I wrote here about what happened back in 1960 when my parents gave me the Gift of Chess for Christmas. Giving your children the Gift of Chess this Christmas will offer then a passport into a world of intellectual stimulation, excitement and beauty, membership of a vibrant international community, lifelong friendships and a lifelong hobby. …
Writing for Novices
If you look at the Chess Heroes books you may notice they're not written in the way most chess books are written. I have very specific principles I use when writing for novices, some of which are chess specific, but some could be applied to other domains. Every sentence and every position is there for …
Meet the Parents (3): Mr & Mrs Z
Now meet Mr & Mrs Z, also wonderful parents who want the best for their children, but their approach is very different from both the X and Y families. They're asking themselves some very different questions about childhood. Like all parents - and everyone involved in childhood in any way, they're very concerned about the …
Meet the Parents (2): Mr & Mrs Y
Mr & Mrs Y's children, just like those of Mr & Mrs X, have very busy lives. But there the similarity ends. They want their children to excel academically, and also to excel at everything they do outside school. They have very different cultural values, are very family oriented, and instill into Master and Miss …
Meet the Parents (1): Mr & Mrs X
I guess I should start by explaining that I'm not a parent, although I've talked to many parents over the past half century. Perhaps this puts me in a better position because I can take an objective approach. It's been fascinating, and, at times, disturbing, to see how parenting has changed over the years. Meet …
Doing Things Wrong
By the late 1990s I realised that, specifically within primary school chess clubs: the WRONG teachers (including me) were teaching chess the WRONG children were learning chess children were learning chess at the WRONG age children were learning chess in the WRONG place children were being taught chess using the WRONG methods children were being …
Knowledge and Skill
If you want to succeed in any skill you need three things: generic skills, domain knowledge and domain skills. Take, for example, football. You'll probably require generic skills such as speed, strength, stamina, agility, as well as domain skills such as tackling, passing and shooting. You don't need very much domain knowledge (the offside law, …
Becoming a Chess Hero
Why is this called the Chess Heroes project? Here's your answer. To be a true hero you need three things. You need courage. For example you'd rather play stronger opponents because you'll learn something when they beat you. You'd rather play on than accept your opponent's draw offer, because, whatever the result, you'll learn from …
Chess Heroes Ethos
We see chess as a game for older children and adults, not as a game for younger children, Most children start playing complete chess games too young. Most children are taught chess both incompletely and too quickly. Many children are encouraged to play formal competitive chess before they're ready. Most children don't need professional chess …
The Right Way to Teach Chess
I guess most children are shown all the moves in 20 minutes or so and then encouraged to start a complete game. My view is that this, while well intentioned, is the wrong approach, and is why many children, although showing early enthusiasm, are put off the game, often for life. Educational theory teaches us …
Chess for Heroes 