Home >> Games & Cards >> Chess & Checkers

Kids Chess Games

When Magnus Carlsen was 13, he became the third youngest grandmaster in history. At 18, he became the youngest No. 1 world chess player. Your child may not become the next chess prodigy, but you can help him learn to play the game. There are variants and computer games designed to help young players.

Age
- Children as young as 4 can learn to play chess. A beginning player just needs to have patience and the ability to understand how each piece moves. Wait till the child has this kind of maturity before teaching them, and teach it to a group of friends at the same time. The child could learn faster as part of a peer group with a common interest.
Computer Games
- A real chessboard with chess pieces may be beneficial for young players. However, the Internet has readily available chess for young players on websites such as Kids Chess and Chess Kid. The sites make it easier for the child to learn while playing against opponents of the same skill level. Computer chess websites also have animated videos depicting chess moves, and other video games involving chess pieces. "Majestic Chess" for Windows and "Fritz Chess" for the Wii and PlayStation 3 are also kid-friendly.
Chess Variants
- Chess variants, such as Blitz and the Pawn's Game, can help ease a child into chess. A blitz format gives each player no more than five minutes to make a move. Playing quickly can help the child focus on the middle and end of the game, which can help him develop winning strategies. In the Pawn's Game, all the chess pieces are removed except the pawns. The pawns start in their usual place and retain their usual moves. The first player to capture all of the other player's pawns wins.
Federation Help
- If the child is serious about playing chess, join a local affiliate of the United States Chess Federation. A registered child can compete in the federation-sponsored National Scholastic Tournaments, which are divided into elementary, junior and high school levels. The federation also conducts age-group correspondence tournaments by email or regular mail. The regular yearly dues as of 2011 were $16 for those age 12 and younger, $20 for those 13 to 15 and $24 for those 16 to 24. The federation also has a magazine called "Chess Life for Kids." The child can get advice from the magazine and information for events like the federation's summer camps.

Chess & Checkers