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Today PastorJLM Sep 1, 2017 #1

My son is 4 (and a half), or in well-know Mommy Language, 54 months. A few months ago I
More started teaching him chess and within weeks he could play a decent game of chess.

 
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I was just wondering if any other parents or coaches out there might have any advice or input on
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how to develop chess skills at such a young age in a fun way?
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I notice that he has the most fun when playing against other kids (rather than his dad), but his
first choice is always to play against his grandfather. We would cheer very loudly when he takes
off a piece that grandpa "did not expect". In the end, I want him to develop, but if he does not –
enjoy it, there is no point.
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NM PremierChess64 Sep 4, 2017 #2

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For a lot of educational content for kids, see  www.facebook.com/premierchess.
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( Help Email me at erabin66@gmail.com or call (917)776-1306 if you have any questions.

hi
PastorJLM Sep 4, 2017 #3 rumplestiltskin4 2 min ago

“ erabin wrote: Bobby Fischer fans are delusional

rumplestiltskin4 3 min ago
For a lot of educational content for kids, see  www.facebook.com/premierchess.
Feels brilliant...turns on engine. Oy Vey.
Email me at erabin66@gmail.com or call (917)776-1306 if you have any questions. NarutoSixPath 4 min ago

Chess on an Infinite Plane (captaintugwash -

Thanks. Will take a look on Facebook
gyrados06)
captaintugwash 4 min ago
 
Most BORING repertoire please
nighteyes1234 5 min ago
NM PremierChess64 Sep 4, 2017 #4
Coaches not living up to claims
 
BonTheCat 6 min ago

I have been studying chess for a solid 6

months now, but I can't progress past 1400
mgx9600 Sep 5, 2017 #5 MustangMate 7 min ago

“ PastotJLM wrote: The Ending That Never Happened

NM ghost_of_pushwood 9 min ago
I was just wondering if any other parents or coaches out there might have any advice or
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input on how to develop chess skills at such a young age in a fun way?
Martin_Stahl 10 min ago
  2/6/2020 - Green Light
blabliblek 11 min ago
 

I used to play against my son by removing a few pieces from my army.  It allowed me to play full
strength against him.  That made it a fun game for me as well as for him. ) Forum Legend

Later, when I was teaching him, I purposely setup tactical opportunities for him to find during the
z Following

game.  It actually made the game very challenging for me (it isn't easy to set up tactical blunders z New Comments

on purpose).  After a while, it got pretty easy (and I even accidentally set a few up during real d Locked Topic
games against other people : )  Muscle memory ! » Pinned Topic

I think for your son to be only 4 yrs old and can play chess, it is a gift.  Reminds me of Mark all topics as READ

 
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mgx9600 Sep 5, 2017 #6

Here's a video I saw a few days ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUx4t4W4eVY

PastorJLM Sep 5, 2017 #7

“ mgx9600 wrote:
“ PastotJLM wrote:
I was just wondering if any other parents or coaches out there might have any advice
or input on how to develop chess skills at such a young age in a fun way?

I used to play against my son by removing a few pieces from my army.  It allowed me to
play full strength against him.  That made it a fun game for me as well as for him.

Later, when I was teaching him, I purposely setup tactical opportunities for him to find
during the game.  It actually made the game very challenging for me (it isn't easy to set up
tactical blunders on purpose).  After a while, it got pretty easy (and I even accidentally set a
few up during real games against other people : )  Muscle memory !

I think for your son to be only 4 yrs old and can play chess, it is a gift.  Reminds me of

Thank you for your feedback... I must admit that he is quite bright yes. He can speak 2 languages
and and he can already write certain words. When he was younger, the pediatrician told us that
he is a bright kid (maybe thats what thye say to all parents hahaha), but we have noticed that he
is beter developed in comparision to kids his age and even a bit older. So we try and keep him
stiumulated and develop his talent... while his other two siblings, well lets just say they take after
the mother  

PastorJLM Sep 5, 2017 #8

“ mgx9600 wrote:
Here's a video I saw a few days ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUx4t4W4eVY

I always love to see things like this. I am a musician myself and play multiple instruments. The
plan is to get my kids into music as well as soon as possible, but for now, we just have fun playing
chess.

jambyvedar Sep 5, 2017 #9

There is an easy calculation training that all kids love and that is a knight capturing a pawn. At
first you can  try the puzzle as in two moves the knight can capture the pawn. Once he gets good
at it, you can make it in 3 moves the knight capture the pawn. Kids also do enjoy learning two
rooks mate against a king endgame. Once your son is familiar with the rule, you can let him enter
a tournament even thought he is not yet good at chess. I have seen many parents letting their
young sons/daughter join tournaments. Thru the years of playing these kids improve. Joining
tournament can be fun for him and might add more motivation for him. Just tell him that it is
okay to lose as that is part of the game. It will be better if the tournaments are for kids section. 

PastorJLM Sep 6, 2017 #10

“ jambyvedar wrote:
There is an easy calculation training that all kids love and that is a knight capturing a pawn.
At first you can  try the puzzle as in two moves the knight can capture the pawn. Once he
gets good at it, you can make it in 3 moves the knight capture the pawn. Kids also do enjoy
learning two rooks mate against a king endgame. Once your son is familiar with the rule,
you can let him enter a tournament even thought he is not yet good at chess. I have seen
many parents letting their young sons/daughter join tournaments. Thru the years of
playing these kids improve. Joining tournament can be fun for him and might add more
motivation for him. Just tell him that it is okay to lose as that is part of the game. It will be
better if the tournaments are for kids section. 

I am planning to get him to participate in local tournaments, but I feel he is just a bit young at the
moment. But thanks for the tactical advice, will look into it.

Exaggerate Sep 16, 2017 #11

Most kids at young ages want challenges while you should let him win so he doesn't. Get upset
try to also do good moves to get him thinking

PastorJLM Sep 16, 2017 #12

“ Exaggerate wrote:
Most kids at young ages want challenges while you should let him win so he doesn't. Get
upset try to also do good moves to get him thinking

Thanks for your input. Noticed that he doesn't like it much when he loses, but on the other who,
do likes losing?

jambyvedar Sep 17, 2017 #13

“ PastotJLM wrote:
“ Exaggerate wrote:
Most kids at young ages want challenges while you should let him win so he doesn't.
Get upset try to also do good moves to get him thinking

Thanks for your input. Noticed that he doesn't like it much when he loses, but on the other
who, do likes losing?

tell him that someday he will beat you and it okay to lose. learn from defeats. if he makes a good
move, praise him.  after the game, point out the obvious mistakes. if you can find one, match him
with a kid.

here are 25 standard checkmates. this is a good source for teaching mate patterns. i believe your
kid will love it.they are not hard. maybe just show one mate pattern a day. if he grasp some
mates, maybe ask him to solve easy one mate problem a day. set up it on a chess board. then
maybe also show him later easy example of tactics like fork and pin.

http://www.serverchess.com/checkmate.htm

PastorJLM Sep 17, 2017 #14

“ jambyvedar wrote:
“ PastotJLM wrote:
“ Exaggerate wrote:
Most kids at young ages want challenges while you should let him win so he
doesn't. Get upset try to also do good moves to get him thinking

Thanks for your input. Noticed that he doesn't like it much when he loses, but on the
other who, do likes losing?

tell him that someday he will beat you and it okay to lose. learn from defeats. if he makes a
good move, praise him.  after the game, point out the obvious mistakes. if you can find
one, match him with a kid.

here are 25 standard checkmates. this is a good source for teaching mate patterns. i believe
your kid will love it.they are not hard. maybe just show one mate pattern a day. if he grasp
some mates, maybe ask him to solve easy one mate problem a day. set up it on a chess
board. then maybe also show him later easy example of tactics like fork and pin.

http://www.serverchess.com/checkmate.htm

I have started with the simple Back-rank checkmate with him...grasping the idea of check is still a
bit distant to him, but at least he is getting use to the pattern. Thanks for your advice and input.

jambyvedar Sep 18, 2017 #15

“ PastotJLM wrote:
“ jambyvedar wrote:
“ PastotJLM wrote:
“ Exaggerate wrote:
Most kids at young ages want challenges while you should let him win
so he doesn't. Get upset try to also do good moves to get him thinking

Thanks for your input. Noticed that he doesn't like it much when he loses, but
on the other who, do likes losing?

tell him that someday he will beat you and it okay to lose. learn from defeats. if he
makes a good move, praise him.  after the game, point out the obvious mistakes. if
you can find one, match him with a kid.

here are 25 standard checkmates. this is a good source for teaching mate patterns. i
believe your kid will love it.they are not hard. maybe just show one mate pattern a
day. if he grasp some mates, maybe ask him to solve easy one mate problem a day.
set up it on a chess board. then maybe also show him later easy example of tactics
like fork and pin.

http://www.serverchess.com/checkmate.htm

I have started with the simple Back-rank checkmate with him...grasping the idea of check is
still a bit distant to him, but at least he is getting use to the pattern. Thanks for your advice
and input.

When i teach the concept of check, i use the one move mate back rank. I will use bishop,rook and
3 pawns in teaching this concept. At first i will demonstrate  a back rank mate with a rook and i
will tell the student that is mate because there is no way to escape the check. The king will be
captured so it is game over.

In the 2nd demonstration i  will move one square up one of the king's pawn. I will check again
with the rook at back rank and tell the student that is not mate becuase the king can escape on
the hole.

In the 3rd demonstration, i will place an opponent's bishop in which it is attacking the escape
hole of the king. I will place again the rook on the back rank and tell the student it is mate
becuase even if the  student place the king on the hole, it is still in check by the bishop and the
king can be captured.

I will also have a lesson in which my student will have a king and i have rook. I will check the
student's king and ask the student at what square it can move to free itself from the check. The
progression of these, I will add another opponent's rook to make it more challenging on where
he can place the king free from check As they improve at learning check, i will add more pieces.

I repeat teaching the student these lessons the next day until the student fully learned the
concept of check. These also helps him/her learn the concept of mate.  I show the line ,or i even
use a paper, to make a line and place it on a chess board to help the student visualize better the
check.

PastorJLM Sep 18, 2017 #16

“ jambyvedar wrote:
“ PastotJLM wrote:
“ jambyvedar wrote:
“ PastotJLM wrote:
“ Exaggerate wrote:
Most kids at young ages want challenges while you should let
him win so he doesn't. Get upset try to also do good moves to
get him thinking

Thanks for your input. Noticed that he doesn't like it much when he
loses, but on the other who, do likes losing?

tell him that someday he will beat you and it okay to lose. learn from defeats.
if he makes a good move, praise him.  after the game, point out the obvious
mistakes. if you can find one, match him with a kid.

here are 25 standard checkmates. this is a good source for teaching mate
patterns. i believe your kid will love it.they are not hard. maybe just show one
mate pattern a day. if he grasp some mates, maybe ask him to solve easy one
mate problem a day. set up it on a chess board. then maybe also show him
later easy example of tactics like fork and pin.

http://www.serverchess.com/checkmate.htm

I have started with the simple Back-rank checkmate with him...grasping the idea of
check is still a bit distant to him, but at least he is getting use to the pattern. Thanks
for your advice and input.

When i teach the concept of check, i use the one move mate back rank. I will use
bishop,rook and 3 pawns in teaching this concept. At first i will demonstrate  a back rank
mate with a rook and i will tell the student that is mate because there is no way to escape
the check. The king will be captured so it is game over.

In the 2nd demonstration i  will move one square up one of the king's pawn. I will check
again with the rook at back rank and tell the student that is not mate becuase the king can
escape on the hole.

In the 3rd demonstration, i will place an opponent's bishop in which it is attacking the
escape hole of the king. I will place again the rook on the back rank and tell the student it
is mate becuase even if the  student place the king on the hole, it is still in check by the
bishop and the king can be captured.

I will also have a lesson in which my student will have a king and i have rook. I will check
the student's rook and ask the student at what square it can move to free itself from the
check. The progression of these, I will add another opponent's rook to make more
challenging on where he can place the king where it can't be captured(not in check). As
they improve at learning check, i will add more pieces.

I repeat teaching the student these lessons the next day until the student fully learned the
concept of check. These also helps him/her learn the concept of mate.  I show the line ,or i
even use a paper, to make a line and place it on a chess board to help the student visualize
better the check.

Thanks for the advice. I will try some of them with my son this afternoon. I try not to "teach"
chess everyday, but I try to use chess as an incentive...weird I know, but it works. I try to keep it
exciting and interesting for him, otherwise what's the use of playing. Thanks for taking time to
share some knowledge, I appreciate it.

jambyvedar Sep 18, 2017 #17

“ PastotJLM wrote:
“ jambyvedar wrote:
“ PastotJLM wrote:
“ jambyvedar wrote:
“ PastotJLM wrote:
“ Exaggerate wrote:
Most kids at young ages want challenges while you should
let him win so he doesn't. Get upset try to also do good
moves to get him thinking

Thanks for your input. Noticed that he doesn't like it much when
he loses, but on the other who, do likes losing?

tell him that someday he will beat you and it okay to lose. learn from
defeats. if he makes a good move, praise him.  after the game, point out
the obvious mistakes. if you can find one, match him with a kid.

here are 25 standard checkmates. this is a good source for teaching

mate patterns. i believe your kid will love it.they are not hard. maybe
just show one mate pattern a day. if he grasp some mates, maybe ask
him to solve easy one mate problem a day. set up it on a chess board.
then maybe also show him later easy example of tactics like fork and
pin.

http://www.serverchess.com/checkmate.htm

I have started with the simple Back-rank checkmate with him...grasping the
idea of check is still a bit distant to him, but at least he is getting use to the
pattern. Thanks for your advice and input.

When i teach the concept of check, i use the one move mate back rank. I will use
bishop,rook and 3 pawns in teaching this concept. At first i will demonstrate  a back
rank mate with a rook and i will tell the student that is mate because there is no way
to escape the check. The king will be captured so it is game over.

In the 2nd demonstration i  will move one square up one of the king's pawn. I will
check again with the rook at back rank and tell the student that is not mate becuase
the king can escape on the hole.

In the 3rd demonstration, i will place an opponent's bishop in which it is attacking

the escape hole of the king. I will place again the rook on the back rank and tell the
student it is mate becuase even if the  student place the king on the hole, it is still in
check by the bishop and the king can be captured.

I will also have a lesson in which my student will have a king and i have rook. I will
check the student's rook and ask the student at what square it can move to free itself
from the check. The progression of these, I will add another opponent's rook to
make more challenging on where he can place the king where it can't be
captured(not in check). As they improve at learning check, i will add more pieces.

I repeat teaching the student these lessons the next day until the student fully
learned the concept of check. These also helps him/her learn the concept of mate.  I
show the line ,or i even use a paper, to make a line and place it on a chess board to
help the student visualize better the check.

Thanks for the advice. I will try some of them with my son this afternoon. I try not to
"teach" chess everyday, but I try to use chess as an incentive...weird I know, but it works. I
try to keep it exciting and interesting for him, otherwise what's the use of playing. Thanks
for taking time to share some knowledge, I appreciate it.

good move just do what you think keep his interest. he might lose interest if you teach it
everyday. just repeat what you taught.  i like to see the progression of your son. so if you have an
update or any question, just post here .

PastorJLM Sep 18, 2017 #18

“ jambyvedar wrote:
“ PastotJLM wrote:
“ jambyvedar wrote:
“ PastotJLM wrote:
“ jambyvedar wrote:
“ PastotJLM wrote:
“ Exaggerate wrote:
Most kids at young ages want challenges while you
should let him win so he doesn't. Get upset try to
also do good moves to get him thinking

Thanks for your input. Noticed that he doesn't like it much

when he loses, but on the other who, do likes losing?

tell him that someday he will beat you and it okay to lose. learn
from defeats. if he makes a good move, praise him.  after the
game, point out the obvious mistakes. if you can find one, match
him with a kid.

here are 25 standard checkmates. this is a good source for

teaching mate patterns. i believe your kid will love it.they are not
hard. maybe just show one mate pattern a day. if he grasp some
mates, maybe ask him to solve easy one mate problem a day. set
up it on a chess board. then maybe also show him later easy
example of tactics like fork and pin.

http://www.serverchess.com/checkmate.htm

I have started with the simple Back-rank checkmate with him...grasping

the idea of check is still a bit distant to him, but at least he is getting use
to the pattern. Thanks for your advice and input.

When i teach the concept of check, i use the one move mate back rank. I will
use bishop,rook and 3 pawns in teaching this concept. At first i will
demonstrate  a back rank mate with a rook and i will tell the student that is
mate because there is no way to escape the check. The king will be captured
so it is game over.

In the 2nd demonstration i  will move one square up one of the king's pawn. I
will check again with the rook at back rank and tell the student that is not
mate becuase the king can escape on the hole.

In the 3rd demonstration, i will place an opponent's bishop in which it is

attacking the escape hole of the king. I will place again the rook on the back
rank and tell the student it is mate becuase even if the  student place the king
on the hole, it is still in check by the bishop and the king can be captured.

I will also have a lesson in which my student will have a king and i have rook. I
will check the student's rook and ask the student at what square it can move
to free itself from the check. The progression of these, I will add another
opponent's rook to make more challenging on where he can place the king
where it can't be captured(not in check). As they improve at learning check, i
will add more pieces.

I repeat teaching the student these lessons the next day until the student fully
learned the concept of check. These also helps him/her learn the concept of
mate.  I show the line ,or i even use a paper, to make a line and place it on a
chess board to help the student visualize better the check.

Thanks for the advice. I will try some of them with my son this afternoon. I try not to
"teach" chess everyday, but I try to use chess as an incentive...weird I know, but it
works. I try to keep it exciting and interesting for him, otherwise what's the use of
playing. Thanks for taking time to share some knowledge, I appreciate it.

good move just do what you think keep his interest. he might lose interest if you teach it
everyday. just repeat what you taught.  i like to see the progression of your son. so if you
have an update or any question, just post here .

Will update as thing develop yes, thank you. I am considering enrolling him in a small chess
tournament that will take place next month. The youngest group is U/7. So even though they are
almost 3 years older than him, I think he would enjoy the experience of playing against strangers
in a competitive environment. But I will have to ask the Chief Arbiter permission first...

jambyvedar Sep 18, 2017 #19

@PastotJLM yeah enroll him in that tournament. kids usually likes to play against their fellow kid.
i am sure he will enjoy it and it will make him appreciate chess more. i think the arbiter will allow
it as your son is qualified for U7. I have seen many 4 years old kid play in a tournament. win or
lose it will be a good enjoyable learning experience for your son.

evert823 Sep 18, 2017 #20

Never press him, if after some time he shows other interests, or just less interest in chess, allow it
to happen.

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