Playing kids

I've just got into chess this year, after teaching my son, who is 6. He has the basics and is keen, but mostly plays against a weak computer (400 rating) or people too good on chesskid.com

I'd quite like to play him OTB so its not just about the 'puter so what methods can one use to equalise the game a little?

I tried moving away from the board and letting him count to 10, if I hadn't moved he could remove a pawn from the board

Anyone got anything better?

Also a recommendation for a  good computer/programme for weak players between 400-800 ratings

Standard is either reduced time (but you probably don't play timed?), or you can just play without a piece - queen, rook, knight etc.

Yeah, removing a piece before play is a common one.

One interesting idea I heard with kids was they get 3 times of their choosing during the game to flip the board around (you play their side, they play yours) they can't do this if mate is on the next move though (or maybe you could let them do that heh).  That way they get a chance to play from a superior position and try that out.

Maybe you could modify this, on every 10th move they could use that option or something like this.

I heard one expert say he taught his young kid and in their games one restriction was he wasn't allowed to capture any pieces (!)  He said he actually managed to win one of those games, a fact he was proud of lol.

Thanks, that's great, I forgot about removing a piece, must have heard it 20 years ago!

Flipping the board also sounds fun and takes away the whole seriousness and drama of winning/losing, but can still teach them to recognise when a player has an advantage over the other, and perhaps even teach them to look at what the other player is planning rather than focus on their own strategy in isolation

I'd fancy my chances against Carlsen if I could flip the board just once when he didn't have mate in one.

I like to give kids two moves instead of one everytime it's their turn. That can get really interresting, especially with 3 moves. They gotta be terribad tho.

Really? So you can't let any piece be within two moves of your king, no matter if the squares on the way are safe or not.

Aye try it, it's chocking when they suddenly capture your piece you thought was safe. However if they have any kind of understanding they will crush you soo it only works against real beginners :)