“Mom, can you teach me how to play chess?” Those words may delight you, or they may strike fear into your heart, depending on your own confidence and familiarity with this beautifully complex game. Fear not, even if you’re a rank beginner. You can guide your child through a fulfilling and enriching chess journey. Read on for some helpful advice on how to teach kids chess — better!

Start Small

It may seem like the obvious first step when teaching kids chess is to set up a full board and go over all the rules, right? Maybe, maybe not. That may work well for some kids, but it’s a lot of information for most. The way the pieces move may be confusing or hard to remember at first, never mind complex rules about when you can touch them. While introducing the basics is essential, reinforce them by carving them into smaller pieces for focused sessions.

Simplify the Playing Field

One way you can make the introduction of chess basics more fun is using chess activities targeting a few pieces at a time. For example, Pawn Wars is a game using only the pawns. They move as normal from their regular positions with the goal of crossing the board first. This not only teaches your chess kid how pawns move, but it will also help with endgames and openings. Another simple game to play is Tag—yes, it’s just what it sounds like. Place a handful of pieces on the board and designate one piece as “It.” That piece chases the others until one is captured. The captured piece becomes “It.” This is a flexible game to teach how pieces move, with the added benefit of teaching a little about forks and pins.

One item that helps young players play independently is a Buddy Board. The Buddy Board provides all the basic information a new player might need to reference as they play, from board setup to checkmate. Sturdy enough for club play, this reference reinforces the basics while making play easier for everyone.

Keep It Short and Sweet

Lessons for beginning chess kids should be short and focused, with some variety in the activities. For example, a half-hour of chess may include a few puzzles, 5-10 minutes of instruction, an exercise reinforcing the concept, and a quick game. When your chess kid is working on a more serious study, an hour of study should always include time for some lighter exercises and a game—try a fun variant like Blitz. Chess kids look forward to playing so much that chess coaches often use it as a reward at the end of a session of hard work.

Keeping sessions short and having them frequently keeps even the youngest kids looking forward to their next chess day. If your kid has serious talent and the drive to do more, reevaluate with a coach or club mentor—but don’t assume learning chess takes many hours a week.

Follow a Chess Teaching Program

When you’re ready for more structure and guidance while teaching chess, try one of the step-by-step chess teaching programs available.

Book series are a popular way to teach chess. If your child is a confident reader, they can progress through the program at their own pace, following the lessons and asking questions as needed. If you need or want to be more involved, you can pace the lessons to your child’s interest level and ability. Additionally, if you’re not a chess player, it’s easy to stay a lesson or two ahead in a hard copy chess program. Two good options are the Dutch KNSB Scholastic Chess Course (Book One) and Coach Jay’s Chess Academy (Book One).

Another excellent resource for parents is the free curriculum available on ChessKid.com. This set of downloadable teaching materials is intuitive enough to be used by a parent with little knowledge and robust enough for a chess coach with an afterschool club.

There are also chess apps on the market aimed at kids. ChessKid.com offers the "Chess for Kids – Play and Learn" app, featuring lessons and game-play options. Lichess is a more robust chess app with Kid Mode. Kid Mode can be turned on by parents and can’t be turned off without the password. Children should not have unrestricted access to chat boards or messaging, so be sure to carefully review any chess apps for potential user interactions. Additionally, an app with cluttered ads or too many daily “quests” may detract from the goal of learning the game.

Join the Club

Kids pick up the basics of chess very quickly. You may find that your young player wants to know more or has complex questions you can’t answer—what then? Happily, your next step is simple! Find a chess club that suits your family's needs and sign up.

There are three main types of clubs for young players. The easiest one to join is a school club if you’re lucky enough to have one available. School clubs are convenient and usually inexpensive, and it’s fun to make friends at school. Check your school website or call to find out if this is an option.

If a school club isn’t an option, look for a chess club in your area. Start with your state US Chess affiliate. They have listings of clubs with a focus on children’s chess. There may be commercial clubs or chess schools that have after-school programs and structured lessons.

If you live in an area without a local chess club, there are online schools that serve kids with opportunities for lessons, coaching and online play. Search for online chess schools on your browser and carefully compare the offerings to decide which one works best for you.

Develop the Whole Player

One of the best things about teaching kids chess is the emotional and social growth it engenders. Make sure you take full advantage of the opportunity by keeping a few specific things in mind.

Chess etiquette is a foundation for good sportsmanship. It requires a greeting, a fair game, and a handshake to acknowledge your opponent’s effort. Follow these conventions during your sessions, even if it’s just you and your child. If a mistake is made, gently correct them and explain why it’s an issue. They’ll model their own play after yours.

Talk about the big feelings a loss (or a win!) may cause, and how to deal with them. Emotions run high during a hard-fought chess battle. Each game, whether won or lost, is an opportunity to develop and practice self-regulation. While your chess kid may still have occasions where they struggle after a difficult game or challenging situation, facing those situations with grace will eventually become easier.

Set goals and celebrate achievements. Winning games is only one aspect of chess for your player. Entering a tournament, playing a game with a grandparent, or solving a chapter of puzzles are great examples of achievements that don’t put all the emphasis on winning. Celebrate reaching goals with something fun.

Inspire your chess kid with stories about kids their own age doing great things in the world of chess. Along with the young grandmasters who become famous for their ratings and norms, there are stories about chess changing lives and making the world a better place. For example, pick up a copy of “My Name Is Tani . . . and I Believe in Miracles” to read together. It’s the incredible story of an eight-year-old fighting through homelessness to win the 2019 New York State Chess Championship.

Play Chess—Lots of Chess

Once you’ve covered the basics and worked your way up to full chess games, play chess! There is no better way for a beginner to learn than playing chess. You don’t have to be a skillful player to play with them, either, just set up the board and go. They’ll learn something from every game, whether it’s seeing a new strategy, making a blunder, or finding a way to win.

In the beginning, you may want to play with a handicap by removing some of your pieces from the board before play starts. Some coaches start with only their pawns and king! This presents an interesting challenge for seasoned players and offers beginners a competitive opportunity. It’s not fun to lose over and over again at something new. Adding pieces back in is a little confidence boost, as you can say, “You’re getting good at this! I need my bishops!”

It may be hard to find enough time to play as much as you want to with your child. A chess app with kid-safe features is a good stand-by when you just can’t put your responsibilities aside. One that we love is Lichess. As mentioned above, it features Kid Mode for safety, along with a wide range of variants to keep the game fun and exciting.

Make time for fun! Children should play against other children whenever the opportunity arises. If there’s a giant board at a neighboring park, take advantage of it. Play fast-paced variants like Blitz — kids love the unpredictability of split-second decisions.

Conclusion

You can feel confident about teaching the children in your life how to play chess using these tips. Many great players have fond memories of the person who introduced them to the game, whether it was a parent, teacher, or friend. Get started today for many fun hours together, building confidence and resilience for life!

Frequently Asked Questions