If you try to be everything for everyone you end up being nothing for nobody.
Our clubs aren’t going to be for everyone.
- We don’t take complete beginners: a club isn’t the best place to learn and beginners will need one-to-one help. However, we can provide parents with everything they and their children need, mostly for free.
- We don’t take younger children who see chess as a low-level ‘fun’ game and have no interest in learning or improving.
- We expect our members to be able to play quietly and take the game seriously.
- Children below Year 5 should be accompanied by parents or carers at all times to ensure they keep quiet and still.
We expect children to have a basic understanding of chess before they join.
- Knowledge of the correct names and moves of all six pieces
- Complete understanding of CHECK, CHECKMATE and STALEMATE
- Knowledge of the three ‘eccentric’ rules: CASTLING, PAWN PROMOTION and the EN PASSANT capture
- Knowledge of the value of the pieces and understanding that SUPERIOR FORCE (usually) WINS
- Good chessboard vision: ability to see captures and threats
- Understanding of basic opening principles (pawn in the centre, develop knights and bishops, castle to make your king safe)
We particularly welcome:
- Children of secondary school age
- Children with diagnoses of ASD and/or ADHD
- Children with disabilities
- Quiet, shy or anxious children
- Quirky children and divergent thinkers
- Homeschooled children
- Children from immigrant and refugee communities
CHESS MINDS 