About This Activity
This novice/beginner level summer camp is for those completely new to the game of chess, and for those who may have been introduced at home or elsewhere, but don't have a solid grasp of the fundamentals yet. Topics to be covered include: chessboard terminology and square identification; how the various pieces move and capture, plus their relative values; pawn promotion; the crucial concepts of check, checkmate, and stalemate; the special move of castling; opening goals and principles; basic endgame checkmates using major pieces; and last, but not least, good chess etiquette. Potential campers that know/understand most, if not all of, the topics listed above, should enroll in the AEF/ACC post-beginner/intermediate level summer camp, "Chess: Beyond the Basics" instead. AEF/ACC chess camps are a mix time-wise of instruction and supervised play. The instructor will organize and run an unofficial tournament in the latter half of the week at their discretion (if enough campers have progressed sufficiently to play a full game), with labeled medals as awards for all participants upon completion. With its nearly 1500 years of history, chess is arguably the greatest and most popular board game of all time. Numerous studies have suggested that learning and playing chess at an early age can yield various benefits regarding cognitive skills. Confidence, decision-making, and sportsmanship are other areas of potential improvement. The benefits and enjoyment of chess can last a lifetime!
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