WE MAKE CHESS FUN!
Excelsior Chess holds weekly team workouts at each of our schools. The workouts last for one hour and are made up of interactive, Socratic-style teaching and instructional play.
The Five R’s of Chess
READING
During each workout’s instructional time, players will have the opportunity to read and solve chess puzzles that are part of the Chess4Life program.
WRITING
Early during training, as their nascent analytical and playing skills improve, players learn to write their moves using the “algebraic notation” that is the standardized manner to record chess games.
ARITHMETIC
Each player must understand the arithmetic of chess not only in order to keep score when pieces are captured, but also to help them understand the loss, gain or equality that is realized when pieces are captured in an exchange.
REASONING
Chess is a game of the mind that develops long and short-term memory, critical thinking and pattern recognition skills. Our young players are taught and study analytical, tactical and strategic tools.
RESPONSIBILITY
Chance has no place on the chess board. Children learn very quickly that there is virtually no element of chance in the game, and if they lose, it is simply because they were out-thought.
THINKING AHEAD – Children are taught to think first, then act.
THINKING AHEAD – Children are taught to think first, then act.
We teach them to ask themselves “If I do this, what might happen then, and how can I respond?” Over time, chess helps develop patience and thoughtfulness.
We teach them to ask themselves “If I do this, what might happen then, and how can I respond?” Over time, chess helps develop patience and thoughtfulness.
COMPETITION AND TOURNAMENTS
Each of Excelsior Chess’ 8-week sessions concludes with an intra-school tournament, and quarterly, Excelsior Chess hosts an area tournament in which players compete against each other from other schools within our program.
Competition is an important component of any scholastic chess program.
Aside from the obvious fact that competition provides an important measure of a child’s playing ability, how a player behaves before, during and after a tournament is also a measure of an individual’s character. Moreover, team spirit is developed during competitions against other schools.
