me email.
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