Chess club

One of the best e-mails I've received this school year was the one asking me if I'd be interested in running a chess club.

The letter came from S.J., a homeschooler who lives in Somerset County and whose daughter organized and taught an animal science class that Oldest Daughter attended last year. S. has a son a little younger than Oldest Daughter who also enjoys chess, and S. felt that hosting a chess club in her house would be a great way for him to get the practice and instruction it would take to improve his game.

It was an offer I couldn't refuse. I'd been looking into running a chess club at the local library, but aside from making arrangements with the library staff to reserve a room, I also would have to make arrangements for someone to watch Youngest Daughter, since it's difficult to provide chess instruction while minding a 2-year-old. With the offer S. was making, I not only would have a place for the club, I had an offer to watch Youngest Daughter while the club met.

Short of the hosting invitation coming from Winona Ryder herself, does it get any better than that?

Chess is widely regarded as conferring social and academic benefits upon children who play it regularly. Players are required to treat one another and the game itself with respect, to avoid disruptive behavior or even unncessary discussion, and instead to focus on the mental rigors of the game itself.

Played on an eight-by-eight square board with two armies of sixteen pieces each, the game requires a number of mental skills. Foremost among these are concentration and forethought. Players not only have to decide what their next move will be, they have to anticipate what their opponent's next move will be, at least one move in advance but better yet three or four.

New players often think it is enough to threaten an opponent's piece, but the truth is that to be effective, they must threaten two or more pieces simultaneously. When their own pieces are threatened, they have to weigh the value of each move, judging the values of their respective pieces, and also consider whether there are any counteroffensives that will put their opponent on the defensive, and thus saving their own pieces.

Research has shown that children who play chess show a statistically significant advantage over children who don't play chess, not only in math and science, but in terms of their overall psychocognitive development. This is all a growing process, one that takes place as children play chess over a prolonged period. In other words, in addition to all its other benefits, chess helps children to develop the satisfaction and self-esteem that come from sticking with someothing for the long haul.

I also can say that there is a tremendous measure of personal satisfaction once you reach the point that you can beat your father at chess over three consecutive nights. (Not to mention a corresponding level of humility when your daughter starts trouncing you,)

The chess club has been running for a month now, and I can honestly say that everyone who has come has been enjoying themselves. If anyone else wants to join us, we have room for about eight more players.

The club meets in Franklin Township, Somerset County, at 11 a.m. the first and third Fridays of each month. Generally speaking, children should be between 10 and 14 years old and should have their own chess sets. The main focus of the club is on playing the game, but inexperienced players will have the chance to learn the rules, and more experienced players will get to work on strategy.

Any questions, including requests for specifics on where to meet, please contact me.