I’m typing up this blog before I head out for a movie night. I’m a huge film fan you see. As well as going to the movies I love music, travel, yoga and of course chess. I used to love putting chess down as a hobby on application forms. As a young teen I thought it gave me an edge amongst my peers. Does chess attract the more perceptive mind, the analytical or reflective? Or does it allow a person to develop these traits, channel them and use them for a pass time?

There were no clubs for me to play or train when I was young but it was still something I included as a hobby. And proudly. For the students in your class or club it may also be their hobby. The question, ‘what are your hobbies?‘ is so personal. Even sharing mine in a blog feels like I’ve shared too much! For our students it’s forming part of who they are, how they see themselves. They may be thinking ‘I am a chess player’ as they create an identity. They should hear these words from us. We should praise them, empower them. Teachers have so much power with their students, we shape attitudes and inspire self-belief. Have high expectations for both girls and boys in recreational, educational and competitive chess.

Mind training

I also love hot yoga. If a few days pass without practicing yoga I feel it’s absence. But there’s only one hobby that allows me to concentrate fully and that is chess. Even with the dimmed lights and candles, the white noise from the hot air flow system and the yogic breathing I can’t stop thoughts entering my mind. We’re told to acknowledge them in class and let them pass like clouds. But it’s so hard. I can only focus fully with chess.

Values

With chess there are no clouds passing through my mind, no distractions. I’m concentrating fully. We’re surrounded with so much information from social media, from the outside world, that our young children often find boredom an unfamiliar experience. After-school activities and gadgets have become the norm. The old pass time of doing nothing has been replaced with scrolling on a phone. So the gift of chess is special. The social connection it gives but also the space to concentrate fully. Like many hobbies, we can lose ourselves completely.

A full class of children playing chess is quite magnificent. Thirty mini humans focusing, in game flow, no matter their level. We’re giving them an experience of extreme concentration. Showing them hard work yields results. What you put in you receive. That some things take time. Not everything in life happens instantly. Be patient, small goals, reflect and do better. There are so many of life’s lessons hidden on the chessboard.

Connecting

I also noticed the impact of chess for an older mind. My sweet father-in-law is staying with me for a while. He’s 80, physically fit and doing well. But I noticed something amazing this week. I watched him play backgammon. He came alive, initiated conversations and was excited to compete. He played several games, discussed strategy and commented on his sons’ game play! There were smiles and competition. The roll of the dice reflected the mood in the game. Gentle to start then aggressive. Then uber cool and confident. There is something beautiful and powerful in the throw of the dice! Think of Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer in Casino, the dice roll in that film…that’s what I saw!

Connect 4 or 20?

Before you go, I want to leave you with a take away for the classroom. I’ve rediscovered the wonderful game of Connect Four which is available in our ‘Strategy games’ section. I forgot how brilliant it is! I’ve been playing on LogiqBoard and online. It’s simple to learn and quick to play. A very inclusive game. Did you know there’s a fun 3D version with balls that you throw, a great version to play at family gatherings!

Click here to play Connnect Four:

https://logiqboard.com/boards/clone/8BjSAC_9xf

I can’t wait to take this game into class. LogiqBoard is the perfect platform. I don’t have enough money for 15 Connect Four boards and they can be quite flimsy. I’m very much at the ‘ideas and planning stage’ for this lesson and thought it might be interesting for you to see how I begin. Here are my initial thoughts (clouds) and questions:

1. I’ve watched Connect Four You Tube videos. The optimum square for player one is the bottom middle.
2. The pro players discuss a number seven formation of counters, this could be a teaching moment on LogiqBoard.
3. Imagine the students creating a 3D version with balls and plastic cups!
4. LogiqBoard is the perfect platform to play Connect Four. The whole class can play at the same time and it’s safe for children to use.
5. Create a 6×7 board from the bottom so children use co-ordinates confidently. Block out the 7th and 8th rank.
6. Puzzle example: Find the winning move for red/yellow
7. Puzzle example: Can you find the blocking move?
8. Puzzle example: Record moves for the quickest possible win for red.
9. Game variation Connect Icosi where the winner is the 1st person to create a line of their own chess pieces that totals 20.
10. Children can explore the possible lines of pieces before they begin playing, exploring ways of making 10 or 20.

As you can see the ideas stage is very exciting! I love my game creation named after the Greek number twenty. Game design is a great task for students too, it gives them ownership, motivates and you get to see creative ideas being tested.

Have a lovely end of February.

Your homework is to try out Connect Icosi:

https://logiqboard.com/boards/clone/n-vv8NusYQ

Hari x