Chess for Kids and Parents - Heinz Brunthaler

142 Chess for Kids and Parents

Take care that your child presses the clock after every move! This
movement must become a refleχ which kicks in automatically during a
game. (Υου ννίll often see eχperienced players in casual games without
clocks actually pressing a clock which is not in use ΟΓ perhaps not even
there! This does not mean that these players have lost their marbles, but it
is an eχample of the "move - press" refleχ that almost all tournament
players have after a certain time.)

Playing with clocks and writing down moνes

When playing with clocks is working ννΘII, accustom your child to writing
down the moves as ννΘII.

This sounds quite simple, but even for an adult it is not so easy at the
start to think out a move and write it down and at the same time to
remember to press the clock.

For that reason it is important that for some time your child regularly

plays games in which writing the moves and pressing the clock are
involved, until it becomes a routine, one which ννίll resist all the additional
stress of a tournament.

This can lead to problems at the beginning! Ι remember one 9 year old
schoolboy who managed to play and keep his scoresheet at the same
time with no problems; then he also got quite used to the clock. But then
both had to be put together and for a large number of training sessions he
played unbelievably badly for him and made a lot of silly mistakes.

It is important to develop a strict routine, ί.Θ. play - press - write.
After pressing the clock, s/he must write down the move and think even if
the opponent replies instantly. The move must a/ways be played before it
is written down according to the latest version of the laws of chess.

But, in any case, the above rhythm must be maintained at all times.

Good persuasion and encouragement ννίll help your child ΟVΘΓ this first
large hurdle. Υου should not weaken: you must continue to insist on both
the clock and the writing down of moves! In every sport - and in day to
day living - there comes sooner ΟΓ later a point where resistance must be
overcome, in order to prepare the way for future development. Avoiding
difficulties and hard choices simply delays the arrival at this point.

80 do not be disheartened if for a short time your child's performance
falls off by quite a bit. At the latest, it ννίll take only a few weeks until the
sequence of play - press - write has become totally assimilated!

Preparation for your first tournament 143

The "touch - move" rule

Basically you should not pick υρ any chess piece until you are quite
sure what your intended move is. But children act very spontaneously and
often grab a piece with unbelievable speed, and drop it just as quickly ίπ
order to pick υρ another piece.

This is forbidden ίπ tournaments!

Απ ίΓΟΠ rule ίπ chess tournaments is that any piece you have touched
(even slightly ΟΓ for a short time) must be moved as long as a move is
legal. Here is an example:

Black is to move and briefly touches
7 the knight οπ f6, but spots before he

moves it that he ννίΙΙ lose his queen if
6 he moves the knight.

But Black must move the knight,
4 though he can choose which of the
3 possible squares to move it tO: d5, e8,
2 94, h5 ΟΓ whether to take the e4-

pawn.

Had Black first touched the e4-pawn, (leaving the knight οπ f6
untouched) he would have to take οπ e4 with the knight, because if you
touch ΟΠθ of your opponent's pieces you must take it if it is at all possible.
It would not have mattered if he had touched the opponent's Bc4 ΟΓ his
οννπ f7-pawn, since according to the rules he cannot move / take either.

If, ίπ the diagrammed position, the king had been οπ d8 instead of the
queen, touching the Nf6 ΟΓ the opponent's e4-pawn would have had πο
consequences since the knight could not legally move ΟΓ Black would be
ίπ check. Sometimes hobby players ννίll tell you that ίπ such a case you
must, as punishment, make a move with your king. There is πο such rule
ίπ tournament chess.

If it is not your move and you touch a piece, you have nothing to fear.
But it is wrong and impolίte to your opponent, who is being disturbed while
thinking - so you do not do that!

144 Chess for Kids and Parents

"Touch - move" can of course lead to arguments, when it is ΟΠθ
person's word against another's. But this rarely happens since, after a
short while, the idea of not touching a piece has become as automatic to
all tournament players as the automatic pressing of the clock..

Ιπ training the "touch - move" rule should be applied since you are
thinking of preparation for a tournament.

At least ίπ the last four weeks ΟΓ so before a tournament, you should
only allow a move to be taken back ίπ exceptional circumstances.

If you want to adjust the position of a piece οπ its square, you say
"J'adoube" ΟΓ "Ι adjust" before you touch it, which you should only really
do when it is your move and thus does not disturb your opponent.

Moreover, children should learn from the start to put the pieces ίπ the
centre of their squares - both when setting υρ the board and when making
a move. This saves unnecessary adjustments and, ίπ blitz and rapid
games, uncertainties about where a piece is positioned. Pieces which
have been taken should be placed a clear distance away from the edge of
the board, so that by accident a pawn, say, should not slip back οπ by
mistake!

Behaviour and sportsmanship

Ιπ tournament form, chess is a sport and thus subject to the rules of
sporting behaviour and fairness.

That starts with formalities. Like every sport, chess has its οννπ ritual:

At the start of every game, without exception, you greet your
opponent with a handshake.

When you lose, you congratulate your opponent with a handshake.

Not to do so is extremely bad manners and a sign of bad behaviour,
which makes a terrible impression οπ anyone seeing ίΙ

Of course, there are numerous other rules ίπ the "code of chess
behaviour":

You do ηοΙ speak Ιο your opponent when ίΙ is his/her move
(especially not if s/he is obviously thinking).

You do ηοΙ disturb your opponent by talking with a third party close to
the board, by eating ΟΓ drinking (food and drink do not belong close to a
chessboard and if ίπ the early stages of a game you are hungry ΟΓ thirsty,
you can eat ΟΓ drink elsewhere where it does not disturb others).

Being told what to do 145

This is not taken quite so seriously where children are concerned and it
probably disturbs them less. But οη health grounds it is probably not
advisable for children to stuff themselves with sweets while playing chess.
It is more sensible to give them a few sweets spread out over the day ΟΓ
for the purpose of consolation ΟΓ reward, ΟΓ better still fresh fruit ΟΓ
chewing gum to calm the nerves. This is better than trying to keep
nervousness at bay by constantly nibbling at something!

Υου do not offer a draw to your opponent several times ίη a row.

If he would like a draw later οη after your first offer, it is υρ to him to
suggest ίΙ It is off-putting if a player offers a draw every move - and οηθ
result might be that the annoyed opponent, who might perhaps have been
considering a draw, ηονν fights οη to the bitter end! And also the person
doing the annoying can be disqualified!

ΙΙ your opponent does note down the moves when short οΙ time
(this is not compulsory ίη the final 5 minutes before the time control, but
should be done if at all possible), then immediately after the 40th move
you let him see your οννη scoresheet so that he can complete his οννη
(the rules require this ίη any case, but it is good form to hand ΟVθΓ your
scoresheet to your opponent immediately after the time control and
without him having to ask).

As already said, things are not taken so seriously ίη children's chess
and do not have the same importance as ίη adult chess. But, right from
the start, you should accustom your child to the rules of sportsmanship
and of course be an example yourself. This includes showing respect to
your opponent - how can a child respect an opponent of whom you say:
'Ήθ is useless. Υου can beat that loser with οηθ hand tied behind your
back!"

Being told what to do

The greatest and most annoying problem ίη children's tournaments is
people telling children what to play. Many parents and trainers tell their
children the moves to play, especially of course if they are experienced
players themselves and can easily spot a good move ίη the child's game.
The child is discreetly taken from the board and receives an explanation of
what to do.

146 Chess for Kids and Parents

This is forbidden and ίπ serious cases can lead to the game being
declared a loss, to the child being disqualified from the tournament ΟΓ the
whisperer being banned from the room.

It is unfair to the other children and their parents.

But it is also stupid, because if this behaviour is common practice, the
children get used to looking more at daddy ΟΓ the trainer beside the board
rather than the position itself. Sport and chess are supposed to help your
child become independent and should give him ΟΓ her the chance to
achieve their οννπ little successes, which they can be proud of and which
develop and build υρ their self-confidence. Ηονν can a child be proud of
winning a game when s/he owes that to dad's knowledge and skill ίπ
telling the right answer without being caught out? And what ννίll the child
make of this injustice done to the opponent and of the latter's
disappointment?

The best thing is to take your child into the tournament room and then
stay as far as possible from his/her board, only looking at the state of the
game from time to time and inconspicuously (e.g. from behind).

Α tremendous example for all chess parents can be seen ίπ Rod
McShane, father of the former English child prodigy Luke McShane (World
υ1 Ο champion at eight and a half. Since then the prodigy has made it into
the World's top 50 players). Rod, who accompanied and looked after his
son for years and is himself very interested ίπ chess, only ever came into
the tournament room at infrequent intervals and almost always looked at
Luke's position from quite far away. Ιπ a big tournament ίπ Gelsenkirchen,
which was being televised οπ the commercial channel SAT1 for its sports
programme, he was asked to stand at the board behind Luke. He
categorically refused to do so and made the comment that it would be a
bad example to be taken οπ board by other chess parents. (Chess
prodigies are very interesting for TV, but do you have enough of them ίπ
your country?)

If possible have πο (and certainly πο long) conversations with your child
during the game. This can give rise to misinterpretations, especially if you
are more than a chess novice. And of course your child is dying to tell you
about the game and what s/he hopes to do, but you should absolutely
discourage this.

Being told what to do 147

If during a game one of my pupils proudly tells me: "If he plays such and
such, Ι can play ... ", then Ι quickly say to him something lίke: "Well, let's
see" and end the conversation immediately. If Ι see a ρυρίl looking at me
and trying to read from my expression how s/he is doing, Ι put on a poker
face, turn round at once and go away.

But you can see from the faces of many parents how (they think) their
child is doing: they stand beside the board grinning like a Cheshire cat ΟΓ
with a mournful expression. The first of these cases is particularly bad
form. Also, bobbing υρ and down disturbs the players and gets in the way
of other spectators ΟΓ the tournament director. Spectators should stand
Quietly and at sufficient distance from the board and show as lίttle emotion
as possible. Always think how intimidated and worried children may feel
when huge (in their eyes) adults crowd round the board, robbing them of
light and space.

Both to avoid problems and to aid the sporting and personal
development of your child, you should keep as far away as possible, avoid
ΟΓ cut to an absolute minimum any conversations during the game and
always behave in an appropriate and fair manner.

Ratings

Sooner ΟΓ later, you ννίll come υρ against the idea of what are called
chess "ratings". This is a number which tells you how strong a player is:
the higher the number, the greater the playing strength of the person. For
example, the World Champion is somewhat above 2800, a grandmaster
above 2500 and a good club player about 1800. The international ratings
are called "Εlο numbers" ΟΓ simply Εlο (named after the American
Professor Arpad Εlο, who developed the system in the 1950s). These are
never seen in children's tournaments and beginners' tournaments. In
these cases any ratings ννίll be those attributed by the national
federations.

ΑΙΙ such systems are based on complex mathematical formulas. Το
simplify, ννθ can say a result is calculated for each tournament based on
the deviation of your score from the average (50% of the available points).
This score and those from other tournaments go to making υρ your rating.
These ratings should not be taken too seriously by children, since they
change rapidly and because in the early days chance plays a great part.

148 Chess for Kids and Parents

Information about tournaments

It can be a real problem finding information about tournaments for
children. If you are a member of a chess club - ΟΓ by chance know such
a member - you can perhaps come by such information. ΗοννθνθΓ,
smaller clubs without a youth section are often not as ννθll informed as all
that.

If you are having to look for yourself, the first point of contact is the
internet, but not all tournaments are advertised οη it and it is not so easy
to come υρ with the correct search words. Υου ννίll certainly find a whole
host of open tournaments, which are almost without exception unsuitable
for young children and beginners. These tournaments can last several
days (usually 4 ΟΓ 9) and the players are almost always too strong (at
least when measured by the standards of children ΟΓ beginners).

Υου can perhaps find information οη the homepage of your national ΟΓ
regional federation οη page 204, ΟΓ perhaps local leagues and clubs.
Most local and regional tournaments are advertised there. Should you find
nothing, then try e-mailing your federation, league, etc.

If you /ίνθ near a border of some sort ΟΓ between two /arge cities, you
shou/d /ook into what is happening ίπ the federation next door, οπ the
other side of the nationa/, county ΟΓ regiona/ border.

Their junior chess co-ordinator is usually the correct contact and can
perhaps also give you tips οη which is the correct club for you to choose
for your child. Unfortunately many clubs are not very media orientated ΟΓ
the local press is not very interested ίη chess, so that there are few ΟΓ ηο
reports οη chess ίη the local papers. Sometimes, however, a chess
columnist ίη a local paper may have some information to help you ΟΓ at
least a contact address to pass on.

Ιη every country there are chess magazines which appear (usually
monthly) and which can be bought ίη newsagents and bookshops. They
normally carry a comprehensive tournament calendar with short
descriptions of all sorts of tournaments at home and abroad and often
extensive reports οη such events.

Of course it is a question of luck whether there are any tournaments
(above all tournaments for children) close to where you lίνθ. But there
should be something within a couple of hours driving. Perhaps the chess
tournament can form part of a family outing?

Information about tournaments 149

If Υου have found the correct tournament Υου can enter ΥουΓ child.

Some tournaments allow Υου to simply turn υρ and play at short notice,
but that can also cause problems if too many turn υρ at the last moment -
there might be πο room, πο sets ΟΓ clocks left and anyone who arrives
then is doomed to be a spectator!

Make things easier for the tournament organisers by confirming the
entry by letter ΟΓ e-mail; this means they can plan more accurately
(tables, chairs, chess equipment, scoresheets, certificates, prizes and
possibly even drinks and snacks... Α lot of work goes into organising a
tou rnament!).

Υου can only take part ίπ official championships (Iocal, regional) if Υου
are a member of a chess club ΟΓ federation. For higher level
championships, Υου sometimes have to pre-qualίfy ΟΓ give proof of a
certain playing level (see "ratings"). But ίπ Open tournaments, shortened
to Opens, anyone can take part, πο matter how weak ΟΓ strong they are.
(But sometimes these tournaments are divided into sections limited to
players below a certain strength. Υου and ΥουΓ child need not worry about
that for the moment. And finally, some of these Opens also have sections
for children.)

Ιπ almost all cases there is an entry fee for the tournament. It does not
usually cost much for children's and beginners' tournaments.

Some tournaments allow Υου to pay this ίπ cash οπ the day, for others
Υου can/must send ίπ ΥουΓ fee ίπ advance. If this is possible, Υου should
do it since it avoids standing ίπ a long queue at the start.

Usually playing equipment is provided by the organisers, which is very
practical for the players but not the case everywhere ίπ the world. Ιπ the
USA Υου can recognise chess players οπ their way to a tournament, since
they are carrying the official equipment bag of the US - Chess Federation,
containing a rolled-up chessboard, the pieces and a clock!

Each tournament normally produces a leaflet, containing all important
information: vΘπυΘ and timetable, contact address, thinking time, entry fees,
prizes (not quite so important ίπ ουΓ case, but they can whet ουΓ appetite for
later!), places to stay (above all for longer tournaments), sometimes other
information, about for eχample where to eat. When tournaments take place
ίπ smaller towns, Υου should find out about this ίπ advance, since often
there are fewer places at weekends which may throw Υου back οπ whatever
the organisers have provided ίπ the way of sustenance. Things can be

150 Chess for Kids and Parents

difficult if you have special dietary needs (e.g. if you are vegetarian).
Decide whether you would be better taking along a picnic basket ΟΓ buying
something οπ the way to the tournament.

Most weekend tournaments begin at 1Ο o'clock ίπ the morning, and ίπ
many cases there is also a round οπ the Friday evening.

How tournaments work

Knockout (ΚΟ) tournaments are rarely found ίπ chess; Ι do not know of
a single ΟΠθ ίπ children's chess.

Small tournaments at club leνel are usually all play all (each player
plays all the others, υρ to 1Ο participants) ΟΓ divided into preliminary and
final rounds.

When there are more participants, things are usually run according to
the so-called Swiss System. Α fixed number of rounds is played (e.g. 50r
7), and at each round Ρθορlθ are matched against others who have
scored the same number of points. Let us take an example of a
tournament with 100 participants:

Participants are listed according to their ratings (those without ratings
are added to the end of the list ίπ alphabetical order). Then the 50
strongest play against the 50 weakest (the two halves of the draw having
been established) according the method 1-51, 52-2,3-53, 54-4 etc. This is
how it is arranged that strong and weak players soon manage to have
games against opponents of similar strength.

Ιπ the first round, 50 games are played. Supposing there are 48 decisive
games and 2 draws. Νονν the 48 winners are paired together, the 4 who
drew play amongst each other and the 48 losers are matched against
each other. At the end of round 2 there are πονν different groups with 2,
1Υ2 , 1, Υ2 and Ο points; each player is then once agai n paired against
another from the same group ίπ the next round.

Of course things do not always work out exactly and then players are
moved ("floated") into the group above ΟΓ below. Νο player may play the
same opponent twice, and as far as possible changes colour with θνθΓΥ
round. But, for example, if someone had to have two Blacks ίπ a Γονν, ίπ
the next round s/he automatically gets a White.

Thus after, for example, 7 rounds ννθ can be reasonably sure of having
a tournament ννίΠΠθΓ. The idea is simple, carrying it out more difficult and
therefore often done by computer software. The logic behind

At the tournament - The great day has arrived! 151

computerised draws (not really a draw, since the pairings are settled byan
algorithm) sometimes escapes human understanding. But you should trust
the tournament director and accept the pairings as they are. Τhe idea held
by many people that the computer has "made a mistake" ίπ a pairing is
obviously wrong. Either the whole draw is obviously wrong ΟΓ it is correct -
unlίke humans, computers do not do things by halves.

ΑΙ the tournament - The great day has

arrived!

Νονν the great day has arrived and the family (at least those who are
enthusiastic about chess) is off οπ an adventure.

It makes sense to pack everything calmly the night before and check
that all important stuff is οπ board. Above all the tournament brochure with
the address of the premises should be ίπ a safe place, ΟΓ better still ίπ the

car already. If the tournament is far away from home, then a road atlas

and a Ιοννπ plan (this can often be downloaded from the internet
homepage of the town) are certainly helpful.

Leave ίη good time and think about possible traffic jams and the
unexpected. Υου can also be delayed by narrow city centre streets and
parking problems - even οπ a Sunday morning, since other parents are
driving to the tournament too - as ννθll as just looking for the tournament
venue! But it is also not worth arriving there an hour before the start,
because unfortunately not all chess tournaments start οπ time and delays
of 30-60 minutes are not uncommon. However, don't count οπ that!

Venues can be all sorts of rooms: school rooms ΟΓ halls, community
centres, hotel rooms, canteens ...

There ννίll long rows of chessboards and clocks set ουΙ Somewhere you
ννίll see a place set υρ for registration (usually already surrounded by a
throng of people). Sometimes there are computers there, for receiving
information about the players and which ννίll later be used Ιο determine the
pairings. Many organisers prefer to do that ίπ the peace and quiet of a
side room and at the registration desk there are only lists and a payment

ροίπΙ

Because, even if you have entered and paid your fees, you must sign ίπ.
Τhis is known as registration.

152 Chess for Kids and Parents

It serves to determine that all the players are actually present, because
if at short notice you did not turn up, then your child would be out of the
draw and his/her opponent would receive a walkover, which of course is
not what such tournaments are about. 80 you and your child both go - so
that s/he gets used to this - to the registration desk; you give the name (or
better, the child does this!) and state that you have paid your entry fee, ΟΓ
if you have not then please have the correct money ready. This wίll make
things quick and simple.

Νοw you have a lίttle time left. The best thing to do is to get an idea of
the building's layout. First and most important, where are the toilets?
Where can you get something to eat ΟΓ drink? Where are the other rooms
(analysis room) where you can go after the game?

Knowing these things is reassuring for the child and a good diversion. Ιπ
the meantime, the room becomes fuller and fuller and more and more
people press round the entry desk ΟΓ sit around ίπ the room, usually
playing blitz chess. Look around a bit ΟΓ take a little walk outside for a
breather.

At some point there wίll be an announcement that things are starting, a
list of participants and Iists of the pairings for round 1 wίll be pinned υρ
and immediately surrounded by a throng of players. 80metimes for the
first round the players' names are called out and they are shown to their
seat. After some hectic moments and some searching for the correct
board (as a rule there are numbers οπ the tables) everyone is finally
seated at his/her place.

Usually there are a couple of introductory speeches, but then the
tournament director takes ονθΓ and announces something lίke: "Play may
ποw start" ΟΓ "Please start White's clock".

The players all shake hands and immediately start the clocks. Then a
number of moves are made ίπ quick succession. For a few minutes there
is the noise of the clocks being stopped and started and the sound of
pieces hitting the boards. It sounds more lίke a table tennis tournament
than chess. But gradually the excitement of the first moves dies down and
things become quieter.

If it is a rapid tournament, the first games are often ονθΓ after a few
minutes. This may be due to errors ΟΓ blunders, but also draws. Ιπ many
tournaments each board receives a slip of paper to record the result: it is
filled ίπ and signed by the players. The wίΠΠθΓ takes the slip to the

What to do when your child is beaten ΟΓ when s/he wins 153

tournament arbiter ΟΓ to a box for such slips. If it is a draw, this is White's
job. Ιπ other tournaments you go υρ and tell the tournament arbiter. If πο
result is handed ίπ, the arbiter can score the game as 0:0. So ίπ the joy of
victory, do not forget to hand ίπ your result!

After the game the players often analyse, ί.θ. they discuss what might
have happened if ΟΠθ side had played this ΟΓ that move. This is instructive
and interesting. Weaker players especially should be happy if their
opponent analyses with them and explains a few things, even if they are
still getting ονθΓ their defeat. Analysis often happens ίπ the tournament
room (actually not allowed) ΟΓ ίπ a side room, where you can talk normally.
But unfortunately it soon gets noisy ίπ the analysis room, especially if
people are playing exciting blitz chess all the time.

What ιο do when your child is beaten ΟΓ when

s/he wins

One peculiarity of the Swiss system is that at the start it pairs the
strongest players against the weakest. So for the first two rounds
beginners can become discouraged since their opponents are simply
much too strong for them. So the chance that your child wίll very quickly
lose is frighteningly high. So you should stay nearby, ίπ order to console
and encourage after a frustrating defeat. Even Bobby Fischer, the famous
American World Champion and for a long time the strongest player ίπ the
world, lost his first organised chess game within a few minutes (it was a
simultaneous exhibition - a master playing against umpteen weaker
players - but the 7 year old had thought he was better than that) and
Bobby ran out of the hall ίπ tears - the first setback ίπ a magnificent
career!

Ιπ simultaneous exhibitions a strong player / chess master plays
against a lot of weaker players (usua//yapprox. 20 - 40). The players sit
οπ the outside of a series of tables set υρ ίπ a υ formation. The master is

ίπ the inside.

He goes from board (ο board, makes a move and when he arrives back at
a board (after completing his round) the player must make the reply.

CΙocks are genera//y not used and writing down the moves is voluntary,
but common. Of course there is some showmanship involved and the

main reason is (ο a//ow a lot of amateurs (ο meet a prominent chess
master. But since the master is working under a considerable handicap
and can only spend seconds οπ each move, the chances for a surprise
win by ΟΠθ of the amateurs are quite high. It also represents a chance for

154 Chess for Kids and Parents

young p/ayers to draw attention to themse/ves and the start of many a

chess career: e.g. at the age of 14, Mikhail Botvinnik, who wou/d /ater
become Wor/d Champion severa/ times, defeated the then Wor/d

Champion Jose Rau/ Capab/anca in a simu/taneous disp/ay.

Even many adults who have been playing for years react badly to
defeat, especially if it has been quick and crushing. So you cannot blame
a child for shedding a few tears after a defeat.

In such cases, tell your child that the defeat was not a bad one and that
it was to be expected. Remind him ΟΓ her of the way the SWiSS system
works: how you get the strongest opponents first. Remind him ΟΓ her that
the others have been playing chess for much longer, that they are
perhaps older and, in any case, they have much more experience. After a
little while, the first pangs of grief should fade away.

Look through the game together and work out what could have been
done better ΟΓ why the defeat occurred.

It iS very important that children always know that parents ΟΓ trainers are
there for them, even if they have played ever so badly ΟΓ have fallen far
short of expectations. Parents and trainers should share with the child the
joy of victory, but also the misery of defeat; but above all they should
always be 110% behind the child!

Naturally this is not an excuse for continually weak performances, lack
of discipline ΟΓ poor attitudes in training. In such cases solutions and
agreements need to be sought together, even if it means saying things
lίke: "lf you don't want to train regularly, then there is no point in going to
the tοurnamenΙ"

Sometimes parents who are ΟVΘΓ keen to see their child do well find it
difficult to adopt the correct attitude at such points.

But sometimes everything goes well. Your child has a surprising win ΟΓ
holds out for a long time. This gives you all the more pleasure. But it is
important not to set the bar of expectation too high. It is a long tournament
and lots can happen. In the rounds which follow, in any case, opponents
ννίll be more cautious!

After the end of the round and a break, new pairings are pinned υρ and
it all starts again, though things ννίll go a bit smoother since things have
settled down.

After two ΟΓ three rounds, in addition to the results and pairings sheets,
a new table may be pinned up. At first glance this looks a bit complicated.

What to do when your child is beaten ΟΓ when s/he wins 155

According to their place οπ the leader board (at the start usually shared by
various players) ννθ have: Name, First name, Club and the following
headings: Games played, Number ννοπ, drawn ΟΓ lost, total points. Then
there may be something called the Buchholz score.

This is a second way of scoring (after the points ννίπ) which can be used
to decide between players οπ the same final score. It is made υρ from the
score of points made by all those you have played against. It is used as a
"tie-break" deciding which player has performed better. At the start the
Buchholz score is naturally the highest when you lose: e.g. if the score is
012 points it could be 2 Buchholz points, because both your opponents
have ννοπ. For the foreseeable future the Buchholz score ΟΓ other such
systems ννίll have πο real importance for you. Later you can use them to
see if someone ίπ, for example, the middle spot ίπ a tournament did ννθll at
the start and fell back ΟΓ rather caught υρ towards the end. Ιπ the latter
case it may have been a weaker performance.

At the start your goal must be to get real points, all the rest is of πο
importance.

Το give you an idea of what to expect, let's have a look at an example of
a tournament leader board for a fictitious tournament taking place ίπ a
fictional village ίπ England.

Ιπ the table a rating ίπ bold type is an Εlο rating. W Ι D Ι Ι means
Wins Ι Draws Ι Losses. Different type of tables are possible, since the
tournament director can set it out ίπ different ways ΟΓ use different
computer programmes to produce ίΙ

Junior Open Ambridge 2009

Leader board: standings after round 8

Place ΡaήίcίΡant Rating Club/Town W D L Points Buchholz
6.5 38
1 Snell, Linda 2235 Ambridge 53Ο 6.5 36
6 39
2 Smith, John 2087 Yorkshire 53Ο 5.5 37.5
5.5 36.5
3 Fife, Fay 1892 Edinburgh 44Ο 5.5 32
5 38
4 Duchamρ, Marcel 1911 Paris 431

5 Wayne, John 1888 Texas 5 12

6 Doe,Jane 2053 Bolton 352

7 Bloggs, JoseQh 1751 London 422

156 Chess for Kids and Parents

As a rule after some rounds (i.e. ίπ a rapid chess tournament) there is a
longer lunch break. For beginners, who generally play much too quickly
and lose much too quickly also, there are many long pauses during a
tournament. It makes sense to bring along cards ΟΓ board games ΟΓ
reading material (for the parents) to fill out the pauses and waiting time.
Perhaps you ννίll also get to know other parents and children and can
maybe do something together.

It makes absolutely πο sense to bring along school books and jotters.
There is hardly any child ίπ the world who could concentrate οπ
schoolwork during the excitement of a tournament, especially since s/he
would always be being snatched away from ίΙ This is also true for
tournaments that last more than one day. From the departure for the
tournament till the return home, the children (and usually the parents too!)
are ίπ a different world, which leaves lίttle space for anything else. 80 be
reaIistic and Ieave all that excess baggage at home!

8hould there be πο time left for homework - perhaps the tournament
went οπ longer than planned οπ a 8unday - write a friendly note to the
teacher. The experience of a first ever chess tournament is after all more
important ίπ a child's lίfe than a little homework - and according to all
experience ίπ the matter, it ννίll certainly not lead to the child not being
abIe to become a teacher later ίπ lίfe ΟΓ missing out οπ the Nobel ΡΓίΖθ!

Υου must always bear ίπ mind that - especially for younger children -
an event Iike a chess tournament ίπ a strange environment is a great and
exciting step. We hard-boiled adults can all too easily forget that!

It explains the nerves and the apparently inexplicable number of
mistakes made by the young people. Υου must expect your child to play
some 30-50% worse ίπ a tournament than ίπ a home environment. 80 you
should consider the first tournament results from a critical distance. Many
a ννίΠΠθΓ is only a bit more solid ΟΓ mature than others of his/her οννπ age.
Many children who know success early οπ later disappear into the crowd
while others surge forward. ΑlθΧθί 8hirov, an absolutely world class
player, learned the rules as a child, completely forgot them, then learned
them again and rapidly turned into a very powerful player.

80 early experiences do not enable us to predict the future and should
be looked οπ indulgently.

At last the tournament is over and at the prize-giving ceremony they
hand out prizes, cups, certificates, etc.

What to do when your child is beaten ΟΓ when s/he wins 157

It can take 30-60 minutes from the end of play until the ceremony. This
is not caused by the organisers being slow workers - quite the opposite,
most of the time they are working at feverish speed - but because it iS
only the final games which decide all the placings and prizes. Any
Buchholz scores which decide between those οπ equal points have to be
completed when all the games are "ίπ the bag". Then ΡΓίΖθ winners for the
different categories have to be worked out, certificates written, lists printed
and everything checked through carefully once more. Questions from
participants ΟΓ parents have to be answered, sometimes the press is there
wanting facts for an article... Believe me, there is a reason why
tournament organisers and directors are often completely exhausted at
the end of a tournament!

Ιπ children's tournaments there is often a small ΡΓίΖθ for everybody and
also often a certificate with details of place and points. There are usually
cups for, say, the first three, the best girl ΟΓ possibly the best ίπ each age
grouping if several groupings are playing ίπ the same section (e.g. υ8 and
U10).

Ιπ many tournaments all the participants are called υρ ΟΠθ after another
according to their place ίπ the table to receive their ΡΓίΖθ and certificate.
(Personally Ι do not consider this a good idea. What chίld enjoys being
called last of all to receive a certificate for 111 th place?)

It is usually good for a child when you wait for the prize-giving. It is part
of the tournament and of the whole experience. But if the tournament did
not work out all that well ΟΓ the child is very tired, (and you are perhaps
faced with a long journey home and getting υρ early οπ Monday morning),
then leave after the last round. But if you do so, you should take your
leave from the tournament organiser ΟΓ director, thanking him/her for the
work and explaining that you must leave because the journey is long ΟΓ
because your child is very tired. Even if you have had problems and did
not agree with all that happened, you should always respect the fact that
all this work is done voluntarily and without payment by chess lovers.

It is easy to criticise, but a whole lot harder to do it better yourself!
Unfortunately many chess players do not accept this and they sometimes
have strange, unrealistic ΟΓ even insolent remarks to make. (As an
organiser there is a tale ΟΓ two Ι could tell!)

Of course the journey home is a good opportunity to talk ΟVθΓ what has
happened, to celebrate ΟΓ to commiserate and of course to make plans for
the future.

158 Chess for Kids and Parents

What comes next?

Even if everything did not quite go as was hoped, probably everybody
involved enjoyed the chess tournament and playing in another one goes
without saying.

This is a good chance to continue and step υρ the training! First of all
you should go through together all the games played at the tournament
and keep an eye open for mistakes, improvements and missed chances -
the best thing would be if you could get help from someone who plays in a
club and knows a bit more about the game.

This is called (game) analysis. This is one of the most important ways
to improve. In chess, more than in almost anything else, you learn so
much from your mistakes!

It is important for analysis to be done objectively and calmly. ΑΙΙ young
chess players must learn to admit their mistakes. It wasn't just "stupid" like
missing a shot in football ΟΓ an opponent clipping the net in tennis. It was
a mistake, ΟΓ at least an inaccurate move, that the opponent was able to
θχρlοίΙ There is in chess really no such thing as "Iuck". Performance,
ability and knowledge make the difference. (The only good ΟΓ bad luck
might be, for eχample, meeting an opponent who is sick ΟΓ playing below
his/her best ΟΓ getting the colour you wanted against a specific opponent.
But statistically speaking, this evens out ΟVθΓ time - and even a sniffling
opponent with a dripping nose still has to be beaten!)

So, from early on teach your child the value of objectivity, of being able
to say: "Ι did that wrong. Ι didn't know that. Ι could have found a better
continuation here. It was silly not to calculate a bit further here", etc.

Even after a win, objective self-criticism is cal'ed for. Perhaps the
opponent could have played better here and would not have lost?
Perhaps you could have done better here, and let's see if ννθ can fill this
gap in ουΓ knowledge?

Unfortunately, many chess players boast about their great victories and
have a very selective memory when it comes to their defeats, which in any
case ννθΓθ only bad luck! For that reason, thousands of chess players
make the same mistakes year after year and hardly learn anything from
them.

Whoever has been taught ways of analytical and objective thinking and
planning, ννίll find lots of ways to make use of these skills later on in lίfe!

Chess coaches 159

If it has not already happened, you should set your sights on joining a
chess club. Το tell the truth, it becomes a bit onerous at first, because you
have to take your child to the club and at the start even wait for the
evening in the club. After that, for a certain time you ννίll have to collect
your child from the club when it has finished. But it is worth the effort,
since in the club your child ννίll have a lot of different opponents and there
is absolutely no quicker way to learn. Even the best training programme
cannot replace the multiplicity of different ways people play and their
techniques. If the club does not have a special junior section, perhaps you
can find one of the members who is willing to play with your child for an
hour before ΟΓ during the club and to explain some things to him/her
during that time.

Υου ννίll perhaps also find a younger club member who is willing, for a

small fee, to come to your house and coach your child. Don't be too mean

here, because a tennis coach ΟΓ a music lesson would usually cost a lot
more (a very great lot more!) than a chess coach. Α young coach usually
suits children much more than the chess "fuddy-duddy" type. Especially
for an only child, there is a lot to be said for the big brother type.

Chess coaches

It is sometimes difficult to find professional chess coaches for children.
Especially since many chess coaches are accustomed to working with
particularly gifted and committed children and do not have sufficient
command of the psychological and pedagogical techniques which would
enable them to best develop a specific child - quite independently of what
talent5 may be there. Many coaches have false expectations of what the

5 Chess ta/ent iS not of an innate and fίxed size, but ί' chess iS /earned and practised

at a young age, it iS quite capab/e of being deve/oped. The majority of chi/dren certain/y

possess in sufficient measure the minima/ physica/ and menta/ gifts to enab/e them to be

successfu/ chess p/ayers. Moreover, it appears that a /ack of ta/ent can be compensated

for by training and the wίll to succeed.

The Hungarian Lasz/o Po/gar and his wife raised their three daughters with chess
from their earlίest chi/dhood, and all three became extreme/y successfu/. Judit, the
youngest, even managed to be the first woman to break into the abso/ute wor/d elίte of
men's chess. Today, all ΟVθΓ the wor/d chίldren are being coached very ear/y and very

intensive/y and thus achieve at a very young age considerab/e p/aying strength and even

the title of master. The record for the youngest grandmaster is 12 years and 7 months
and is he/d by the young Ukrainian Sergey Karjakin, who even at the age of 11 acted as

a second to his compatriot Rus/an Ponomariov in the Wor/d Championship fίna/e.

160 Chess for Kids and Parents

children can achieve. And many only coach for the money; while this may
be understandable, ίπ many cases it gives only average results. Α good
teacher has a vocation and loves what s/he is doing. Ιπ my life Ι have
known some excellent coaches and all of those ννθΓθ to a great extent
people who had a passion for what they ννθΓθ doing.

Ιπ the early stages the coach's commitment is more important than
chess strength. Child beginners can still learn a lot from a weak club
player and a positive attitude and faith ίπ the ρυρίl are great supports to
the latter's motivation!

Ιπ junior sections of chess clubs children may have the company of
others of the same age but they make only slow progress. There are too
many children for too few coaches. Also, from the start many groups
contain a broad spectrum of playing strengths. The coach then tries to
motivate and keep together all the children, resulting often ίπ too little time

being available for each individual child. If you do some more coaching at

home with your child ΟΓ encourage him/her to train independently, this can
help bridge this gap.

But it is basically a good thing if your child is learning to cope with
people of a similar age (or who are perhaps slightly older) and can
measure and prove his/her performance ίπ internal tournaments and team
matches.

Ιπ some countries there are team championships ίπ the different age
groupings (usually starting only with the U12) and these may take place at
local, regional ΟΓ even nationallevel. Being chosen for a team and able to
play ίπ its matches is of course a motivating experience for a child.

If there is nothing lίke this ίπ your area, then at first all you are left with is
training (or coaching) at home. But keep looking to see if you can find
some opportunity for games. Perhaps there is some sort of school chess
club, where your chίld might be allowed to play from time to time?
Perhaps ίπ your neighbourhood ΟΓ circle of friends and acquaintances you
ννίll come across people who play (or have played) club chess ΟΓ at the

Of course these are totaI exceptions. Α "normaI" chiId is happy to reach average cIub
strength by the age of 12-13. OnIy 5% of young chess beginners θνθΓ reach average cIub
strength ΟΓ better, and what decides who does is often not so much taIent as the wiII to
succeed, disciplίne and motivation.

In any case a good coach can encourage and deveIop taIent, but must pay due regard

to the ρυρίΙ and his/her personalίty.

And finally... 161

very least some who play it as a hobby and are very good? There is
perhaps outdoor chess ίπ the nearest park where your child can play
against other chess lovers? Even that would help!

Ιπ any case try to help your child take part ίπ a few tournaments. After a
few children's and junior tournaments, s/he can perhaps have a go at ΟΠΘ
of the bigger open tournaments, where it is mainly adults who are playing.
Your child ννίll soon adapt to the ΠΘνν situation and learn qUΊckly. Also
most chess players are nice to children and help them get over any defeat
they may have. But for the first 3-4 times, you should choose children's
and junior tournaments, so that the leap is not too great!

And finally...

Ι hope you have enjoyed this training programme and working and
playing together with your chίld and that the hours you haνe spent
together have been exciting and interesting.

80, enjoy your chess,

your author and coach

Heinz Brunthaler

162 Chess for Kids and Parents

Power Test

The final POWER TEST sums υρ the contents of the book, but brings ίη
some new material, as ννΘ think forward to more training. If the result is
under approx. 50%, the material has not been well enough understood. Ιη
that case, revise the various sections gradually and let your child take the
test again.

There is a certificate, which the child should receive after successfully
passing the Power Test (50%). It is ίη the appendix for you to copy (e.g.
οη to coloured paper ΟΓ better still coloured card) and to present to your
child when s/he has passed the test.

Ιη the positions ίΙ is White Ιο play, unless stated otherwise.
One ροίηΙ ννίll be awarded for each correct answer.

1 Black Ιο move POWERTEST
abcde f 2

ab cde f

7
6
5
4

3
2

Power Test 163

3 4 Black to move

abcde f
8
77
66
55

4
33
22

5 Black to move 6 Black to move

a bcde f abcde f
8
7

33
22

164 Chess for Kids and Parents
7
8 3
9 2
abcde
8
7
6
5

4

2

10

abcde f
8
7

Power Test 165

11 Black 10 move 12

abcde f

13 3
2
abc
14
7
3
6 2
5
4
3

166 Chess for Kids and Parents
16
15 b
2
a

8
7

6
5

17 Blaek to move 18

abcde f

2

Power Test 167

19 20

7
6
5
4

21 Black to moνe 22 Black to moνe

168 Chess for Kids and Parents
23
24

7
6
5
4

25 Black Ιο move 26

PowerTest 169

27 Black Ιο moνe 28

29 30

7
6
5

170 Chess for Kids and Parents

31 32 Black to move
abcde f

2

33 Black to move 34

abcde

8

5

Power Test 171

35 Black to move 36 Black to move

abcde f

6
5

3
2

37 38

172 Chess for Kids and Parents

39 40

abcde f 8
7
6 2
5
4
3
2

ΡοννθΓ Test 173

Solutions Ιο the POWER ΤESΤ
1 1...Bf6-d4+ The bishop skewers king and rook

2.Ke3-d2 Bd4xg1 and thus wins the exchange.

2 1.Qh3xh7#

3 1.Re7xh7+ Rh8xh7 2.Qb7xh7#

4 1...Nc6xd4 White had protected the e4-pawn with Bf1-d3 and
ίπ doing so quite overIooked the fact that the queen is πο Ionger
protecting the Nd4! (This was a SiciIian, but it can aIso occur ίπ
the Scotch!).

5 1...Nh5-f4+ The g3-pawn is pinned and may not capture and
so the knight fork wins the queen!

6 1...Bc8-g4 and the skewer wins the rook!

7 With the support of the knight, the bishop can here ρίπ the
queen against the king:
1.Bc4-e6

8 1.Kf3-f2 Kh1-h2 2.Rc4-h4#
ΟΓ 1.Kf3-g3 Kh1-g1 2.Rc4-c1#
Α move Ionger, but aIso good is:
1.Rc4-h4+ Kh1-g1 2.Rh4-h3 Kg1-f1 3.Rh3-h1#
ΟΓ 1.Rc4-c1+ Kh1-h2 2.Rc1-f1 Kh2-h33.Rf1-h1#

9 1.Be3-c5 Kf8-e7 and do not take at once but attack with
2.Rf1-d1 (White's rook cannot be taken because the Rd6 is
pinned!) and you ννίπ the whoIe rook!

10 1.Be3-b6 Α defender is driven away
Rd8-c8 and 2.Qd2xd5 wins a pawn.

11 1...Nf3xg5+ Ιπ a discovered check, the knight can take
anything it can reach - it couId aIso have take the h4-pawn
without fear, but of course the bishop is worth more.

174 Chess for Kids and Parents

12 1.Bb5xc6 d7xc6?? The d7-pawn is pinned. If it takes, the
queen is lost to 2.Qd1 xd8+. But if not, ΟΠθ of the two rooks
being attacked is lost.
Here ννθ have a ρίπ plus a double attack!

13 The queen οπ d8 is only protected by the king. If White can
entice the king away, he ννίll ννίπ the queen!
1.Bc4xf7+ Ke8-e7 (1 ... Ke8xf7?? 2.Qd1 xd8)
2.Bc1-g5+ Ng8-f6 Unfortunately Black can block the check
with the knight, otherwise the queen would be 10sΙ So White
remains a pawn υρ with a lead ίπ development:

3.Qd1 xd8+ Ke7xd8 4.0-0-0+
14 1.f2-f4 wins ΟΠθ of the two knights!

15 Ιπ the sample exercises, you saw that it is not always a piece
standing behind the pinned piece, but something of greater
value, such as mate. This is what happens here:
1.Rf1-c1 Qc5-f8 [1 ...Qc5-e5? 2. Rc1-c8#]
2.Rc1-c8+ Qf8xc8 3.Be6xc8

16 White ννίll ννίπ if he can get his king οπ to the 6th rank ahead of
his pawn. SO:
1.Ka4-b5 Kf6-e7 [or 1... Kf6-e6] 2.Kb5-c6 Ke7-d8 3.c3-c4 h7-
h6 4.h3-h4 h6-h5 5.Kc6-b7 Kd8-d7 6.c4-c5 and the passed
pawn cannot be stopped.

17 1...g7-g6 2.Ne5xg6 Qe7xe4+ 3.Bf1-e2 Qe4xg6
and Black has ννοπ a knight.

18 1.Nd5xf6+ Black has πο chance against the double check by
bishop and knight.
1...Kg8-h8 2.Nf6xd7 and the queen is lost.
And 1.Nd5-b6+ Kg8-h8 2.Nb6xd7 also wins the _queen.

19 1.f2-f4 and the bishop is lost, since it πο longer has a retreat

s~uare.

Power Test 175

20 1.d2-d4(or d3)+ g7-g5 2.h2-h4 and no matter what Black
plays, he no longer has a defence against the threat Bc1 xg5+ ΟΓ
h4xg5+ losing the queen ΟΓ being mated.

21 1...0g4-f3 and Of3-g2# can be delayed but not prevented!

22 Here Black can even chose which pawn to win with his
discovered attack:
1...Bd6xa3 2.b2xa3 Od5xd3 and Black has won a pawn, but
much better, because it is more forcing, is:
1...Bd6xg3+ 2.Be1 xg3 Od5xd3 also winning a pawn.

23 1.e4-e5 and the pinned Nf6 is lost.

24 1.0h5xh7# Naturally the Bd6 is also under attack but so is
your queen. Anyway, mate is always better!

25 1...Nc6-b8 The knight retreats and comes back into the game
via the squares d7 and b6 (or c5).
After 1...Nc6-a5 2.Bc4-d3 then b2-b4 threatens to win the
knight. Nor is 1...Nc6-b4 2.a2-a3 Nb4-a6 3.Bc4xa6 b7xa6
especially good for Black.

26 1.Rh1-h7+ Kg7xh7 2.0e7xf7+ winning the queen.

27 1...Kc8-b8
and into the corner, then you have made sure of the draw!
2.a6-a7+ Kb8-a8 3.Kb6-a6 Stalemate!

28 1.0a5xc7# is better than the "clever" 1.Nb5-a7+ winning the
queen with a discovered attack.

176 Chess for Kids and Parents

29 The simplest solution is 1.Nd5xc7+ (knight fork).
1...Ke8-f8 and πονν it is a good idea first to defend your bishop

which is under attack, because the Ra8 cannot get away from
you!

2.b2-b3 Qa4-d7 3.Nc7xa8 Qd7xd4 4.Bd2-e3
and Black must exchange queens, because otherwise he
loses even more after Qd1-d8+!
1.Bc4-b5+ is the second, very nice solution, but it is hard to
spot!

1...Qa4xb5 2.Nd5xc7+ Ke8-f8 3.Nc7xb5 wins the queen -
and 2 extra poinIs for you if you found this solution!

30 1.Nb5-d4 Rc2xa2 2.Nd4xf5 wins a piece!
[1.b3-b4 Na5-b72.Nb5-d4 Rc2xa2 3.Nd4xf5 is even a bit

better, because this way you can save the b-pawn; but this is a
nuance for really advanced players]

31 1.Ne5-c6+ winning the queen - the knight discovery trick from
the Petroff Defence!

32 1...Qd8-c7+ 3.Kh2-g1 Qc7xc4 and Black has ννοπ the piece
back with the double attack.

33 1...Bc5xe3 and White cannot take:
2.f2xe3 Qg7xg2#
2.g2-g3 does not save him either because of the ρίπ οπ the f2-

pawn:
2...Qg7xg3+ 3.Kg1-h1 Qg3-g2#

34 1.Re7-e5+ Kh5-h4 2.g2-g3#
[2.Rg7-g4+ Qa4xg4 3.g2-g3+ Qg4xg3+ 4.f2xg3# is also a

possible solution]
35 Απ instant's lack of attention by White and it has happened:

1...Bf8-c5+ winning the rook!

36 1...Qd8-d4 attacks the knight and the pawn and wins back the
pawn (from the "Ruy Lopez")

ΡοννθΓ Test 177

37 1.Bc4-b5#

38 1.Rd1-d7 and White wins the Be7 by this double attack. Α lίttle
care is still reqUΊred as 1...Qc7-c6 threatens mate on g2. 80
2.Qe6xc6 Bb7xc6 and only then 3.Rd7xe7. Let's be careful out
there!

39 1.b2-b3 The bishop is blocked in and picked υρ by the king ΟΓ
the rook.

1...Rd6-a6 2.Kc1-b2 Kg8-f8 3.Rh1-a1 and wins the bishop.

1...a7-a5 does not save the bishop either:

2.Kc1-b2 a5-a4 3.Kb2xa2 a4xb3+ 4.Ka2xb3

[4.c2xb3? Rd6-d2+ Watch out! 8kewer! Or: Easy come, easy
go! Even if you win something, you must continue to pay
attention!]

40 1.Bc4xf7+ Kg8xf7 2.Rb4xd4

White won the exchange by a discovered check - always
watch out for situations where your opponent can make a
discovered attack!

178 Chess for Kids and Parents

Evaluation

36-42 Υου are a real Chess Tίger! Many adult club players with
points years of experience would not reach this total! Your parents

should be thinking about buying a display case as a proper
home for the cups and medals you ννίll ννίπ ίπ the next few years!

30-35 Α really strong result! If you take a close look at the answers
points to the exercises you did not solve, then you ννίll get even better

and have even more success ίπ your next test!

25-29 Α good result, but there are some things from ουΓ training
points programme you don't quite remember, aren't there? But that

doesn't matter. 8imply look at the chapters ΟΓ sections referring
to the exercises you could not solve. But perhaps some Πθνν
exercises caused you some trouble? After you have had a good
look at the solutions it ννίll certainly πο longer be a problem for
you.

20 -24 Α solid result. Υου knew a lot - but why not a little more?
points Was it excitement, did you not concentrate enough - what

caused it? Have another look at the exercises you did not
understand ΟΓ got wrong and then about 2 weeks later, try the
Power Test again! Then you ννίll certainly manage a better
result!

14 -19 Fewer than half the points is not enough to pass a test, πο
points matter how close you were. But Rome was not built ίπ a day and

if you continue to train and play chess regularly, it ννίll soon be
easier for you to solve these exercises quickly and correctly. 80
hang ίπ there, things ννίll sort themselves out!

13 and What happened? Did you have a bad day, ννθΓθ you excited,
fewer ΟΓ are tests not your thing because you are more of a practical
points player? That is not a problem, but do take a really good look at

the solutions to all the exercises, and if there are things you
have not understood then work through ουΓ training programme
again. 80metimes once is not enough to understand everything,
but things appear much, much easier after the second time.

Just keep your chin up, you'll manage it!

ΑΡΡΕΝΟΙΧ 179

APPENDIX

Materials
Solutions
Scoresheet
Certificate

180 Chess for Kids and Parents

a Hunt the black king! h

8 bcde f 8

Targets: ac e 9h
King
Queen • Points Points scored:
Rook 20
Bishop
Knight 1V 9
Pawn 1
Pawn 2 Ι5
Pawn 3
Points: j., 46
4ι\ 3

i1
i1
i1

6 Bishops and knights are worth rough/y the same, even though the bishop is
sometimes stronger in the endgame than the knight. The difference between 3 and 4
points was simp/y chosen by me to distinguish between the two of them.

Files, ranks and diagonals 181

Files, ranks and diagonals

abcde f h

8

6

4

1 1

a cde f 9h

Draw οη the diagram the answers to the following questions:

Draw the longest diagonal

Draw ίπ the file οπ which the bishops stand οπ the queenside ίπ the
starting position

Draw ίπ the rank οπ which a white pawn would stand if it moved 2
squares οπ its opening move

Draw ίπ the rank which a white pawn has to reach to be promoted to
another piece (usually to a queen)

Draw ίπ the shortest possible diagonal:

So/ution απ the next page

182 Chess for Kids and Parents

Files, ranks and diagonals

abcde f h

8 7
7 6
6 5
5 4

3
2

11

ace9

.......The longest possible diagonal .....

........(a1 - h8 and a8 - h1 ΟΓ vice versa):

. •The file οπ which the bishops stand οπ the queenside: the (c-file):
The rank οπ which a white pawn would stand if it made a double move

οπ its first move: ί.θ. the (4th rank): 88

The rank a white pawn must reach ίπ order to be promoted to a piece:
...... ..The shortest possible diagonal:
the (8th rank): 8,_,_,_,_,_,_,_,_,_,_,_,_,_,8

(a2 - b1, a7 - b8, g1 - h2 and g8 - h7 Το make the diagram clearer,
only 2 of these are shown.)

80lution to the quiz "Mate with king and queen" 183

Solution Ιο the quiz IIMate with king and
queen ll

The following pages give you the solutions to the 6 such quizzes.

At the start, the solutions have qUΊte complete comments, but these
become more cursory as the elementary manoeuvres should be known.
For that reason it is important to do the exercises ίπ the order 1 - 6 and
then to look at the appropriate solution.

Especially ίπ positions where White is far away from the black king,
there are numerous possible variations, which - although simple ίπ
themselves - would soon drown us ίπ detail. 80 ννΘ usually only give a
sample solution and point out a few other ones.

Usually ίπ chess training people have started from the point of νίΘνν that
the ρυρίl has to find the best way - so ίπ ουΓ exercises this would have
had to be the most precise and the shortest possible solution.

This attitude stems from the fact that ίπ the past children ννΘΓΘ looked
υροπ as small adults, and quite simply πο account was taken of their
special skills, needs and limitations.

It is a totally unrealίstic idea, especially with younger children, that they
ννίll learn chess techniques and understand them ίπ exactly the same way
as adults do.

80 the author has chosen a simple winning plan (the two goals) and this
plan becomes the central point of the solution.

The result of this is that sometimes other solutions are better, quicker ΟΓ
more elegant. This is not qUΊte so important ίπ children's chess.

What is crucial is that the child learns

• to recognise and understand a plan
• to make use of it (or at least to try to do so as best s/he can)
• and not to be distracted by other ideas which suddenly ρορ up.

If ννΘ can manage this, then ννΘ have achieved a lot - and that applies
also to the child's development beyond the game of chess.

80 ίπ ουΓ exercises the criterion for a correct solution is that a plan has
clearly been drawn up, and then more ΟΓ less logically followed - without
forgetting that the opponent has to be mated, which is after all the goal of
the exercise!

184 Chess for Kids and Parents

Solutions to the endgame quiz Κ + Q - Κ

abcde f Ο1

This situation is very favourable,
because Black is already at the edge
of the board.

The qUΊckest way to ννίπ is
1.Qd4-a7 (Ο)

At once drives the king into the
3 mating position:

2 1...Kc8-d8 2.Qa7-d7# [2.0a7-a8#]

1.0d4-g7 iS all right ίπ principle, but
it takes a little longer:

1... Kc8-b8 2.κd6-c6 Kb8-a8 3.0g7-
b7#

abcde f Q2

Ιπ this and ίπ similar positions -
unlike for example that ίπ Ο1 - there iS
not οnθ single solution leading to
mate. ΑΙΙ sorts of solutions exist - and
as long as ουΓ two goals are pursued
(and as long as there is πο
stalemate!), that ννill do.

3 Let us look at ΟΠθ possible solution:
2 1.Qh6-c6 (Ο)

The kings are shut ίπ together ίπ
ΟΠθ specific area of the board, and -
according to where the black king
goes to - the queen forces it either
down the board ΟΓ to the right: ίπ both
cases towards the edge of the board.
Black πονν has three possible moves:

Α) 1...Ke5-d4 Β) 1... Ke5-f5 C)
1... Ke5-f4

Solution to the quiz "Mate with king and queen" 185

02 after 3... Kd3-d2 Α) 1... Ke5-d4

5~ 8 8 8 5 2.Kg2-f3 (Ο) and Black again has
84 8~8 ~4 two possibilities;
83~ 8Φ8 3
2 8 8 8 ~2 Α1) 2...Kd4-d3 Α2) 2... Kd4-e5
1 ~ 8.8 8 1 (below)

abcde f 9h 3.Qc6-c5 Kd3-d2 (02)

4.Qc5-c4

Remember this queen manoeuvre.
ΒΥ small steps, the queen pushes the
king ΟΠθ square at a time back to the
edge, till a mating position is reached:

4...Kd2-d1 (03)

[4... Kd2-e1?? Qc4-e2#]

5.Kf3-e3 Kd1-e1 6.Qc4-c1(e2)# is
the quickest way to a ννίπ

5.Qc4-a2 Kd1-c1 6.Kf3-e3 Kc1-d1

7.Qa2-d2# (7.Qa2-b1#) is also ΟΚ.

[5.Qc4-e2+ may also ννίπ, but it is
better to drive the black king towards
ΥουΓ οννπ king with your queen.

5... Kd1-c1 6.Kf3-e3 Kc1-b1 7.Ke3-
d3 Kb1-a1 8.κd3-c3 Ka1-b1 9.Qe2-
b2#]

Υου have certainly noticed that that
is not so direct.

Οπ move 2, the black king could go
to another square and vary the
winning method.

Α2) 2... Kd4-e5 (04)

3.Qc6-d7 The best. Leaves the king
just ΟΠθ square and forces it towards
the edge. ΑΙΙ other moves leave Black
more space.

04 after Α2 2... Kd4-e5

186 Chess for Kids and Parents

05 after 5... Kg6-h6 Ke5-f6 4.Kf3-f4 Kf6-g6 5.Qd7-e7
Kg6-h6 (05)
06 after Β) 1... Ke5-f4
As ίπ Α) ννθ have already forced the
3 king to the edge of the board with
2 small steps by the queen. Νονν you
must watch out, because a careless
move could be disastrous: 6.Qe7-f7??
is stalemate!

00 not move automatically, but
always consider how things look after
your neχt move: what your opponent
can do ΟΓ can he do nothing? What
you/he are threatening...

6.Kf4-f5 Kh6-h5 (it was zugzwang)

7.Qe7-h7(g5)#

Β) 1... Ke5-f4 (06)

2.Qc6-e6 Kf4-g5 Once more there
are 2 possibilities Kg3 ΟΓ Kf3:

a) 3.Kg2-g3 departs a little from our
standard plan, but also wins. 3...Kg5-
h54.Kg3-f4

(4.Qe6-f6?? STALEMATE - ΟΠθ
silly move can spoίl a won endgame!)

4...Kh5-h4 Ζυ zwan ! 5.Qe6-h6#

b) 3.Kg2-f3 (07)

3 ... Kg5-h5

[3 ... Kg5-h44.Qe6-g4#]

4.Qe6-g8 *

[4.Qe6-f6?? STALEMATE!]

4... Kh5-h6 5.Kf3-f4 Kh6-h5

6.Qg8-g5#

* The sequence 4.Kf3-f4 Kh5-h4
5.Qe6-g4/h6# is even a little bit
quicker.

Solution to the quiz "Mate with king and queen" 187

Ο8 after C) 1... Ke5-f5 Α) 1... Ke5-f5 (08)
Ο2 after 3...Kc6-b6
e.g.:

2.Kg2-f3 Kf5-e5 3.Qc6-c5+

[3.0c6-d7 Ke5-f6 4.Kf3-f4 Kf6-g6
5.0d7-e6+* Kg6-h7 6.Kf4-g5 Kh7-g7
7.0e6-e7+ Kg7-g8 8.κg5-g6 Kg8-h8
9.0e7-g7#]

* The best way is 5.0d7-e7 Kg6-h6
6.Kf4-f5 Kh6-h5 7.0e7-g5/h7#!

3...Ke5-e6 4.Kf3-e4 Ke6-f6 5.Qc5-
f5+ Kf6-e7 6.Ke4-e5 Ke7-d8 7.Qf5-f7
Kd8-c8 8. Ke5-d6 Kc8-b8 9. Kd6-c6
Kb8-a810.Qf7-b7#

Q3

In this position too, there are
different but equally good ways to win.
The queen can deprive the king of
squares from d2, c2, f5 ΟΓ f6 to force it
to the edge. And Ke4-e5 also forces
the king back ΟΓ to one side. We shall
only look at one way to win, since ννθ
do not have enough space to show
them all.

But if you like you can work out how
to win with the other moves ννθ
mention!

1.Qf2-f5 (Ο) Kc6-d6 2.Qf5-e5+

This time ννθ can use our own king
for protection and so get in closer to
the opponent's king.

2... Kd6-c6

[2... Kd6-d7 3.Qe5-f6 ΟΓ a/so 3.Ke4-
d5 and the king must go straight to the
edge. 3... Kd7-d8

3.Ke4-d4 Kc6-b6 (02) 4.Qe5-d6+

188 Chess for Kids and Parents

[4.Qe5-c5+ also works, but this time
the queen is ίη the way of its οννη
king, which also must get ίη close to
deliver the mate.]

4... Kb6-b7 5. Kd4-c5 Kb7-a7
6.Qd6-d7+ Ka7-a6 (03) 7.Qd7-e7

White simply waits tiII Black must

03 after 6...Ka7-a6 move into the mating position by

White plays a waiting move to let zugzwang. So such a move is called a
the Black king go into the mating waiting move.

position because of zugzwang. 7...Ka6-a58.Qe7-a7#

abcde Ιη ουΓ position you must be very
careful not to accidentally stalemate
04 after 7.Qd7-b5+ your opponent. If you are not qUΊte
sure and cannot think out what to do,
then you are better to start a whole
ηθνν mating sequence.

Oon't ννΟΓΓΥ if you do not find the
absolutely correct way to mate. What
is important is winning! As you gain
experience, then you ννίΙΙ be more
sure of yourself and have a routine for
winning such positions without having
to think about it for ages.

Ιη ουΓ position another route to mate
is 7.Qd7-b5+ (04)

Ka6-a7 8.Kc5-c6 Ka7-a8 9.Qb5-
b7#

Solution to the quiz "Mate with king and queen" 189

abcde f Q4

The king is already trapped and is
mated ίπ a few moves.

After 1.Qc7-b8 (Ο)

The king is restricted to the a-fίle
(goaI 1 has been achieved) and ννθ
move straight to goal 2.

But watch out! If instead of 1.0c7-

b8 you start with 1.Kc3-b4?? ΟΓ 1.Kc3-
c4??, you are ίπ for a nasty surprise,
because both moves mean staIemate!

1... Ka6-a5 2.Kc3-c4 Ka5-a6

3.Kc4-c5 Ka6-a5 (zugzwang)

4.Qb8-b5# 4.0b8-a7#]

Q5

This position is even easier to ννίπ
than 04 - if you notice that by means
of

1.Qe1-e5 (Ο)

The black king can easiIy be
pushed back to the edge of the board.
Moves Iike 1.0e1-e4+/e6+ are weak
3 and let the king slip away.
2 1... Kg4-h4

[1 ...Kg4-h3? 2.0e5-g3#]

2.Kf2-f3 Kh4-h3 3.Qe5-h5#

190 Chess for Kids and Parents

Q6
1.Qh4-b4 (Ο)
Once again there are other sensible
plans, which you could follow.
[One other possibility could be, e.g.
1.κg2-f3 Kd5-c5 2.Kf3-e3 Kc5-d5
3.Qh4-d8+ (or 3.Qh4-f6) 3... Kd5-c4
4.Qd8-d6 Kc4-c3 5.Qd6-d4+ etc.]
1...Kd5-e5 2.Kg2-f3 Ke5-e6
[2 ... Ke5-f5 3.Qb4-c5+ Kf5-e6 4.Kf3-
f4 Ke6-f6 (4...Ke6-d75.Qc5-b6)

5.Qc5-c6+]
3.Qb4-c5 Ke6-f6 4.Kf3-f4 Kf6-e6
5.Qc5-c6+ Ke6-e7 6.Kf4-f5 Ke7-f7
7.Qc6-d7+ Kf7-f8 8.Kf5-g6 Kf8-g8
9.Qd7- 7# [9.Qd7-e8#]

Solutions to the endgame quiz "Mate with Κ + R /2R" 191

Solutions Ιο the endgame quiz "Mate with Κ + R /2R"

R1

6

5 1.Rh2-c2+ (Ο)

4 Απ obvious move, because the
kings are already ίπ the opposition, so

the black king must meet the check

Γ*+>~-----,;,~_~:Ι2 by heading towards the edge of the

board.

1... Kc5-b4 2. Ke5-d4 Kb4-b3
3.Rc2-c8 Kb3-b2 4.Kd4-d3

~------------------~

Νονν Black can choose between Α) 4...Kb2-b1 ΟΓ Β) 4... Kb2-b3.

Going to the a-fίle would be quite weak, because after 5.Rc8-b8 Black
is soon ίπ a osition to be mated.

abcde f 9h We shall take a look at both
possibilities:
Ο2 after 4...Kb2-b1
Α) 4... Kb2-b1

5.Kd3-d2 Kb1-b2

6.Rc8-b8+ Kb2-a3 7.Kd2-c3 Ka3-
a4 8.Rb8-b1! (03)

[8.Kc3-c4 would get us πο further,
because ννθ cannot force Black into a
mating position just with king moves.]

Ka4-a5 9.Kc3-c4 Ka5-a6 10.Kc4-
c5 Ka6-a7 11.Kc5-c6 Ka7-a8
12.Kc6-c7 Ka8-a713.Rb1-a1#

Α bit long, but not all that difficult, is
it?

But Ι can show you a little "trick",
which can speed things υρ a bit:

Ο3 after 8.Rb8-b1!