No Stress Chess
We're overdue for a post, so here's a quickie on one of our favorites.
No Stress Chess is the perfect way to introduce your young ones to one of the world's oldest board games. We received ours as a Christmas present from my parents in 2017, and we play it quite often.
The game board is two-sided: one has the positions and names of the various pieces, while the other is a standard chessboard. For beginners, there is a deck of cards that shows each piece's name and its movement rules. Each player draws a card on their turn and MUST move that piece. If the piece on the card has been removed from the game, or if its movement is blocked, the player loses their turn. Gameplay continues until checkmate.
The kids came to work with me on a weekend last month, and Isaiah challenged our program director to a game. First, they played with the cards. Isaiah won, much to my director's consternation. He was impressed with the game design, and Isaiah's ability to plan several moves in advance. Afterwards, they played without the cards. Isaiah lost, but he played quite well and learned a few strategies, as well.
No Stress Chess is one of my favorite games to recommend to adults who want to introduce children to board games. It is simple and straightforward, but helps children learn how to plan moves in advance and develop strategies. It is accessible enough for children who don't yet know how to read, but is enjoyable for gamers of all ages.
When I play with Genevieve, I usually let her keep trying until she wins. If I draw a card that would cause a checkmate, I'll show her that I've won, and then ask her if she wants to keep playing. Then, I'll simply draw another card and let the game continue. Eventually she'll draw a card that takes my king. I don't tell her what moves to make, but I'll show her several options. All in all, she does very well for a three (and a half) year old.
No Stress Chess is the perfect way to introduce your young ones to one of the world's oldest board games. We received ours as a Christmas present from my parents in 2017, and we play it quite often.
 |
| Genevieve (3) beat me twice in a row during this session. |
 |
| Genevieve knows all of the pieces' names, except the bishop, which she calls the monster. |
No Stress Chess is one of my favorite games to recommend to adults who want to introduce children to board games. It is simple and straightforward, but helps children learn how to plan moves in advance and develop strategies. It is accessible enough for children who don't yet know how to read, but is enjoyable for gamers of all ages.
When I play with Genevieve, I usually let her keep trying until she wins. If I draw a card that would cause a checkmate, I'll show her that I've won, and then ask her if she wants to keep playing. Then, I'll simply draw another card and let the game continue. Eventually she'll draw a card that takes my king. I don't tell her what moves to make, but I'll show her several options. All in all, she does very well for a three (and a half) year old.
Comments
Post a Comment