Wow I wish my dad was like you. He despises chess.
Yes, I go to the occasional chess tournament, and I destroy all the kids who half-heartedly like chess and whose parents force them to play. Like anything, you have to like it to succeed in it.
Recently I've adjusted my strategy a little. I signed him up on ChessKids (run by the same folks as chess.com). He really enjoys playing against the robots. He doesn't play any other computer games, so playing the engines on ChessKids was a treat for him. At first, I would allow him to play on Chesskids after we played a game together, but again, I think a full game is still too much. What I've started doing now is working through a couple of chess problems (again from ChessKids) with him before letting him just play against the computer. That has worked well so far. He enjoys it and he's learning those same ideas that are important after the opening. Whenever we start a puzzle I ask him, can you capture any pieces? Can you give any checks? Does your opponent have any undefended pieces? Usually, if he finds those things they point to the puzzle's solution. The only other key piece is that Emmanuel Lasker quote, "If you find a good move, look for a better one."
This seems useful.
As for gimmicky programs like Story Time Chess, I strongly urge readers of this forum who are teaching complete beginners to take a look at the exceptional blog of @RoaringPawn before they go too far down a route that will hamper long-term progress.
As for gimmicky programs like Story Time Chess, I strongly urge readers of this forum who are teaching complete beginners to take a look at the exceptional blog of @RoaringPawn before they go too far down a route that will hamper long-term progress.
An interesting criticism. Care to expound a bit? I went to look at the blog and what you are hinting at didn't jump out at me. Story Time Chess seemed useful for my son. It got him interested in the game and kept his interest while he learned how to move the pieces. It really was just about how the pieces actually move, but maybe you're suggesting that is a problem? Anyway, interested to understand your thoughts.
As for gimmicky programs like Story Time Chess, I strongly urge readers of this forum who are teaching complete beginners to take a look at the exceptional blog of @RoaringPawn before they go too far down a route that will hamper long-term progress.
An interesting criticism. Care to expound a bit? I went to look at the blog and what you are hinting at didn't jump out at me. Story Time Chess seemed useful for my son. It got him interested in the game and kept his interest while he learned how to move the pieces. It really was just about how the pieces actually move, but maybe you're suggesting that is a problem? Anyway, interested to understand your thoughts.
I taught all my sons how the pieces move first. I was taught chess the same way. In the past few years I’ve been trying to implement @RoaringPawn’s ideas, but my young students often prefer less effective methods—they just want to play. Life often requires compromise.
Look for his posts with Square One in the title, or that reference Nimzowitsch, who wrote an article suggesting the theme. Essentially this: starting with how the pieces move is not how we should teach chess. Rather, we need to begin by stressing the contacts between and among the chess pieces. Understanding contacts builds a solid foundation.
There are a lot of details that @RoaringPawn explicates in several posts going back several years.
When I’m at my computer instead of my phone I can track them down and post some links. I’m not using my computer today, as I need some book time—you know, those things made from paper that used to be how humans acquired knowledge and entertained themselves.
This post on another person’s blog has a link to an early article by Momir Radovic (RoaringPawn) and I think a useful suggested first step that I have used with beginners. http://chessskill.blogspot.com/2017/08/lesson-one.html
Here’s one of @RoaringPawn’s: https://www.chess.com/blog/RoaringPawn/chess-is-not-so-about-moves
This one is worthy of contemplation, especially if you not carefully how and why certain words are italicized: https://www.chess.com/blog/RoaringPawn/how-to-teach-a-child-to-play-chess-roarries-way
Maybe start with this one: https://www.chess.com/blog/RoaringPawn/re-inventing-the-1st-chess-lesson and the links therin.
Try daily chess with your kid. That impatience of theirs should develop into anticipation and excitement. Make it a fun thing: a magnetic board on the kitchen fridge perhaps, good feedback when they make a move (good or bad)... you know...
Thanks Tumpai. Good luck to everyone.
Maybe start with this one: https://www.chess.com/blog/RoaringPawn/re-inventing-the-1st-chess-lesson and the links therin.
Thanks for sharing. These are very interesting. However, I do find the implications somewhat vague. I eventually came to the link containing Nisovich's first chess lesson which is the most concrete explanation of the point I've seen. Certainly, something to consider in any case.
great advice. In other words support them in what they want, provide some (minimal?) guidance, and perhaps start to take an interest yourself so you all have a shared hobby? Have fun with it!