Learning, check; fun, checkmate: Red Hawk Elementary in Erie plays host to kid-friendly chess tourney

 By Beth Potter

Staff Writer

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Red Hawk Elementary School student J.D. McCue, 8, said he got excited about chess because his grandfather in New York taught him to play.

Samantha Altschuler, 11, another Red Hawk student, said her dad taught her the basics, including how to “castle the king” to protect it.

Adam Richardson, 10, a student at Blue Mountain Elementary School in Longmont, and his mom. Megan Richardson in Longmont, learned together with a game that uses instructional cards, chess pieces and a chess board. As people playing the game learn more about the chess pieces, they put the cards away, Megan Richardson said.

Wyatt Hendrix-Johnson, 10, another Red Hawk student, said he plays chess at home with his parents.

The four students and 18 others on Saturday played for points in a round-robin St. Vrain School District chess tournament at Red Hawk Elementary School in Erie. All students involved in the tournament played five games, with each receiving points for things such as winning games and for taking their opponent’s pieces. At the end of the tournament, organizers recognized the top three point-takers and all of the students who participated.

Samantha said she sometimes plays chess against a computer, but she likes it better when she can play other people. She said her dad also taught her how to use the knights and bishops to attack her opponent’s king.

“I know how to make a good defense,” Samantha said.

Chess players win the game by putting their opponents’ king into “check mate,” which means there’s no place for the chess piece to be moved without being blocked.

For Adam and his mom, chess has started to take over family life. Adam, his sister and his mom, for example, were all involved in a recent “live” chess event at the Longmont library. Adam asked to be the most powerful piece on the chess board — the queen — in the “live” event, and was granted his request. His sister was assigned to be a pawn, Megan Richardson said.

“(Adam) surpassed me in no time at chess,” Richardson said. “We keep a chess board in the car for when we have extra time.”

J.D. said his grandfather taught him how to control the center of the chess board, but he now has come up with his own strategy for winning games.

“I’m excited that my son wants to do this and how the love of the game gets passed on,” said his mom Suzanne McCue. “I love that my dad taught my son how to play.”

Chess is a “well-known secret” learning tool for elementary school-aged children, said Rowan Tate, the chess tournament organizer. Many schools in the region have chess clubs students can join, he said.

“It’s so good for kids’ brains and development and helping them with strategy,” Tate said.

Tate started a business wizkids.org to provide chess enrichment programs. He got involved in tournaments when he was a student but ultimately decided he likes teaching even more than playing chess.

“One of the coolest things is that chess makes learning fun, so they’re enjoying it, and it’s making them smarter,” Tate said.

Beth Potter: 303-473-1422, [email protected]

Wyatt Hendricks Johnson, 10, left, plays a game against Maddox Scarpella-Coet, 10, Saturday while Parker Driscoll, 10, and Connor Waldau, 6, watch during the St. Vrain Elementary Chess Tournament at Red Hawk Elementary School in Erie. (David R. Jennings / Staff Photographer)MeasureMeasure