I walked with a group of chess players to a nearby fast food restaurant. There was plenty of time before the next round. Inside the restaurant was an incredible scene, one I had never imagined. Chess players were everywhere. Most of the tables had a roll-up board in the middle, with players seated on both sides looking on as someone played through their just completed game by reading moves from their score sheet, re-creating their tournament game. I found an open seat at one of the tables and sat down.

The player showcasing his game gave his opinion of the moves, going over other options and scenarios that could have been. The onlookers chimed in with suggestions. The atmosphere seemed casual and friendly, so I worked up my courage, finally suggesting, "Or maybe you could go here," and pointing out a move I considered good. No one criticized me for making my suggestion. In fact, I felt encouragement from the player reading over his moves. He and the others seemed to want my participation.

For the three days of that tournament I happily lived and breathed chess. There was the morning game, then over to the fast food place to analyze and eat, then the afternoon game. My mom would pick me up right after that, unless I had a very short game.

I finished with two wins, three losses and a draw (a tie) in the tournament. Although that wasn't a great result, it did wonders for my game. After that I could beat my friends at school every time. As my tournament experience grew, I could see good improvement. And of course I always went with fellow players between rounds to eat and to go over games - my favorite part.

Related:
-- Why Chess Should Be a Part of Every Child’s Education?
-- Family bonding through chess
-- When should I start teaching chess to my child?
-- What does chess have to do with imagination anyway?

We are thankful to Dan and Laura Sherman for this article.

About Dan and Laura Sherman : “Dan and Laura Sherman met through chess in Los Angeles in 1992. Both were strong tournament players in their youth and developed a passion for the game. Now that they are parents they feel it is time to start teaching the next generation. They started Your Chess Coach early 2008 and now have over 40 students in five schools, as well as various private students locally and online all around the country. Their purpose is to help the next generation develop the many skills one gets from getting good at the game. Imagine where our world would be if the next generation had sound problem solving skills!”

Laura can be contacted at Laura@YourChessCoach.com, www.YourChessCoach.com