Chess, explained clearly.
Tactics, openings and honest advice for chess parents. A new article every Monday.
The pin and the skewer, explained
Two tactics that look identical on the board and work in opposite directions. Once you can tell them apart, you start seeing both everywhere.
Read article →Does chess actually help with schoolwork?
The claims made for chess are often overblown. Here is a careful look at what it plausibly helps with, and what it does not.
Read article →Scholar's Mate, and why it stops working
The four-move checkmate wins a lot of games between beginners and almost none after that. Here is the trap, the refutation, and what it teaches.
Read article →What is a fork in chess?
A fork is one piece attacking two enemy pieces at once. It is the first tactic worth learning, and the knight is the piece that does it best.
Read article →What age should a child start chess?
Five is a realistic starting age for most children, but readiness matters more than the number. Here is what to actually look for.
Read article →How much should a child practise chess?
Less than most parents imagine, and more regularly. Here is a realistic weekly load by age and level.
Read article →Stalemate or checkmate? The difference that decides games
One wins the game and one throws it away, and they look almost identical to a beginner. Here is how to tell them apart and how to avoid the wrong one.
Read article →Your child's first chess tournament: what to expect
A practical guide for parents, from what to pack to what not to say between rounds.
Read article →What is castling, and when should you do it?
The only move where two pieces move at once. Here are the four conditions, and the judgement call about which side to castle.
Read article →Online or over the board? What children actually need
Online chess builds pattern recognition fast. Over-the-board play builds everything else. Most children need both, in a particular order.
Read article →How long does it take to get good at chess?
A realistic timeline for a child starting from zero, and why the honest answer depends on what you mean by good.
Read article →Ten mistakes almost every beginner makes
None of these are about talent. They are habits, which means they can be fixed faster than most parents expect.
Read article →How to set up a chess board correctly
Two rules cover it: light square on the right, and the queen goes on her own colour. Almost every setup mistake is one of these two.
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