Chess

cawacko

cawacko

Well-known member
Any chess players here? If so, what age did you start? Do you think you benefited from it?

I've never played but I'm thinking about putting my 8 year old daughter in the chess club at school.

My buddy has his two kids doing it and he thinks it helps with strategic thinking/game theory.
 
cawacko said:
Any chess players here? If so, what age did you start? Do you think you benefited from it?

I've never played but I'm thinking about putting my 8 year old daughter in the chess club at school.

My buddy has his two kids doing it and he thinks it helps with strategic thinking/game theory.
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I am started at 14. Greatly benefitted. Taught me patience and looking at all angles

It would be great for her

It's a good life teaching game.

BTW chess dot com is a great place to learn and play. They have tournaments and chess TV where you can watch grandmaster's play and get commentary
 
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cawacko said:
Any chess players here? If so, what age did you start? Do you think you benefited from it?

I've never played but I'm thinking about putting my 8 year old daughter in the chess club at school.

My buddy has his two kids doing it and he thinks it helps with strategic thinking/game theory.
Click to expand...
I played for a while when I was about 12, 13, and 14 I think. I got pretty good at it. Studied defenses and strategies.
I have mixed feelings. Yakuda is correct, but It can be addictive somewhat making for imbalance. Plus there’s not much social interaction with chess. Competitive tennis took over and left me no time for chess, and I have no regrets about that.

Personally I’d rather see my kid spending time on music and sports.
 
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anonymoose said:
I played for a while when I was about 12, 13, and 14 I think. I got pretty good at it. Studied defenses and strategies.
I have mixed feelings. Yakuda is correct, but It can be addictive somewhat making for imbalance. Plus there’s not much social interaction with chess. Competitive tennis took over and left me no time for chess, and I have no regrets about that.

Personally I’d rather see my kid spending time on music and sports.
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She's on her school's soccer, basketball and lacrosse team. She's also takes golf lessons once a week. So her sports calendar is full.

I don't play chess and I don't care so much if it's something she does long term. On the surface, my interest in exposing her to it lies in the theory that it helps with mental growth (going back to strategic thinking and game theory). Did you find that for yourself?

This club meets once a week for 45 minutes so it's not a huge time commitment. (There are also only six sessions left this semester, so she would be joining late but offers a short term trial run.)
 
cawacko said:
She's on her school's soccer, basketball and lacrosse team. She's also takes golf lessons once a week. So her sports calendar is full.

I don't play chess and I don't care so much if it's something she does long term. On the surface, my interest in exposing her to it lies in the theory that it helps with mental growth (going back to strategic thinking and game theory). Did you find that for yourself?
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Too long ago to assess that, TBH.
You say you’re thinking about putting her in the chess club. What does she think?
If she wants to give it a go, why not?
Eventually she’ll gravitate towards whatever interests her.
I don’t remember being interested in anything at eight years old so she’s already light years ahead of where I was.


 
anonymoose said:
Too long ago to assess that, TBH.
You say you’re thinking about putting her in the chess club. What does she think?
If she wants to give it a go, why not?
Eventually she’ll gravitate towards whatever interests her.
I don’t remember being interested in anything at eight years old so she’s already light years ahead of where I was.
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She said in passing she was open to it. Not sure if I told her it was at 7:00am, haha. The school let me know today she can still join so I'll see what she says. It's also not free, but I try to never let money get in the way if possible.

I'm with you, I know I wasn't into something like this at age 8 either.
 
cawacko said:
She said in passing she was open to it. Not sure if I told her it was at 7:00am, haha. The school let me know today she can still join so I'll see what she says. It's also not free, but I try to never let money get in the way if possible.

I'm with you, I know I wasn't into something like this at age 8 either.
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Why not teach and play a few games w / her and see how it goes? That's what I'd do.
When I was into it I played against my dad all the time, couldn't get enough of it. I think what kept my interest for a while was using defenses and strategies I read about in a mag at the time called Boy's Life which was geared towards Cub and Boy Scouts. It actually worked against him.
(Soulds like a gay rag these days, doesn't it?)
 
anonymoose said:
Why not teach and play a few games w / her and see how it goes? That's what I'd do.
When I was into it I played against my dad all the time, couldn't get enough of it. I think what kept my interest for a while was using defenses and strategies I read about in a mag at the time called Boy's Life which was geared towards Cub and Boy Scouts. It actually worked against him.
(Soulds like a gay rag these days, doesn't it?)
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Because I don't play chess. So I suppose that doesn't help in that if she learns she won't have someone at home to play with.
 
Not a chess player but I know that the kids we had in our chesa club loved it... They
cawacko said:
She's on her school's soccer, basketball and lacrosse team. She's also takes golf lessons once a week. So her sports calendar is full.

I don't play chess and I don't care so much if it's something she does long term. On the surface, my interest in exposing her to it lies in the theory that it helps with mental growth (going back to strategic thinking and game theory). Did you find that for yourself?

This club meets once a week for 45 minutes so it's not a huge time commitment. (There are also only six sessions left this semester, so she would be joining late but offers a short term trial run.)
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Does she want to join? That's half your answer...;)
 
TOP said:
Not a chess player but I know that the kids we had in our chesa club loved it... They
Does she want to join? That's half your answer...;)
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This is very true. I would never have her do it if she didn't want to.

I kind of floated it out there, and she sort of nonchalantly said "sure" but that was before I checked with the school if they would allow her to join this far into the semester.

Today they told me it was ok. They also said it's at 7:00am on a Friday morning, so who knows how she'll react to that. Haha.

I'm trying to do my due diligence before bringing it up to her again. Seems like it's a good thing for her development but that's why I'm asking around.
 
cawacko said:
This is very true. I would never have her do it if she didn't want to.

I kind of floated it out there, and she sort of nonchalantly said "sure" but that was before I checked with the school if they would allow her to join this far into the semester.

Today they told me it was ok. They also said it's at 7:00am on a Friday morning, so who knows how she'll react to that. Haha.

I'm trying to do my due diligence before bringing it up to her again. Seems like it's a good thing for her development but that's why I'm asking around.
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It's a wonderful opportunity if she tries it and likes it...and never wrong to suggest new things...You may have to learn to practice with her, though...;)
(Our kids always loved it...there was always lots of interest...and especially recently, they're very good and do well in competitions...;))
That is early, though...but have them start a breakfast club with the chess club...;) PS...thanks USC🥰
 
TOP said:
It's a wonderful opportunity if she tries it and likes it...and never wrong to suggest new things...You may have to learn to practice with her, though...;)
(Our kids always loved it...there was always lots of interest...and especially recently, they're very good and do well in competitions...;))
That is early, though...but have them start a breakfast club with the chess club...;)
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your kids? :palm: :rolleyes::laugh:

As if
 
She agreed to it, so I signed her up.

And because I have issues I had to trash talk my 8 year old. I said "you can join this club, but Daddy's still going to check mate you".

She just looked at me, shook her head, and said "you don't know how to play chess Daddy".

Touche, kid.
 
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cawacko said:
She agreed to it, so I signed her up.

And because I have issues I had to trash talk my 8 year old. I said "you can join this club, but Daddy's still going to check mate you".

She just looked at me, shook her head, and said "you don't know how to play chess Daddy".

Touche, kid.
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Just from that.alone I can tell you she's going to do great in chess!
 
anonymoose said:
I played for a while when I was about 12, 13, and 14 I think. I got pretty good at it. Studied defenses and strategies.
I have mixed feelings. Yakuda is correct, but It can be addictive somewhat making for imbalance. Plus there’s not much social interaction with chess. Competitive tennis took over and left me no time for chess, and I have no regrets about that.

Personally I’d rather see my kid spending time on music and sports.
Click to expand...
It is addictive. I am usually playing at chess dot com when I free time. Theres nothing like beating someone with a higher rating.
 
WinterBorn said:
All 3 of my biological kids played chess and were in the chess club. My middle child won a regional competition. I think it was good for all 3 of them.
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My mindset has always been I want to expose her to things, and whatever she decides from there I'll support.

I'm sure the dynamic changes having three vs one. Because we're one and done, I have to be mentally conscious of not putting all my aspirations on her. She is who she is.

But I like the idea of being exposed to chess. How far she wants to go will be up to her. Congrats to your boy. That's exciting.
 
Yakuda said:
Do you not play at all anymore?
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Not at all. Tried after several years thinking I could still be ok at it and quickly realized it’s like laying off running for a long time, e.g., and finding out you’re starting from square one all over again.
I had to tip my king after about a half dozen moves I was so bad.:LOL:
 
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