Frequently Asked Questions
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- Can my 6th grade student now attending middle school play with his former elementary school in competitions?
- What is a good age to begin chess lessons?
- How do the ratings work?
- Do you offer classes for adults?
- What is the typical structure for the Chess Camps?
- How are Team Awards Scored?
- My schedule is inconvenient...how can I improve my game?
- Where are chess lessons held?
- My child just started chess club and loves it – is he/she ready for a tournament?
- My child is enthusiastic about chess but does not have much opportunity to practice. What do you recommend?
- How can I figure out what my child needs to advance quickly in chess?
- My child is interested in chess, but doesn’t know how to play – what can I do to help?
- I see many chess "classes" offered at elementary schools. Do you have to attend these schools to come to a class?
- Is Elliott Neff the instructor at all Chess4Life classes?
- How do you start a chess class at your local School?
- Do we have to Pre Register for the Friday Quads?
- What tools would you recommend for someone who does not yet know how the chess pieces move?
- What are the Friday Quads?
- How long are private lessons?
- What is a good age to begin chess lessons?
Can my 6th grade student now attending middle school play with his former elementary school in competitions?
Yes...just let the tournament directors know at check-in. For the complete policies regarding elementary chess in WA, follow this link: http://www.wsecc.org/Policy_Board.html.
What is a good age to begin chess lessons?
We currently offer group classes for students from 4 1/2 yr old, on a trial basis and they usually work out fine. We have successfully worked with several kids under the age of 4 in a one-on-one setting. If you wish to try this out, I would recommend booking just one lesson to try it out first. Also, does your child know how the pieces move yet? If not, there are a couple resources that you could use to help him learn those basics if you prefer that method - just go to the 'Resources' page or come by the Chess4Life Center and look for "Elliott's Chess School" Pawn Level DVD in the DVD series developed by National Master Elliott Neff, the workbook Chess Rules for Students, or the CD TASC Chess CD II, some of my top suggestions.
How do the ratings work?
A "tournament chess rating" is a number ranking that chess players earn by competing in chess tournaments. The higher the number, the stronger the level of chess player. U800 refers to any students that are ranked "below the tournament rating of 800 points" - this is a category in a tournament where less experienced players are usually competing. The OPEN categories, in contrast, often have experienced and very strong chess players. A player 'earns' rating points by winning games against other rated players, and loses points by losing games. The higher the ranking of the opponent, the more a player will gain by winning against that player, and lose fewer points if losing the match. Brand new players to chess typically start with about a 400 rating - somewhat experienced players will approach the 800 mark in scholastic chess - and strong players are starting to develop around the 1300-1400 rating range. Keep in mind, however, that ratings are simply a mark of how well a student has scored against other players in the past - so looking at a low rating and expecting an easy game is a common mistake! I always recommend not even looking at tournament ratings during an event, but only looking after the games are finished. Master level players have ratings above 2200 - and the highest in the world is about 2800. -Elliott
Do you offer classes for adults?
Currently we offer chess classes for ages 5-12, with some events for up through grade 12. Parents are also welcome to compete along with their children on Friday evenings in the quads or USCF tournaments. Adults are also welcome to take some private lessons with Chess4Life coaches. If you would like to see an adult class started, please let us know and we will add your name to the list. If there is enough interest, we will do our best to accommodate and open such a class.
What is the typical structure for the Chess Camps?
- Usually divided into 3 groups based upon a skill level that is assessed during the first day of camp
- Kids have the opportunity to move to a different group as they show progress
Schedule:
- 9:00 - 10:45am Morning Classes
- 10:45 - 12:15pm Tournament Games with Analysis
- 12:15 - 12:45pm Lunch
- 12:45 - 2:15pm Afternoon Classes
- 2:15 - 3:45pm Tournament Games with Analysis
- 3:45 - 4:00pm Free Play, Simuls, Bughouse and Blitz Chess
Additional breaks taken when needed to provide kids the opportunity to get supervised exercise on the playground.
How are Team Awards Scored?
Most scholastic events are scored based on the top four players on the team. Nationals are scored based upon the top four scoring team members, and State Elementary championship team tournaments take the top five scoring players. Normally these scores are based upon grades 1-3 combined, and grades 4-6 combined...these are not set in stone, however, and are very much up to the decisions of the coordinator.
My schedule is inconvenient...how can I improve my game?
If your schedule is hectic and you find little time to make it down to our chess center or tournaments are a little out of your reach, we highly recommend having one of our coaches sit down and do an assessment. We recommend writing down all of your games for review (or giving them to a coach for review) and lastly, studying information--expecially books--for improvement. Probably the best way to strengthen your game is to schedule private lessosn with a coach.
Where are chess lessons held?
After-School chess classes are held at public and private schools/locations. Additional chess classes and private lessons are usually taught at the Chess4Life Center (directions). Private lessons can be scheduled in the student's home or an agreed-upon location for an additional travel charge.
My child just started chess club and loves it – is he/she ready for a tournament?
We recommend that as soon as a child can do a couple basic checkmates, such as using a Queen and Rook vs. a lone King, that he/she enter a tournament in one of the ‘beginner’ sections. We find that players that attend tournaments enjoy chess more, make friends, feel part of a ‘team’, and usually have a great time! Most of the local tournaments will also result in your child earning a ‘rating’ in chess that is a useful gauge of your child’s progress.
My child is enthusiastic about chess but does not have much opportunity to practice. What do you recommend?
It is best if a student can come home and practice at home what he/she has been learning in the class, playing several times a week in addition to the weekly class. Having a parent or grandparent play with the child is also a great way to help bridge the generation gap and bring people together at different ages, spending quality time together. A few of the top tools that I would recommend for helping with students needing more practice are the following: Chess Tactics for Beginners (CD), Fritz and Chesster (CD), and www.chessmagnetschool.com (an online practice/study site that provides many good tools to improve in chess free 30 day trial!) Also, Chess4Life has Friday evening quads each week at the Chess4Life Center in Bellevue a great way to practice chess, meet new friends, and earn a rating in chess. Once a student is able to find checkmates and do the basic mates, I also recommend going to a chess tournament these are fun events, usually held on a Saturday.
How can I figure out what my child needs to advance quickly in chess?
An initial assessment is usually the most effective way to quickly figure out what your child needs next in chess. Initial Assessments with Elliott Neff take about 1 hour, sometimes stretching a little longer, but not longer than 1.5 hours. Elliott will typically assess the students' strengths/weaknesses in various aspects of chess, including opening, middlegame, endgame, tactics, visualization, etc. As part of the assessment, he will also give recommendations as to what tools would probably be the best and most effective for the student to use, in addition to recommendations as to how to most effectively use the time that a student is willing to put into chess study. The cost for this initial assessment with Elliott is $120, with lessons after that costing $85/hr if he is willing and able to fit another student into his schedule. (Elliott can usually recommend another coach as a good follow-up for regular lessons.) An alternative option is to request Chess4Life coaches besides Elliott that cost between $35-75/hr at this time, dependent on the coaches' skill/experience coaching. To schedule a time or request more info, please call Chess4Life at 425-283-0549 or e-mail kids@chess4life.com.
My child is interested in chess, but doesn’t know how to play – what can I do to help?
Is there a chess class/program at your child’s school? That is often an effective and fun way of introducing kids to chess...
The most effective and quickest way to learn correctly, without picking up ‘bad habits’ in chess strategy, would be to take a few private lessons. Usually it takes just 2-4 lessons to have all the rules down and a basic understanding of the game. An alternative option is to use a couple workbooks, either separately or in combination with lessons. I recommend a couple workbooks, Chess Rules for Students as the basic starter workbook...Checkmate Ideas for Students as the next one...and a software program, TASC Tutor, as an alternative method using the computer.
I see many chess "classes" offered at elementary schools. Do you have to attend these schools to come to a class?
Each school has its own policy as to whether they will allow outside students to join one of the classes - it is necessary to contact the school in each case to ask permission...some do, and some just do not.
Is Elliott Neff the instructor at all Chess4Life classes?
When Chess4Life started, Elliott Neff taught in all the programs - now, with the increased number of programs that Chess4life is directing, instructors working closely with Elliott teach the programs. While Elliott still teaches in a number of the programs, and often makes 'guest appearances' in the other Chess4Life classes, he spends more time training the Chess4Life coaches and developing teaching/training materials.
How do you start a chess class at your local School?
Chess4Life provides organized, goal-oriented chess instruction by qualified coaches - to start a class at your school, simply contact Chess4Life and we will discuss with you the possibilities of starting a chess program at your school. We require 10 students minimum to start a class, and when running the program, Chess4Life provides all materials/equipment for the class as well as normally handles production of flyers, registration, etc.
Do we have to Pre Register for the Friday Quads?
No, we set up the quads based on the children who arrive that evening. You can call ahead and put your childs name on the list if you wish but there is no need.
What tools would you recommend for someone who does not yet know how the chess pieces move?
There are several great resources available. I generally recommend the small 'fill in the blank' workbook "Chess Rules for Students" and/or the TASC Chess CD II (a great chess tutorial program that many of my top students have utilized). Another program that I have seen very good results with for introducing chess is "LegoChess".
What are the Friday Quads?
A Quad is when 4 players are paired together based on their rating. Each player will play 3 rated games and the winner will receive a trophy. We ask that children arrive at 6:30pm to allow us to find their ratings and set up the pairings for the quad. Play begins at 7pm and usually goes until between 9pm and 9:30pm.
How long are private lessons?
The initial lesson with a coach generally goes a little over an hour allowing our coaches to do a full assessment and give initial guidance on where the strengths and weaknesses of each student are. After the initial lesson we keep the lessons to 1 hour.
What is a good age to begin chess lessons?
We currently offer group classes for students from 4 1/2 yr old, on a trial basis and they usually work out fine. We have successfully worked with several kids under the age of 4 in a one-on-one setting. If you wish to try this out, I would recommend booking just one lesson to try it out first. Also, does your child know how the pieces move yet? If not, there are a couple resources that you could use to help him learn those basics if you prefer that method - just go to the 'Resources' page and look for either the workbook Chess Rules for Students or the CD TASC Chess CD II, 2 of my top suggestions.