Advice for me and my 1st grader? - Chess Forums

dcb1970

Aug 13, 2016

0

#1

My son is entering 1st grade. He played a couple unrated tournaments in NYC last spring and liked them, then did a a lot of chesskid 15 | 0 games this summer. He he currently rated 1015 on ChessKid fast.

1. What's the best way for him to keep improving?

2. What do you think this translates to in USCF rating?

3. How much improvement would be possible in a year if he works pretty consistently?

TIA!

u0110001101101000

Aug 13, 2016

0

#2

I've had a look at some of these. Looks really great for kids (and any beginner, but was designed for kids). Frankly I'm jealous of anyone who would get to start out like this.

https://www.newinchess.com/The_Complete_Step_by_Step_Method-p-1933.html

How much improvement is possible? Kids can improve a few hundred points a year, every year... but 1st grade is what, 6 years old? That's still pretty young. As long as he's enjoying it and learning things that's fine even if the rating is about the same (yes you can learn and still not preform better). They can suddenly gain 500 points in a single year when something clicks and they start putting it into practice. If he were 10, working on chess, and not improving, then something needs to change.

As for USCF, I've played casual games with kids who love the game and work really hard... for about 20 minutes, then they get bored and start to play really poorly. At that age I think it's more about focus and temperament (after a mistake do they get really upset for example). So it's hard to say.

ChessOfPlayer

Aug 13, 2016

0

#3

1st grade and playing 15/0 games all summer! That is amazing. I am not sure about the chesskid rating but I think 1015 is very good for his age.

I would say playing long time controls like 15/0 online and doing chess puzzles is the way for him to improve.

I can't tell you how much he might improve but being that young I could guess quite a lot. In the hundreds for sure.

dcb1970

Aug 13, 2016

0

#4

Thanks for those tips. Fwiw he has also been playing on chess.com 15/10 and is about 1050 I am guessing that must be about 800 or so uscf.

KnightRaider67

Aug 15, 2016

0

#5

I will give you my thoughts as a chess dad whose son is entering second grade and is a regular tournament player (USCF 1100+ by end of first grade).

1. What's the best way for him to keep improving?

Tactics, tactics and more tactics! And, of course, playing games. Try to have your son write down his moves in OTB games and encourage him to move as slowly as possible. At this age, that is incredible challenge and it won't happen overnight but you need to keep emphasizing this.

If your son has already played a few unrated tournaments then this scholastic year, assuming he is still interested in chess, he should move up to rated ones. Based on what you have told us, he will do just fine. Scholastic chess has divisions that are a function of both age and ratings, and each school or tournament sponssor has slightly different definitions of given classes. Don't worry. Start him out in K/1 as he will be entering first grade. He should do fine in that section. My advice is to avoid any temptation to play up at this age. Stay in the lowest section that your child is eligible for ina given tournament. A some point, if his rating increases, he will get bumped up whether you want him to or not. I thought my son could stay in K/1 the whole year. But as his rating icnreased, he got bumped up multiple sections. This was ultimately a good thing. But don't rush it. Let the rating and age dictate where he plays according to a given tourney.

2. What do you think this translates to in USCF rating?

Who knows, who cares. it doesn't matter. If he plays rated chess he will get a rating immediately and then you will have a sense. The rating will continually bounce up and down so you and your child need to learn how to deal with it. In my opinion, you should not emphasize USCF ratings, but with kids this is a losing battle and they will literally obsess over them. As a parent I try to do my best and focus on the game and improvement and not ratings, but like I said it isa losing battle. OTOH, ratings can help give a child something to strive for. My son was determined to break 1,000 by end of first grade and it drove him to improve. So, there is that positive I suppose.

Gun to my head guess, I would say 1050 on chesskids translates to anywhere between around 600 and 850 in the NYC scholastic world. But just a very rough guess.

3. How much improvement would be possible in a year if he works pretty consistently?

At this age, with hard work and practice they will see hundreds of ratings points increases in relatively short order. The trick is to teach them that the higher they go the harder it is to reach the next level and they cannot expect 100 point increases each tournament like when they were climbing from provisional to 1,000.

These are some general thoughts but if you are in NYC and want some more specific advice on area scholastic tournaments please feel free to PM me as I would be happy to give you my thoughts on various ones.

NM PremierChess64

Oct 20, 2017

0

#6

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Indirect

Oct 20, 2017

0

#7

I thought you could fully avoid ads with a premium membership. I guess I was wrong.

NM PremierChess64

Oct 20, 2017

0

#8

There's a difference of an ad and a post directly related to the original request; you are the one who is spamming, not contributing any value....

kindaspongey

Oct 20, 2017

0

#9

No_Jams

Oct 20, 2017

0

#10

I see lots of people wanting their kids to have ratings which isn't wrong but remember the ideal goal is for the kid to have fun with chess. if he starts not liking chess or is beginning to do poorly relax a bit. ratings don't matter as much as just enjoying the game. once you enjoy the game you'll start putting effort into it this raising your rating.

cellomaster8

Oct 22, 2017

0

#11

I would consider his rating 1100. Actually. I am rated like 1250 but in real life, I am 1550. I guess it all depends on the pool of players. Play in quads. I have improved 300 points from them

Senior-Lazarus_Long

Oct 22, 2017

0

#12

dcb1970 wrote:

My son is entering 1st grade. He played a couple unrated tournaments in NYC last spring and liked them, then did a a lot of chesskid 15 | 0 games this summer. He he currently rated 1015 on ChessKid fast.

1. What's the best way for him to keep improving?

2. What do you think this translates to in USCF rating?

3. How much improvement would be possible in a year if he works pretty consistently?

TIA!

More fun,and less work! And bitches be crazy!!

ChanceTNR

Oct 22, 2017

0

#13

if u want him to improve get him a coach