Books on how to learn & or teach CHESS?

[countryangels]

Do any of you teach your little ones how to play chess?

What books have you used ? What about books for them?

Are there classes you can take, or clubs?

Have you or your child been in tournaments?
Please give any or all details how to get involved with chess.
What is a good age to get them started?
Thanks!

[Needle in the Hay]

My DS learned when he was 6 because he wanted to know how to play. I bought the book Starting Chess (usborne). He looked at the pictures and asked me to read a few captions and then he was ready to play. He has slowly been learning more strategy as he goes along. He's not really ready for a club and definitely not tournaments but he does really enjoy playing. At the library in my parents' town they have casual chess days where the kids just bring their sets to play a friendly game or two so we might do that next time we're there.

[SoulCakes]

Subbing!

[LauraLoo]

We used a game, "No Stress Chess," that was really great. He started this when he was 6'ish after we discovered it.
http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Moves-...8735356&sr=8-1

Since I don't play chess, last summer I hired a chess tutor (a high school aged HS boy) to play with our ds and to continue teaching him. This was very helpful. There's nothing that can take the place of playing with another person.

There is also a new Nintendo DS game, "Learn Chess" that keeps our ds occupied when there's no one else to play against. It's harder, so I wouldn't necessarily start out with this game unless your dc knows some basic strategy.

http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Chess-Ni...pr_product_top

[Needle in the Hay]

Originally Posted by LauraLoo

Since I don't play chess, last summer I hired a chess tutor (a high school aged HS boy) to play with our ds and to continue teaching him. This was very helpful. There's nothing that can take the place of playing with another person.

Wow, great idea. I bet your DS really enjoyed that too. I'm not much of a player so DS nearly always beats me but luckily there are others in the family who are more skillful at it.

[Fillyjonk]

We actually just played chess.

Dp and I do play chess together when we get a chance (ha!) so when our oldest was about 4, he naturally wanted to learn. I can't remember what we did specifically but I expect we just showed him where the pieces went. When he had basic skills we did two things. First off we found people he could play chess with-family, friends etc. Once he got a little better we found that if we just went to the local coffee shop and started playing, odds are someone would wander over and offer to give him a game. The other thing we did was sign up to an online chess tournament thing, iirc http://www.chess.com/ and also buy him a chess tutor cd for him to play against.

We found that he did a very effective job of teaching his sister when she wanted to learn. Which was pretty helpful. The pair of them keep trying to get their youngest sister into it-she is 2, and it is hard going.

It would be great if there were local kids for him to play with but we are finding that most chess clubs are tied to schools round here (uk).

[MyLittleWonders]

I recommend the game No Stress Chess, linked above. Dh bought it last spring, or so, the boys love it. Even I have picked up how to play and I don't like playing chess (or checkers). Our youngest is now learning; his brothers are using the cards in the game to teach him the moves. It doesn't go much into strategy, but it gets you able to play the game fairly quickly.

[countryangels]

Thank you!

Thank you for the great replies!
If you have any more tips, ideas, please post here

Have any of you heard of tournaments for different ages, and if so, what age do they tend to start ? What is the youngest ?

Thanks!

[Madame Pomfrey]

Both of mine learned about age 8 or 9. We live in a small town now, but even here there's a chess club that likes to hold sessions for kids at the library. Our first chess set had rules in it, but any reference book or little rule set would be nice to have when you start - check a used bookshop. /i think the most helpful resource, however, was the club full of chess-loving people willing to help out.

[countryangels]

Thank you!

Thank you for the links & ideas!

Please keep the tips coming!

Is there some sort of national championship or tournament ?
Thanks

[cbyrum]

I don't play chess so I ended up buying my DS No Stress Chess for Christmas. Both DS (5) and DD (4) really have learned a lot. DS knows how all the pieces move and is starting to work on strategy now so we need to move up in the game a bit.