You
are already way ahead of most young chess players if you are in a chess
club at your school. You may be familiar with most of the rules,
the language, the thought processes and the discipline that the game of
chess teaches.
If you are having fun now playing your family members and your
schoolmates, think how much fun it will be to compete in a tournament
where your schoolmate opponents become your teammates. Plus think
of how much you will learn by playing against opponents that use
strategies you have never seen before.
And then there are also the prizes for all participants and the
trophies for the top players and teams.
Some of the area schools are hosting a tournament and those in the
appropriate age groups may attend.
We hope you'll not just wait for your school to host or to wait for the
closest tournament. We'd like to see players try and attend as many
tournaments as will fit in your family's schedule.
We understand that some players may be apprehensive about playing in
their first tournament. The instructors at the Chess Center have
some suggestions for helping you prepare:
1) Play lots of chess at home.
2) Read a chess book. Many are available at the Chess
Center and we can suggest one based on your experience.
3) Play in a Saturday training tournament at the Chess Center.
4) Attend a Chess Camp (often held on school holidays and during
the summer).
5) Take after-school lessons on Monday or Tuesday at the Chess
Center.
Call the chess center for more information about these activities or
about trying to start your own tournament: 585-442-2430.
We want to see players do well at these tournaments and discover, like
we have, a lifelong pleasure with the experiences and people you'll
meet in a chess career.