Musings on law, tech, chess & other topics by a geek

In a little over a week I start teaching chess again after a 4 year break from the game.  I stopped playing back in 2005 to seriously pursue a career in the law, copyright and activism.  It has been a long haul through law school, and I am sure I made the right choices, but during this time I have missed chess greatly.  Chess is a game that challenges the mind and teaches valuable skills around focus, dedication and strategy.

My return to chess is promoted mostly by Gwen’s new school and my desire to help teach kids again.  When I lived in Vancouver WA, I taught chess at several local elementary and middle schools working with kids from age 5 to 14.  What amazed me the most about working with kids is how quickly they learn chess.  I did not pick up the game until my late high school years and not seriously until I was in my 20′s.  What took me months to learn about tactics kids could learn in weeks or even days.  Chess is like language acquisition, the younger you learn it the easier it is.  For now I am starting teach just at Gwen’s School, but I may be taking on a few students, in the coming weeks feel free to contact me if interested in studying chess either as a student or a peer.

I should start working on my tactics again I am sure they are uber rusty, also if i am going to recommend to a child that wants to play in tournaments to practice a bit every day they maybe I should too.

Photo By dlkinney under CC BY