Playing in the chess lesson

The exercises prepare for the game. Plan time for playing in every lesson. Start, if you can, from a position on the topic of the lesson.

Four ways to play

Themed game

All pairs play the same position on the topic of the lesson, until a stated aim is reached, for example “White wins a piece”. Then they swap colours. If the aim is not reached after 4 minutes, they swap anyway.

Pawn game

Mating practice

From Level 3. White has king e1 and queen d1, Black only the king on e8. White starts. One child plays White, the other defends and counts White’s moves. If White does not mate in 25 moves, the attempt counts as not done – a stalemate too (stalemate means: Black is not in check, but cannot move). If mate is not done after 5 minutes, the attempt also counts as not done. Then swap roles. Later with king and rook: White king e1 and rook a1, Black king e8, 30 moves at most.

Free game

A normal game from the starting position.

If the number of children is odd, in the group of three child C is arbiter first, and A plays B. After the colour or role swap, C plays A, and B is arbiter. Next time a different child is child C.

Change of partner

Free games are played in rounds of 10 minutes, the pawn game in rounds of 4 minutes. When partners change, child A stays seated and child B moves one board on (from the last board to the first). Colours are drawn: one child hides a white pawn and a black pawn in their fists, the other chooses a fist. At the signal all games end; unfinished games are draws. If the number is odd, in the first round the third child of the group of three has a break and is arbiter. Before the next round they sit down as child B at the first board. Child B from the last board does not move on; they now have a break and are arbiter. There is no ranking.

Rules for playing time

Touch-move (from Level 3)

Whoever touches one of their own pieces must move it, if that is possible. Whoever touches an opponent’s piece must capture it, if that is possible. A move counts once the piece is let go on the new square. Only the player to move may straighten a piece – and only after saying “I adjust”.

Rules question

Both children put their hands flat on the table. Nobody touches the board until you or the arbiter are there.

After the game

One minute: “Show me the moment when the game was decided.” In the pawn game with short rounds, that minute happens only once, at the end of all the rounds.

Chess clock (from Level 4, not required)

5 minutes for each side. Whoever runs out of time loses. Exception: the opponent can no longer force mate, for example because they have only their king left. Then the game is a draw.