How To Start A Chess Club: Variant Games

 

Welcome back, new chess coaches!  In today's article we will look at variant chess games that can help your kids develop.  Variety is the spice of life and kids love change and challenge.  If you've not tried any of these ideas, why not give it a whirl?  I have included several videos.

1. Team Chess: 

In this activity the kids play in a team of three (or four) players.  Three kids are ideal if you can pair up a strong player, and a medium player and a novice player.  There are three boards used for each game.  The tables are arranged in such a way (three parallel sets of tables) so that the "real" board with a clock is in the center. 

I like to use game 15 (G/15+5) so I can fit a complete game in a chess club meeting, but if I'm not pressed for time, G30/+5 is ideal.  There are also two analysis boards -- one for each team.  The board in the center is the true game board and the only board that really matters.  Players are allowed (and encouraged) to talk to each other.  One member should be making the moves and hitting the clock, one team member should be recording the game and all should be discussing ideas!

2. Team Chess, the Silent Version: 

Unlike the first version there is only one board, but still three members on each team.  One player should be recording the moves and G15+5 or G20+5 is a good format to fit into a chess club meeting.  In this variety game, the kids cannot communicate in any way, shape or form with their team members or other players (including groans!). 

The students take turns making moves (player 1 White, then player 1 Black, then player 2 White, etc.). 

You can also do this on ChessKid using "Fast Chess" -- this way you know you have perfect notation.  It is amazing how many different ways a child will look at the chessboard and completely misunderstand the intentions of a fellow player.

 

At the end of the game you can expect animated discussions of what was the correct play and incorrect play.  Having notation makes these discussions more meaningful.  The purpose of this activity is to show players that there are many ways to perceive positions on a chess board. 

 

3. Around the World: 

This is a lot of fun!  In this game you set up four or five chess boards on one long table.  The students have 15 seconds to make a move.  If I am running the game, I will have a timer (usually my iPhone) in my hand.  The students will rotate every 30 seconds clockwise to a new board (unless they are at the end of the table, where they will make a move for one side and the the other). 

I will start by saying WHITE and they have the next 15 seconds.  If they don't make a move, they lose their opportunity.  Then announce BLACK, then ROTATE, and the process begins again. 

Like bingo, the first player to announce checkmate wins the game.  I like this game because it helps the students scan quickly for tactics and eventually they learn that if they are on the end boards, they can set up checkmate by making a move for one side that sets up a winning position.  

This helps students see checkmate in one and two patterns.

If you have an odd number of students, one student stands at the end of the table and waits his/her turn to rotate back into the game.

 

4. Blindfold Chess:

In this variation the game is played with poker chips.  One side is blank or marked with stickers; the other side has a picture of the chess piece or the name of the piece written on it.  The pieces are placed on the board in ordinary fashion, except...that they are turned over so once play begins the player has to remember the positions of the pieces. (See the video below for an example of the game being played.)

The game plays as usual with all normal rules.  If checkmate occurs, the game is over.  However, if a player feels that the other player has made an illegal move, (e.g., moving bishop like a rook), he can challenge the move by asking the poker chip to be turned over.  If the challenge is correct the game is over and the challenger wins.  If the challenger is wrong, the other player wins.  This is very challenging and a lot of fun!

There are other variant chess games like blitz, bughouse, four-way chess, suicide chess...look these up too!

Until next time!  Keep on keeping on!