The children have taken to playing chess these days. I’m not sure when it started or who initiated the first game but Chess has definitely arrived into our home.
I’m a TERRIBLE chess player. I’ve tried but I just can’t seem to put my heart behind a game that encourages/requires silence. I play games to ‘relate’ to people. I guess that can be translated – I want to TALK during a game. Chess requires way too much concentration to be fun. It seems like a simple game but I found this online:
The number of possible ways of playing just the first four moves on each side in a game of chess is 318,979,564,000. [Source: Isaac Asimov's Book of Facts]
I don’t know which is more mind-boggling, the fact that the number of possible moves is so high or that someone took the time to figure that number out!!
For several years my father would host an annual Chess Party. It was probably the strangest party I’ve ever been to – silent groups of men and boys, bending over chess boards in intense concentration. They would occasionally break for treats before scurrying back to find another opponent. The women folk (hate to be sexist but I don’t know if any women joined in the chess game time) and assorted children would be in the other room playing rousing games of Scattegories or Pictionary.
Tim and my dad play a few rounds of chess on the porch of my grandmother’s home in Virginia. Boy, were they young! Phil, in the corner, looks to be high school age.
That’s a big smile, Tim, are you winning??
My friend, Lee, has two sons who both enjoy chess. One of them taught chess and went on to compete in several chess tournaments, even winning (I believe) a chess scholarship. I don’t think we have that level of skill going on in our home but it’s fun to see the boys learning something that teaches logic, reasoning, math skills and problem solving.
Note: Lee’s two sons graduated from their homeschool, receiving full college scholarships. Lee now works with parents on a consulting basis, helping them with high school transcripts, college applications and scholarship searches. She is highly motivated, organized and completely professional. Check out her website for further information. She loves working with homeschooling parents and has some amazing resources at her disposal.
I think at one point this week we had a game of Chess going in one room and Go Fish in the other. The mind reels. I know where I belong. 
Kathy
Heh. I think I was, indeed, winning, if that cheesy grin is any indication. Kathy’s Dad and I used to play chess a lot, until I beat him seven times in a row, which is discouraging for even the hardiest of souls. These days he seems much too busy playing Rat-a-Tat-Cat or going on golf-cart rides with my children to spare me the time that a game of chess requires …
I miss those chess parties … very peaceful, and the food was often good. It was nice to know that if you lost quickly, you could always hit the snack table while you waited for the next round.
On Easter we had a game night at our house, and I pulled out the old chess board at a friend’s request. I was surprised to see how much I enjoyed playing. Maybe if the boys really get into it, we could have a tournament.
My dd took Chess for the Analytical Musician class one year at the local music camp. I found the title interesting and thought she should take it. We followed that up with months of playing online chess with Lee’s oldest ds…. I thought it would be a good thing for my kids to learn how to play. I know NOTHING about chess.. and so I tried to give them other opportunities to learn…. sadly, none of my kids play chess to this day… it looks like fun though!
Don’t listen to her! Everyone knows that I am a really bad chess player. I can only beat younger siblings, or unsuspecting friends. Unfortunatelly, I find myself surrounded by masters: Grandad, my Dad, and three of my close friends are all very good.
Sometimes on visits to Michigan. I will play a friend whose talents are close to mine, those games last for hours, and usually end in my defeat. Oh well, I guess I will just have to hope that some crumbs of talent will fall from the master’s table.
Chess for the Analytical Musician. Where can I sign up? That sounds like a course I could really get into. When I was much younger I spent the time figuring out mathematically why a major-seventh chord sounds so much more pleasing than a diminished-seventh. It all has to do with the 12th root of 2. But I was never any good at chess so I wonder if there are some mathematics which could apply here.
Yeah, I’m a math major, so you’d think I’d like chess, but Dave and I endured maybe two games before I was too disheartened and grumpy by losing. It requires way too much forethought and maybe I don’t like the silence either, although we watched some really good chess players at the mall (at least they looked really good) who played with a clock and made moves in split seconds. That looked more fun to me, although I’m sure I’d consistently lose in under a minute. My parents both love chess, so who knows why I didn’t inherit that innate ability. Scrabble has sort of the same feel–the lengthy waits and silences while everyone stares at the board–but Dave and I are more on par there. It’s sad that I have to be the word connoisseur in our family because Dave crushes in math. I think, though, that I’d like playing my kids because, like Joshua, maybe I’d stand a chance there.
Landon is the only one in our family who plays chess. I like chekers or backgammon but I just can’t get into chess.
Emily – I know you like games! You and I would definitely be in the other room while the guys play Chess.
Chess is hard when you have a big family – only two people can play at a time. It’s a little intense. I like games that require strategy and planning but I am not super competitive.
Rachel – you have to try Speed Scrabble. It’s the only kind of Scrabble I can stand. Very fun. Each person forms their own scrabble board with tiles. As you complete words, you call out Draw 2 and everyone has to take two letter tiles. You can rearrange your letters at any time but have to be aware it slows you down significantly if other people are zipping along. You continue playing until the tiles are all gone. We used to play it often. Not sure why we stopped. I wonder if the kids could play it now. It was several years ago that it was popular among our little Duckabush circle. I’ll have to try it again.
Who wins when your parents play? Is one person consistently the winner or are they pretty well matched? Do your brothers play? What about THEIR wives?? What about Lucia? Is everyone in your family math oriented???
I always liked the idea of chess, but could never get into it. Seemed way too intense for me and like you Kathy, I like to gab.
Bessie and Brian used to play, but haven’t in a while. Uno Attack is more my speed or Ruckus! LOL
add me to the group who can’t get into chess. My boys seem to enjoy it though. They are having to teach themselves because I am no help to them.My 9 yo seems to be picking it up really well, either that or he’s making up his own rules to aid him in beating siblings!
Kathy,
That is SO sweet of you to mention my business! Thank you! I’m going to have a booth at the WHO Convention, make sure you stop by and see me!
My son Kevin still teaches chess with Chess4Life in Bellevue, http://www.chess4life.com/, search for coaches, and you’ll see Kevin. Interesting note: Kevin’s boss, Elliott, is a Christian who was homeschooled all his life, and now he has a VERY successful business in chess. Chess! Who knew? LOL!
Blessings,
Lee
–
The HomeScholar
http://www.TheHomeScholar.com
http://www.TheHomeScholar.blogspot.com
“Helping Parents Homeschool Through High School”
Kath–We do play Speed Scrabble!! But we call it “Pick” because whoever is ready to go on yells “Pick!”. I love it, and Dave and I did play it a lot a while ago but haven’t in a while. My mom, who plays Scrabble online daily and usually wins, hates it, though, because it doesn’t use a board or count points the same way. Everyone in my immediate family, except Mom and Pete, are math-y people, but they tend to play games only under duress (except Mom).:( Mom’s family, on the other hand, is very game-oriented, but they’re more into Settlers, Puerto Rico, etc. right now (although I’m pretty sure I learned “Pick” from them).
Kathy,
Will you even see this after all of these other replies??!
One thing you forgot to mention is that you have the amazing ability to CONCENTRATE while talking during a game! You are able to talk and keep track of who’s turn it is, what you have to play and how many tokens everyone needs. Whew!!
I like your statistic from Isaac Asimov!
Hah, I’d be over in the Go Fish corner with you!
I’ve already been inspired by Lee to teach my kids chess–or at least have them LEARN it. Holly’s not too interested, but Trevor learned by playing Chess With Fritz and Chesster and can play well with his friends who know how to play. I have to admit, from the beginning, I thought it’d make a great part time job in high school!
You’re so good to mention Lee. I have been planning to, just haven’t done the actual blog post yet.
I tried again emailing you from my regular email, but it continues to bounce.
Debbie, Kristine, Jodi, Emily, and the rest, we’ll take over a room in the back and play loud, chatty games all night!! We had friends over for games on Easter. One of the wives told me, this evening, that she loved that we got int some great talking as well as game playing. Ha! I think most women just really enjoy the connecting that goes on with talking, the games are optional. Men seem to approach recreation differently – the game is essential and the talking optional.
Lee, I was thrilled to share information about your wonderful business. I completely expect to be desperately needing your help in about a year and a half. Save me an open spot!! I LOVE reading about your boys and all of their academic (and other) adventures. How wild that there is money and even a career in chess. I think it’s awesome!! I am glad my children enjoy games, adds such fun and richness and thinking to their lives (much more challenging than just movies or tv). Thanks for commenting!
Rach–I’m glad to know you all already play Speed Scrabble (or Pick)! It’s always funny to me how your extended family is on the same wave length as us (even this far away) about games. We just played Puerto Rico today and had a blast! You’ll have to keep me informed whenever they find a new game/treasure. So, did you mean your family (as in your siblings and their spouses) are NOT into games? I thought you played tons and tons of games or is that only when you are with your mom’s family? What about Dave’s side of the family? I seem to remember they are card players.
Thanks, Jen, you’re kind. You could say I’m a totally fragmented, very distracted person. It’s a good thing multi-tasking is perceived as a good trait. ha! Sometimes I think my mind races around with all the details of life. I’m not sure that’s really good but it does mean I can keep track of lots and lots of little pieces of information.
We need to have another game night!