Sharpen Chess Skills

Chess club popularity growing
By: Matthew Renda, Staff Reporter
09/18/2008

RHINECLIFF – Looking to sharpen chess skills, one better be advised before sitting down with a member of the Morton Memorial Rockin’ Rooks, a local youth chess club that meets every week at the Morton Memorial Library.

The young members of the Rooks meet every Monday from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

D. Suris, a teacher at Chancellor Livingston Elementary School and principal organizer of the club, is teaching children ages 6 to 12 how to use the scholar’s mate, a series of four moves veteran chess players can use to quickly defeat rookie opponents.

“Chess is a wonderful game,” said Suris during a recent interview.

“It also helps young minds develop. It helps with reading, social, emotional, language arts, geometry and strategy.”

Suris described how the club went from being a small group of dedicated young chess players to now having at least 16 attendees on a regular basis.

“Last year we went to St. Joseph’s Chess Tournament in Kingston and finished third overall with only five kids,” said Suris.

“Most teams brought 40 or 50 kids and we still managed a high finish.”

I think the momentum from that strong showing has led a lot of parents to want to involve their children,” she went on to say. “It came from friends telling their friends that their son or daughter is really enjoying themselves. There are no tears when you lose or jeers when you win.”

Alec Gautier, 9, said that one of his favorite things about the game is the mental challenge.

“It’s a strategic game that takes a lot of concentration to play,” said Gautier. “I like it because it builds knowledge and it’s important to be smart.”Miles DeMartino, a young student who is progressing rapidly, said many of his friends would rather play video games than a game like chess.”

Chess helps you learn and it’s a lot of fun,” he said.

After teaching her students the basic principles of the game, how each piece moves, when you are in check or checkmate, Suris attempts to teach the children the scholarly elements of the game.”

Some of my students that progress rapidly are already being taught some openings like Royal Lopez, the Knight’s Gambit and other famous moves,” said Suris.

Suris said that forming a club was vital to generating interest in the community in the game. “Parents can take their children to local tournaments by themselves, but the kids don’t get to participate as a team,” Suris said.

“They don’t get to discuss their wins and losses and different moves. Having others interested really helps the children get the most out of the experience.”Suris said the Rockin’ Rooks club will be playing tournaments in early November and throughout the winter.

Interested parents or children should contact the library at 876-2903.

Source: http://www.zwire.com/