All the right moves

This kid has all the right moves
By: Elizabeth Ellis, Staff Writer

MADISON – When it comes to one of the world’s oldest board games, sixth-grader Hank Cohen knows all the moves. For his second year in a row, Cohen from Brown Middle School took first place in the 45th Connecticut Association of Schools Scholastic Chess Championship – the only one in his class to go undefeated.

“When my Dad and I were playing board games like Stratego and Monopoly, we were always cheating,” says Cohen. “So my Dad decided to teach me a game you couldn’t cheat at, which was chess.”

Cohen’s father, Jeff says even though he has played chess in the past, the more he played against his son, the better he got.

“I was a novice chess player to begin with, and the I soon diminished in his shadow,” says Jeff. “Only if he is in a really generous mood will he let me win.”

The championship was held during the weekend of April 14. Cohen says students were split into pairs that were computer-generated, and he only played against other sixth graders.

“In other competitions I’ve done, sometimes people are chosen to play together based on skill, but it didn’t work that way here,” says Cohen. “It was a lot of fun.” “He’s motivated all by himself on this: it’s not like we’re shoving a chess board in front of him and forcing him to practice,” says Lisa Nee, Cohen’s mother. “We’re very proud of him.”

Here is the full article.