Can you recommend a good chess guide?

[chalupamom]

My nearly five year old is expressing interest in learning to play chess. I haven't played in years so will need a basic primer myself, hopefully something meant for younger kids we can learn from together.

Thanks!

[UlrikeDG]

:

My husband taught our son the basics, but I never learned, and don't feel confident enough in my grasp of the rules to play. However, he did play chess online with the son of a friend of mine a couple of times. Yahoo Games has a Chess Game. You have to watch for SPAMMERS and freaks, but since I was setting up the games via ICQ with someone I'd already known for years, I felt comfortable letting DS play online. The first time, I stayed in the room with him, and the other two times, I was in the kitchen doing dishes, but he knew he could call me if he needed help.

[Persephone]

Dh plays a game on the computer called "Chessmaster 10000". It's really helped him improve his game. Not sure how appropriate it would be for a 5 yr old, but I think it's worth looking into.

[NCCelticlady]

Usborne has a Beginner Chess Book. Here's a description:

Starting Chess is an inspiring introduction for complete beginners. It covers everything a young player needs to know, from how to set out the pieces to special moves and tactics. Lively illustrations of snooty queens, cheeky pawns and wise old kings bring the game to life, while simple diagrams make examples and puzzles clear and easy to follow. This new Internet-linked edition also contains descriptions of fun and informative chess Web sites to visit.

[Fi.]

I'm quite fond of Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess myself as far as books go.

Setting up online games or buying a one person computer game (where you play against the PC on different difficulty levels) is also a great idea.

[catgirl]

Ds started with the game "10 minute chess". You get a regular board and also a 5x5 board and learn one piece at a time - very manageable for a then 5 yo as there's not too much to keep track of. We were on to the "big" board within a few days.

[Blissful Bee]

Okay this will only be kinda helpful, but my Father-in-law bought my boys a chess board with pieces that on the lower portion of the back of the piece, (so when looking at the board, you can see this for your guys) it shows how that piece is allowed to move. VERY COOL! It is inexpensive and the pieces are a light plastic, but WOW did they pick it up fast! They love it and have been able to really play without too much assistance from me (which is good, because I have NO idea how to play)!! The not much help part is that I dont know who made it. However Im sure if you do a search online you can find it.

[quidditchmom]

Have you checked out chesskids.com? It's supposed to be for older kids, but I've used it for ideas. I think that's the site anyways...

My ds picked up chess pretty much on his own so I didn't really need anything special to teach him. But when he started to play dd wanted to play. She was 3. We did the Rook's pawn hunt game series. You can do it if you know basic moves. Both players set up their rooks where they are supposed to be, then they can put their pawns anywhere on the board. You take turns moving, regular movement rules apply, and see who can capture all the other player's pawns first. Pawns cannot move. Once they've mastered that game, move to bishops...then knights...ect.

The only things you need to know to play are how to set up the board and how the pieces move. Once you/they know that, then you can get into how many players like to control the 4 middle squares as soon as possible, the special moves, common opening moves...stuff like that. All of this stuff is super easy to find online.

There are also sites that you can play against the computer on. There are no other people so you don't risk exposing them to any bad language or the like. We have a pop up blocker and don't use any messangers so we don't have to worry about anything else coming up that we wouldn't want them to see.

My ds loves to make up games with the chess board and pieces. Being a little anal myself, I was less than impressed with this (he knows how to play...why's he doing that???), but then I talked with the high school chess coach and he said it's a great thing for them to do to help with their strategy. He said to especially encourage games where you can practice the ending. Like you have just your king and he have his king and two rooks and see how many moves it takes for him to checkmate you. Then next time have him try to beat his record.

Have fun!

[bestjob]

We've had a computer game around for a few years called "Fritz and Chester Play Chess" or something similar. It has a lot of different parts, and it is a game in which the main characters go on a quest. It is fun and my five year old loved it.

Usborne books has a good beginner book which helps a good reader remember the ways the pieces move and how to set up the board.