How to Teach a Child the Game of Chess

I was twenty years old when I learned to play chess and I immediately fell in love with the game. The moment I learned how to play I instantly regretted that I had never learned as a child. Most of the reason I never learned as a child is because I was often told that the game was too complicated and too difficult to play. I honestly thought you had to be a genius in order to understand the rules of chess at all. Once I learned how to play, I realized that this was not the case. I vowed that I would teach the children in my life this game. I did not want them to have the same misconceptions that I had as a child.

The truth is chess is complicated. I am not a chess expert and I probably never will be. However, I do understand the rules and I have one a few games since I started playing. Imagine how much more I would have known if I started playing earlier in life. Keep in mind that just because the game is complicated, it does not mean that a child cannot learn. In fact, teaching them the rules now will ensure that the game makes more sense to them in the future. Here are some tips for teaching the child in your life how to play the game of chess.

Take it Slow: The youngest child I have taught chess to was four years old. No matter what their age I have found that the quickest way for a child to learn is if you take it slow. Yes, that does sound like a contradiction. It is true though. If you try to quickly explain the rules of chess to a child and then proceed to jump into a game, they will be lost and you will become frustrated. Instead, teach the game one step at a time and slowly work your way up to a real game.

Start by teaching the names of each piece. As you say the names, have the child repeat what you are saying. Do this several times until they can say the name of each game piece with you. Once they are saying the names with you, instead of repeating you, have them say the names by themselves.