Students bring chess to life
By Hanna Chu, Staff writer
Article Launched: 06/11/2007 10:41:15 PM PDT
LONG BEACH – “Queen to A-6, Check,” announced sixth-grader Benjamin Quincey over the microphone at Bethany Baptist Elementary School’s playground.
Students holding giant chess pieces shuffled around, trying to figure out who was supposed to move where.
The Chess Club at Bethany finished off its sixth year by playing two historic Bobby Fischer matches on a living chess board on Monday.
Each student was assigned a chess piece to hold while standing on a large chess board mat, and Quincey announced the moves. The students enacted Bobby Fischer’s 1971 Manhattan Blitz game against Walter Shipman and his 1977 game against the MIT Greenblatt computer program.
“Black pawn takes D-6,” Quincey said.
The chess club had 28 members this year, ranging in age from 5 to 13 years old, in a school that has an enrollment of about 230 students.
“It’s a great way for the kids to learn life skills,” said Principal Bill Cook.
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Way to go principal Cook!
I think the large outdoor chess sets are a great way to engage children and introduce them to chess.
I’ve been trying to obtain one of these for our church youth group, but they are a little too expensive for our budget. Anyone have any alternative ideas?
Rich
Yes, that is a great way to get the kids interested in chess. I wish that many more schools would follow in these footsteps!