Mate

[billroper]

Katie has been begging to learn how to play chess, so I pulled out one of my old chess sets and we played a game this afternoon. I learned several things, some of which I already suspected:

Katie is really too young to be learning chess

My chess skills have atrophied alarmingly

Katie really wants to win

And that isn't going to happen when the thing she most wants to do is push pawns and take my pieces, regardless of value

We'll try this again some other time. :)

Happy New Year everyone!

Comments

chess, and watching the gears turning....

[jdonat.livejournal.com]

Just wait.... She'll learn.

Jim and I taught Erika when she was a bit older than Katie... Same issue. Didn't have any clue as to values, etc.. Then, we had a chess club at the grade school that both girls went to. The advisor was a Grand Master. Not too long after she started learning from him, she beat me in 6 moves. oof. I had to find my chess books and do some serious brush up on games and strategies from the interwebz. She still beats me, but its about 50/30 with some draws. Sheesh. she learned fast.

If she values all pieces equally

[capplor.livejournal.com]

maybe checkers will be a good game for now.

Pawns

[lindaneely.livejournal.com]

As you may know, Erica's sister, Liz, was a chess player and won several tournaments. When Erica was little, Liz showed her a game played with the pawns. She said it's easier for young kids to play. I don't know anything about the game but, if Katie persists, you might try to find it. Hope you had a happy Christmas.

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

I learned chess at about 9 years old. I don't think it would have been good for me to try it any younger. Everybody's mileage may vary.

Nate

[mbumby.livejournal.com]

My chess skills have also gone way downhill, but should you want an occasional fix, there is a server out there "www.itsyourturn.com" that has many games, including several varieties of chess. It's turn-based, so if all you have is 5 minutes a day, that's all you need to spend, but if both you and your opponent are online, you can go through an entire game at one sitting. (And if you want an opponent you'll be sure to beat, but who might put up a good fight, my id there is the same as mine here.)