Chess House

This article with videos highlights some areas of interest in the new Phoenix chess computing system, following its release in winter 2022. Yes, it's one of the most expensive computers on the market... but it's also the most sophisticated and useful for improvement and enjoyment of the game. I believe this advanced electronic chess system spans the gamut of interest from seasoned chess computing enthusiasts to newcomers. It's not just for adults either. As shown, young players with coach guidance can benefit greatly from the rapid setup of exercise positions along with the medium size chess board and intuitive on-board lights. Millennium, the company behind Mephisto Phoenix, launched this product after thousands of hours of testing. They built in many of the features based on extensive research. It's very exciting that there's more to come and they are actively listening to current users to prioritize the next upgrades. Here are some things we should see in the near future: - Active Game Saving- Improved PGN exports- LiChess online play and much more In fact we are already compiling the best suggestions from current users and bringing them to Millennium. Also, the videos on this page are the beginning. More advanced examples are being prepared. Phoenix is the first advanced upgradeable chess computing platform that's rich in features out of the box. During demonstrations alongside today's event, I connected the Mephisto to my Wifi phone hotspot and checked for Updates - very straightforward: An advanced platform with visual appeal My new acquaintance at this tournament, Ivan from Bulgaria, was supporting his son's relatively new fascination with chess - thus enterring his first chess tournament. With his CNC machining electronic controls experience, Ivan has a good grasp of the Pi platform and was fascinated by how the Pi and 7" touch screen had been beautifully applied to chess. Ivan first noticed the appealling aesthetics of the module with light-colored wood encompassing the touch screen. Instant Chess Position Evaluation With online chess computing, many players are already acustomed to instant computer evaluation of a chess position. This is made visual with Phoenix's chess Position Evaluation Bar. This bar shown in the video below helps you improve your chess skills by instantly and visually evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of any given position on the chessboard. It is shown as a Black and White vertical bar right next to the chess board. You can quickly analyze the value of pieces and assess the strategic potential of each move. The evaluation bar provides a visual representation of the position's strength, making it easy to understand and identify areas for improvement. Evaluation Scoring is also provided as a decimal in the details area. This is constantly being updated as the board position evolves. Your ideal opponent: Shredder adaptive with Elo Rating Shredder’s Adaptive Profile on the Mephisto Phoenix is a great chess training tool that adapts to your skill level. With this innovative tool, you can start a game and get a challenging opponent that's matched to your level. BACK: Rewind moves and play different lines The BACK option on screen starts taking back moves as shown in this video. You can press it again to stop it. (Note that to start take back you need to first let the computer complete its move). Entire Board/Piece Recognition: Starting a New Game To start a new game, setting up the pieces in their starting squares signals to Phoenix that a new game is desired. (There's no Resign or Draw option because the computer assesses the scoring of the final position automatically as to whether it's equal a win, or loss.) Fast Position Setup: for Game Review or Continued Play I tried out position setup with this young player to practice a Queen vs King endgame checkmate. It's so fast and intuitive. The efficiencies of hands on chess game review and learning will certainly accelerate learning. Watch this video: Thanks to fast sensing pieces, the board position is instantly shown on the screen in Position Setup mode. You have the full choice of how to train and improve your game. Select any chess position and place it on the board with just a couple button presses. You can start playing against a top-notch engine, analyze the position to uncover new strategies, or go head-to-head in a two-player game. The best part? You can switch between these modes anytime you want, making positional training easier and more convenient than ever before. With Position Setup you have the freedom and flexibility to train in the way that works best for you. Here's how: Select Mode / Position and put your chess position on the board. The piece recognition of the Mephisto Phoenix does the rest for you. Now select if you want to play against one of the top engines, against a friend or if you want to analyze this position. MOVE allows you anytime to hand over the other side to the engine, so that you can follow move by move the best way. Profiles in Mephisto Phoenix: Save user settings with profiles You can easily switch between different combinations of settings with just two clicks. The developers have pre-set 6 profiles for each of the three top-notch engines (Shredder, Hiarcs, and Komodo) to cover all player types, from absolute beginners to maximum engine performance. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned player, there's a profile that will fit. Phoenix also gives you the freedom to modify each profile to your personal needs. Whether you want to change the playing strength, time control, or any other setting, you can do so with ease, creating a customized chess experience that's tailored to your individual needs. How to Use the Phoenix: More videos and guidance Would you like to see certain features demonstrated? Make a request via our Contact page and we'll try our best to prioritize this and reply to you. Features we would like to see Here's an example of some areas where we would like to see improvement. 1. Game saving. A better approach to saving the active game so that when the computer is turned off it is possible to easily resume the game. 2. How tos. More clear training on how feature's work. We are producing various additional resources and videos to help you with this. For example, how does Adaptive really work and what do the ratings mean that are shown? 3. Alternate Moves. The computer sees many different lines of play. A suggestion came in that it is more straightforward to tell the computer to make a different move from it's array of potential ones. Instead of making the first move, activating Take Back move and then playing a different one, shorting the steps to a single Alternate Move. This helps users more easily try out different game continutations faster. Active Development and Updates We want to hear your questions and feature requests. This computer was launched with thousands of hours of testing. But we are gather feedback to help direct Millennium's development priorities. Let us know what features you would most like to see added to this device. To provide feedback, please Contact us through our Support form on this page.   Retro Engines OK, this is pretty cool. For those who have played chess computers from decades past, the Retro engines will bring back memories. I tried out the Mephisto Rebel (shown) and the TASC R30 (one of my favs). The Mephisto brand was resurrected by Millennium and now the Rebel computer can be played on the latest Mephisto computer, the modernized Phoenix! How to Purchase a Phoenix Module or Complete Set There are three ways to buy this computer. 1) Phoenix Module only if you already own a prior Exclusive or Supreme 55 board.2) Module with Medium board as shown in the article above3) Module with full-size Tournament board. Sold out Sold out Sold out

The most powerful chess computer of all time Phoenix comes in a modern glass touch screen design and offers both the newest computing technologies along with retro engines from decades past. Just how powerful is the Mephisto chess computer? It is designed to play beginner players (900 ELO rating), Chess Grandmasters (2800+ ELO), all the way up to 3400 ELO! Beautifully designed modern cabinet The new high-end chess device with state-of-the-art technology offers almost everthing you'd expect from the royal game. The modern cabinet comes with a large color touch screen made from real glass, matching its wooden board perfectly. With its clear and very responsive touch menu system, it is the perfect home station for chess enthusiasts of all ages, playing strengths, and experience levels. the Phoenix with a Rosewood Board Bundle Three ways to buy Mephisto Phoenix Sold out Sold out Sold out The Engines In cooperation with Ruud Martin, the owner of Phoenix Chess Systems in the Netherlands, a multi-engine system has been developed, adding great variety.With Shredder Neuronal and Stockfish 15 NNUE, you see the world's first dedicated chess computer using most modern neuronal engine technologies. The two high class commercial engines Hiarcs and Komodo are on board as well.See and feel how different modern engines behave! With the large informative screen, you'll observe easily what the engine thinks and how differently things are evaluated. Online Play Coming The ability to use the ChessLink App directly on the unit without the need of any additional device will be implemented as a free update in 2023. This allows you to play on LiChess directly from your Phoenix using internal WiFi. You can play with millions of people all over the globe. (Meanwhile, you can still connect ChessLink Module MIL822 to the board to accomplish this now). WiFi System Updates Updates come via WiFi directly on the unit. If you purchase additional software in ComputerChess.com webstore it is installed as easy as the press of a button. Powerful Hardware The Phoenix uses a 1.5G 64-Bit Quadcore processor with 4G Ram provided by a Raspberry Pi 4B. It's 7 inch TFT screen with 1024x600 resolution gives you great insights into chess computers thinking processes and makes it easy to control the countless functions. Powerful speakers bring you modern and clear sound effects fitting the systems look and feel perfectly. It's suitable for the 40cm (17.5") Exclusive and the 55cm (21.7") Supreme boards with Piece Recognition. The module has a size of approximately 18x13x9cm (7.1 x 5.1 x 3.5"). At more than 700 grams (1.5lbs), it's a device that feels sturdy.   It offers connection to Millennium Boards with piece recognition, USB Type A for updates via USB Drive or PGN downloads, 9V DC In and WiFi Connection. Brand New Board Construction The chess boards with full sets bring several advantages compared to current Exclusive and Supreme Millennium boards. They are made with MDF base construction with wooden veneer on the sides. They have a full protective dark rosewood and bright maple look. Everything is covered with transparent protective lacquer, bring more resistant to scratches and bumps as well as providing excellent protection against discoloration by sunlight. The LEDs are now fully flat integrated. The new boards feature a Mephisto badge matching the Phoenix. Phoenix T model above shows the 21.7" Tournament board in Rosewood and Maple Bright LEDs help you understand every piece movement and placement. Software Features The basic system is a UCI based multi-engine chess computer, expanded with classical chess computer emulations running at a remarkable high speed as well as the capability to play online on LiChess directly from the system. It comes with 4 different Top-Class Engines on Board: Shredder 13.5, Komodo 14.1, Hiarcs 14.2 and Stockfish 15 NNUE. More engines are coming Most powerful chess computer of all time Of the built-in chess programs, Stockfish and Komodo in particular offer an extremely high playing strength which not even the current world champion could overcome. Beginners on up Starting from a very simple level, which is also suitable for absolute beginners, the system can reach a maximum performance of over 3400 ELO. In fact, there are countless options to adjust the playing strength to your individual needs. The system covers the widest playing strength range ever provided by a chess computer.   The large screen offers deep insights. Setting your strength To set the strength, you can take the easiest route and let the computer adjust to your playing strength on its own. Use Shredder's ELO levels to adjust the program to your needs or choose Komodo's skill levels as a natural but not unbeatable chess opponent. Or you use the speed limiter and fine-tune the engines without limiting them in an unnatural way. Whether you let a 6-year-old child playing against the computer or you always wanted to challenge a world chess champion, here you finally have the system to do it all. Get your own ELO Rating Shredder offers a highly interesting new function with its fully automatic self-adapting playing strength with ELO rating. In this way you can continuously monitor your progress and see how much you have improved through training with the computer. Komodo also contains an adaptive playing strength function which, in contrast to Shredder, adjusts itself while the game is in progress. Innovative neuronal engines Shredder and Stockfish can be used with their neuronal algorithms. MEPHISTO PHOENIX is the first chess computer to use this new technology. Experience how these powerful programs compare to classical engines. Easy Game Evaluation The evaluation bar beside the chess boards tells you at first glance how the engine is seeing the position. Any blunders are quickly noticed that way and you always have a feeling on how good you do.   Many different level settings: Here are the tournament time controls. Comfort Menu for Quick Access Starting with the unit is easy. The comfort menu gives you the choice out of 6 well balanced, predefined profiles for each commercial engine. The Mephisto Development Team has set them with great care to show you the variety of the software and invite you to try them out. There is one for each type of player for sure! Just switch it on and start playing! Of course: Welcome to modify the profiles per your needs. You like the game to be more aggressive? The ELO Limit a little lower? Just modify the values with the touch screen menu and save them in your profiles. You can create up to 18 different profiles this way! The Profile Selection makes it easy to try the different engines at various levels. UCI Engine Commands Made Easy Each UCI Engine comes with its own set of very special settings, giving you a huge choice of influencing its play. You'll see the most important ones in the general menu where you can always find them easily. However, if the special ones provided only by individual engines appeal to you, access them by a dynamically created engine options sub menu. This allows Millennium to add any UCI Engine in the future along with convenient access of the most special options. Great opening training per your needs The machine comes with various opening books. The standard one by Mark Uniacke provides you with more then 1,000,000 positions, all from master play. This is the biggest opening book ever provided by a dedicated chess computer. There is furthermore a "fun" book with more unusual openings and also three specially designed books playing typical openings from chess stars like Carlsen, Fischer and Kasparov. The system does not only allow you to limit the depth of book moves, but also you can advise the engine to use e.g. only the best 25% of moves. What if you dislike an opening or like to train a special one? Just take back the move made by the engine, press move and it will play the second best automatically. So you can "scroll" through the opening options for your position directly on the board. Powerful Analysis - Training Made Easy With more then 3100 ELO for example with Komodo, you can setup any position via the position mode and take a deep look into the engines analysis. Also here the Evaluation Bar shows you quickly how the engine thinks. Switch on all the display options to see all the evaluations even during the game itself. Emulate Classical Chess Computers from the 80s and 90s The system can provide you with 20 historical Chess Computer Emulations. The Programmers Richard Lang, Johan de Koning, Ed Schroeder as well as Elmar Henne & Thomas Nitsche gave their permission to use their world champion systems from the past in this new computer. Most remarkable is the “Mephisto Glasgow”, the legendary world championship program of 1984 - which runs on the Mephisto Phoenix system at a speed approximately 66 times faster than the original machine of the time. Imagine what these classics can do with the todays processing power. With the speed bar you easily control the emulation speed or set it to the speed of the original chess computer, button and display layout follows the originals. Get back to the 1980s to explore the rise of computer chess. Compared to the well know Revelation II chess computers, the Phoenix offers several advantages on its emulations: The higher speed is one aspect, the direct control of all functions with the touch buttons is another one. The highest focus however went into the new speed bar. It allows not only a seamless speed setting, but also to set the original speeds of the different chess computers available with the according program. Users can for example choose King 2.5 and toggle through Tasc R30 and Tasc R40 by simply pressing the middle of the emulation display. This way, each emulation provides access to a wider series of chess computers with different hardware. The Profile Selection makes it easy to try the different engines at various levels. Mephisto Glasgow is up to 66 times faster than the original computer back in 1984. the Mephisto Phoenix is right for you if you > wish to own the most powerful chess computer ever made, building a bridge between past glory days and todays modern style of playing chess off-and online, > are interested in modern engine technologies, e.g. NNUE Technology, > like to play with retro chess computers and see how these programs play on modern hardware, > plan to play online on LiChess directly from your board, without the hassle of any additional connections or distracting communication devices (2023 update), and that's just the beginning! Three ways to buy Mephisto Phoenix Sold out Sold out Sold out

One of the beautiful things about chess is that the chess board takes so little space to play. At the same time, you can express your personal style through the artform of the board you own. How much space is needed for a chess board? At times the answer may seem obvious — but not always! Let's start with the dimensions: Chess boards are square and generally range in size from 16 to 20 inches (40.6 - 50.8 centimeters). Add extra space for the outside edge of the board.   For example, the chessboard below will fit comfortably for play in a variety of table surfaces in most homes. It also has a helpful design for storage when not in use. This Player’s Chessboard, at 21” square is a medium size chessboard most often paired with tournament size Staunton type piece as shown.     Chessboard Play The chessboard’s wooden perimeter provides visual balance. Your table ideally should have at least a few inches on either side for pieces that are not in play ...or even a timer. Plus, if you are sitting at the table, it can be helpful to have 2-3 inches in front of either player. Too much, however, and it’s quite a reach. For this 21” Square chessboard, a table surface at least 26” D x 30” W would be comfortable. The space in front of each player is less important than the width available next to the chessboard.   Chessboard Storage If need to set your beautiful chessboard aside for storage, rather than an awkward size, you simply close it like a book. As you can see, when you own a chessboard, it’s wise to plan ahead for not only where you will play, but how you will store or display it. You could even put your chessboard on display with a few pieces on guard.   About this Chessboard The Player’s folding chessboard is handcrafted in the USA with solid-block maple and walnut construction visible from both surfaces. Precision joined 2” squares, groove cuts, beveled edge, and engraved emblems make this one of the finest chessboards you could find for your home. This collection of fine, hardwood chessboards is enjoyed by Grandmaster Wesley So while he improves his game and World Champion Magnus Carlsen who has played them in some U.S. events. The folding board design uniquely featured in this article helps with storage. You can shop for the 21" Board in both classic and folding.   Where are photos of the hinge? More photos are coming when the first order of boards arrives. The actual board shown in video and photos has an invisible barrel hinge type design, the exact same design as the product you order now. The only difference is that this sample board shown has a wood block construction that would be visible with photos of the hinge area. That will be cleaned up on the actual production model for a very finished look along with the hinges.   Where can I buy one? This 21" Folding Player's Chessboard is exclusive to Chess House and is sometimes available. It’s made in limited quantity and is in stock occasionally.    

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After a busy week, I arrived in the family room with a hot drink in hand, to explore the new King Competition chess computer. The boys next to me, watching USA vs Canada men's hockey, now and then gave their thoughts on the progress of the unboxing, appearance, and progress of games on this latest in the line of Millennium chess computers. It was perfect timing for a Friday evening to enjoy solo chess, yet still around my family - meanwhile the girls were sleeping. From the moment I picked it up at work, I noted the sleek, modern packing of the King Competition and hoped the computer design itself would similarly impress.   Being familiar with the many chess computers of the last 25 years, I have ample experience for first impressions and critique.   I lifted the cover and the thin protective foam layer, revealing the electronic chessboard that felt like it belongs in the 2020s. I set the chessboard on the soft gray ottoman in our living room of white and gray accents - where I ended up playing three games in a row at a leisurely 15 minutes apiece plus seconds per move. The King Competition (February 2022) follows right after the smaller eONE (January 2022). I'll save further comparisons for later. I was excited to hold and set up the chess pieces for the first time. Inside a protective box was a drawstring Millennium bag with the pieces. These feel heavier than I expected! I emptied the 34 pieces (extra Queens) onto the chessboard and began setting them up. Modernizing a Staunton design is a BOLD move. In my view, Millennium did this well. The pieces feel outstanding in the hand and have a significant base weight that makes them more stable than I expected. They have a thin, quality felt that provides just enough friction to keep them from slipping on the board while still making moves freely across square surfaces. But what I like most is the new piece style aesthetics that feel youthful and energetic. At this point, I was very pleased with the overall size of this electronic chess set as well as the square design - even with the buttons and display in the front.   After setting up the pieces, I plugged in the wall AC power and the Competition lighted up the squares and the display. The power and data ports are less visible in this design, being recessed under the right-hand middle side. I should mention that the "floating" design makes it look thinner than it is. Evan's first observation was, "that's a thin chessboard!". With the board powered up and the pieces ready, I played E4. The computer responded right away with a move shown by the lights and the display. The move input is made with a light press on the squares. Although I prefer the luxury of auto-sensory move inputs, I found that the weighted pieces and the light square press needed were pleasant through the entire 84 move game first game! I selected one of the easier levels, but it still played a good game. I was getting into the game with some tense moments that I still remember. In fact, the computer and I both queened pawns at the same time, but I had the half move advantage and was able to win this first game. Playing against the Competition immersed me in an exhilarating chess experience for a while. I tried out the two main menu options, Expert and Comfort settings. This changes the menu between all settings and common settings. In addition to many levels and styles of play settings, there are many other options available to you. You can save the game, get hints, change the level, take back, analyze it, verify the piece's positions against what's shown on the display, set up your position, change to 2-player mode, connect to ChessLink (optional available separately), and more. I changed the display contrast and brightness, lowered the LED brightness, and the sound level. After winning this first game against the Competition - without any hints or takebacks, I looked over at hockey - the USA leading Canada?? The boys are learning more about this sport as well. "Why do they call it icing?" "Why is there no goalie in the net right now?" With the success of King Competition Game One, it was time to plug in the ChessLink I brought along and play online against someone on LiChess. I plugged the power cable into ChessLink instead and then inserted the 4-pin cable between the ChessLink and the Competition. With ChessLink switched on, the chessboard came alive with power through this cable. I then checked that Bluetooth was active on my phone, opened my ChessLink app, clicked the connect board "link" icon and it recognized the ChessLink right away. The preview showed the starting position. Next, I clicked Play on LiChess. (I had reset my app, so I needed to get a new token from LiChess profile API access tokens to re-establish the connection - this is usually a one-time action by the way).     I then chose to play a rated game with a 15/10 time control. That way I have 15 minutes to play the game, with 10 seconds extra per move. Since I need to input the other players' moves on the chessboard as well as my own, I want 5-10 extra seconds for this action. Playing chess online with a chess computer is a relatively new phenomenon in the 2020s with various chess computers now ready for Internet play. Next to playing chess in person, I find the human element of Internet play to be very exciting. While I can't see him or her, I know that I am playing the board with someone who has a thoughtful response to every move and is similarly engaged by the possibilities of the changing battle! Here is the first game that I played as Black. White put on quite the attack on my Kingside which dissipated with defensive strategy and then put my pieces in such a strong position that Black resigned on move 38.   Right after this, I played another game as White. In this one, I barely survived a Queenside attack. He missed a tactic that could have resulted in a win, and then I again managed to defend and win material and move that to the endgame for another resignation.   After three games of chess won and the USA defeating Canada in that hockey game, it was quite an evening. (Canada, you win most often - this one is ours!) Joanna came and watched the chess game for a little while. It reminded her of the Centaur chess computer which we've had in our home as well. I pointed out that this one has a lot more options and could also play online with the Link device. The King Competition feels like a great fit for our home when we want to play chess alone, with someone, or online. Not only are the possibilities extensive, but the aesthetics also are neutral and balanced, the pieces look and feel great, and the size is just right. I played the board on a surface as well as on my lap and it was very stable. The board is 17" square which I find to be perfect for home unless a full-size board like the luxury Tournament 55 is in your budget. The pieces are just less than 3" tall. Now it's Saturday morning and my 7-year-old daughter saw the game for the first time. She asked to set up the pieces and play. She's very new to chess, but she set up all the pieces like this. Then she started a game and had a great time playing the computer on an Easy level. I am surprised by how well she is doing with this chess computer so far. A nerf war just started between the boys and one of the bases is near the ottoman. She is immersed in her own battle on the chessboard and seems un-phased by the bullets flying overhead. The chessboard is taking hits now and then but surprisingly the pieces are staying steady. I noticed during her game now that she sometimes presses the destination square first and then starting square last. It works just the same.   Captured pieces are being placed on the outer rim of the board which works nicely with this square design with a decent-size perimeter. They have a good home when out of play. By the way, I chose an easy level for her with ELO of about 1150. With a few suggestions, the game looks quite equal so far. The computer just gave up a pawn and she took advantage of that on her own. The pressure sensor move input is natural to her. It might even be better at her age since the auto sensors could pick up some of her playing around with pieces between actual moves. After all, she has two knights still in front of her King, and the King likes to play with the knights sometimes when they are waiting for others to move. Joanna is watching her play again and says, I really like these pieces. They are smooth and sleek. It's clear to me this computer belongs in our home. And I'll be playing it again soon! I think the King Competition is for anyone who wants a modern chess-playing device with great configurations for solo play. It's not limited there, however, since Online Play is ready simply by adding the ChessLink module. Also, if you want to roam free from the wall outlet, add the ChessVolt powerpack for many hours of play on battery power.   King Competition Compared to Other Millennium Chess Computers Where does the King Competition fit in the family of chess computers by Millennium? As I mentioned, it follows on the eONE which arrived in January 2022. The main differences are that the eONE is smaller and has no onboard chess-playing engine. It's intended for app and online play only. The eONE has auto-sensing move input though. This means you simply move the pieces and they are detected by the board. Also, the eONE has Bluetooth built-in already. Thus, the ChessLink is not needed. King COMPETITION is essentially a modernized version of the King PERFORMANCE which has been a fan favorite for a couple of years already. If you're familiar with the Performance, you already know what to expect features-wise. If you're looking for a more familiar look in wood with wooden pieces, then the Performance might be a better choice for you! Furthermore, I consider the King COMPETITION to be in the mid-range of computers, above the entry-level, powerful classic range of "Genius" models, but just below the Luxury line of Exclusives. If you can afford $400-500, the King Competition is the ideal computer for you.   Where to Buy your King Competition Computer Chess House gives you the peace of mind you need to receive yours quickly and easily with 90 days guarantee to change your mind, and then a full warranty and personal help beyond that. If you happen to lose a piece in the future, Chess House is known for getting another one to you with no hassle. Get your King Competition today! We're honored to deliver you the best in chess so you can enjoy it in your home or wherever you play.

Here's a look at the Centaur chess computer that plays at your level so you'll always have a suitable playing partner as your skills grow. It auto-senses the moves for a completely natural chess experience.

DGT celebrates its 25th anniversary with a very special version of the wireless e-Board. The Limited Edition DGT Bluetooth e-Board is covered in leather and is made by a master craftsman in Milan, Italy. The modern chess pieces are handmade by the best woodcarvers in India. The DGT3000 chess clock that completes the set is customized in a matching black and red color design. Only 50 of these sets are made! Each board is completely unique with its own serial number and Certificate of Authenticity. The DGT electronic chessboards have connected events and audiences, players and computers for decades. From the world championships to personal home use, DGT boards have enhanced chess play and study with real chess boards connected to powerful chess computing. Now, celebrating 25 years, this eye-catching, completely unique, limited edition board is available to chess connoisseurs and collectors. Buy the DGT Limited Edition 25th Anniversary ChessBoard

Joanna and I watched the sun lower this week across the Haro Strait near Lime Kiln lighthouse. Several times a year, Orca whales breach during the sunset in this spot. This evening, smoke enhanced the pink red sun surrounded with pastel hues with a greyish blue backdrop. It was time to pause completely and see the sun set in a fresh new light. Although no Orcas where spotted, it was a mesmerizing, calming panorama.  If you visit the beautiful Pacific Northwest, be sure to take a ferry or small flight to the San Juan island, the second largest of hundreds of islands in the region. It's a fascinating region visited by some well known figures.This piece of Washington state might have belonged to England and later Canada if it weren't for the Pig War in which the only casualty was a pig!  It might well have been settled over a game of chess between the American and English camps but unfortunately it was not. When planning class curriculum, effective learning doesn't require that latest gadgets. Experiences and methods that worked before can be shared in a fresh new way. There has been some remarkable innovation in devices to support chess play. However, some of the most useful tools for chess learning are the classic concepts that haven't changed much over the years. Chess computers have been around for decades and these days some may seem outdated. But it's exactly these basic tools that parents and educators are recommending to assist children with healthy brain development that's associated with the use of fine motor skills and strategy concepts. Chess School is an inexpensive chess computer that provides hours of play and learning.     

Starting a chess program for students in a school can be a rewarding and intellectually enriching endeavor. Chess is known to enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills in students. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started:1. Research and Planning:Begin by researching the benefits of chess in education. Gather information about successful chess programs in schools, both locally and globally. Understand the curriculum, resources, and strategies they employ. Identify the age groups and grade levels you wish to target.2. Support and Approval:Seek support from the school administration, teachers, and parents. Explain the educational benefits of chess and how it aligns with the school's goals. Obtain the necessary approvals to ensure a smooth start and ongoing support.3. Recruit Chess Enthusiasts:Identify teachers, parents, or community members who are enthusiastic about chess and willing to volunteer their time. Having knowledgeable and passionate individuals involved can greatly enhance the program's success.4. Resources and Equipment:Gather chess sets, boards, and clocks from Chess House school supplies. If budget allows, invest in good quality equipment that can withstand regular use. You might also consider digital platforms for virtual practice and learning.5. Curriculum Development:Develop a structured curriculum based on the students' age and skill levels. Start with the basics of chess rules, piece movements, and the objective of the game. Gradually introduce more advanced concepts like tactics, strategies, and openings.6. Lesson Plans:Create engaging lesson plans that combine theory and practice. Incorporate interactive activities, puzzles, and games to reinforce learning. Make sure the lessons are progressive, allowing students to build upon their skills.7. Chess Club or Class:Decide whether you want to establish an after-school chess club or integrate chess into the curriculum as an elective class. Both options have their advantages; a club offers flexibility, while a class ensures a consistent learning schedule.8. Promotion and Recruitment:Promote the chess program through school newsletters, announcements, and parent-teacher meetings. Highlight the cognitive benefits of chess and its positive impact on academic performance.9. Engaging Activities:Organize regular chess tournaments, friendly matches, and interactive sessions. These activities foster a sense of camaraderie among students and provide opportunities to apply their skills in a fun and competitive environment.10. Ongoing Training:Provide regular training for the volunteer instructors. Encourage them to attend workshops, online courses, or seek certification from chess organizations. Well-trained instructors can deliver high-quality instruction and maintain student engagement.11. Assessment and Recognition:Introduce a system to track students' progress. Recognize achievements through certificates, medals, or trophies. Celebrate milestones and improvements to boost students' motivation.12. Parent Involvement:Encourage parents to participate in the chess program. Organize parent-child chess events, where students can showcase their skills and enjoy chess with their families.13. Feedback and Adaptation:Collect feedback from students, parents, and instructors regularly. Use this feedback to refine the curriculum, adjust teaching methods, and enhance the overall program experience.14. Showcase Success:Regularly share success stories, improvements in critical thinking, and academic achievements resulting from the chess program. This demonstrates the program's value and encourages more students to join.Starting a chess program in a school requires careful planning, dedication, and a genuine interest in fostering students' intellectual growth. By creating a structured curriculum, involving passionate instructors, and engaging students through interactive challenges, you can establish a successful and rewarding chess program that leaves a lasting impact on young minds. Chess4Life can help you run a successful program by guiding you and providing resources for the elements above.

In a few minutes you will understand how to read and write chess moves, called “chess notation”. Being proficient at this will help you read and play through games of great players to learn and improve your own chess game! There is a wealth of materials both in book and digital form allowing you to study the chess moves of great chess players. Chess Recording Sheets most oftened called “scoresheets” are a fairly standard paper recording format for the game player, event, moves, and result. These are in use by the US Chess Federation as well as international organizations such as FIDE which overseas all world-class competitions. Algebraic Chess Notation is the current and best form to learn of which Figurine Notation is a derivative swapping the piece names for figures to be langauge neutral.   Why should I write down my chess moves? Replay them! Chess notation enables you to record your games for playback later. That day you played a superb game of chess… wouldn’t you like to be able to play through it later and show your friends? Learn from them! Recording the game with chess notation enables you to review your game and analyze how you could make better moves or learn from a lost game. If you’re learning from an instructor, they will be able to quickly give feedback by looking at your recording sheet. It’s required in competitive play! Chess competitions require move recording at scholastic to championship levels. The most basic reason is proof of the game’s specific position and number of moves in case there is a dispute. Timed competitive games often have a time allottment to reach 40 moves and it must be clear when that point is reached.   Chess Notation Explained Chess Notation describes each move with the name of the pieces and the square to which it is moved. Each piece has its own letter abbreviation, except the pawn. If no piece is named, it’s assumed to a pawn move, and Knight is “N” not “K”, which is King.   In the following diagram I made the first move pawn to e4. The name of this move is simply “e4”. (since the pawn’s name is not written)   Here’s how this would appear on a scoresheet used in clubs and tournaments.   Now black has made a pawn move, written e5. Next, White replied Nf3. Notice how the name of the piece is written as well as the name of the square.   Now, we’re going to fast forward to some special moves. See in the next diagram how white has made a special move called castling kingside. This move is written as 0-0. If the King castles on the queenside (to the other direction on the chessboard) it would be written as 0-0-0.   In the next diagram, White captures Black’s pawn on d5. This move is called exd5. For “capture” write an “x”.   Next, White captures the Knight on c6 with the Bishop. This move is written as Bxc6+. Notice the “+” sign. This represents “check” since Black’s King is now in check.   White just moved his pawn to d4. Black’s next move exd3(ep), is a special move called “en passant” capturing white’s d4 pawn in passing while moving his pawn to d3 – as if the pawn had moved to d3.   After several more moves, Black captures White’s Bishop on c1 with dxc1=Q. That’s about as complicated as it gets! This means pawn captures piece on c1 and promotes it to a Queen. Black could promote it to any other piece he chooses, but Queen’s are nearly always the best choice. In the rare game, a player has promoted the pawn to a Knight with checkmate.   The next move is Raxc1. Note that either the rook on A1 OR F1 can capture the queen. This means that the “a” must be included to indicate which rook was played.   In this next position, black makes a winning move, d4++, pawn to d4 CHECKMATE! By now you may have guessed that this game was created for moves illustration. It’s true, White has made some rather questionable moves.   That’s all you need to know about standard Algebraic Chess Notation! You’ve learned the notation standards and how to indicate the special moves check (+) en passant (ep) castling (0-0 or 0-0-0) checkmate (++). If you wish to take this a step further, you can learn about annotating a chess game, a form of analysing the game in notation form so that others view the annotators opinions of moves that were made.   Extra: Chess Annotation Symbols You’ll find that once you can read and write chess notation, your world is opened to a wide expanse of chess knowledge. Diving into this will help you improve your game as a chess player and you’ll be able to advance strides ahead of your friends. In addition to writing the moves themselves, chess players will comment on the strengths and weakness of chess moves with chess move annotation symbols. These are some of the symbols you’ll see … Black’s move ! Good move !! Excellent move ? Bad move ?? Terrible move (blunder) !? Interesting move ?! Dubious move Notice how some of these comments have been placed on the scoresheet shown above. With this introduction to chess notation you should be ready to record and reply games with condifidence.