2020 Nationals What is Nationals? Nationals is an annual tournament where elementary chess players from around the country compete! Where will the 2020 Chess Nationals be held? Nashville, TN at the Opryland Hotel How do I know if Nationals is appropriate for my child and how can they qualify? Nationals is an ‘open championship’ meaning […]
The Queen of Katwe is a real-life story told in a book and Disney live-action movie…and the story continues to develop. At Chess4Life HQ in Bellevue, WA, thousands of students develop Life Skills Through Chess: critical thinking skills, focus, planning, social-emotional skills and more. On the opposite side of the world, similar life-changing results are […]
In 2013, our Founder and CEO, Elliott Neff, heard about an inspiring book entitled The Queen of Katwe. This story chronicles the life of a young girl named Phiona Mutesi who was born in Katwe, a Ugandan slum where food, water, and clothes are difficult to come by. Despite her harrowing circumstances, Phiona was […]
What is a chess rating? A Chess Rating is a number typically ranging from 400-2000+. It is an estimate of a person’s tournament playing strength. You receive a rating after playing in a rated tournament once your name is entered into the database of players. The number will go up or down depending on […]
Finding a balance between your children’s wants and your needs while piecing together a full summer schedule can be daunting, as there are hundreds of summer programs in the Seattle area to choose from. Which programs are best? Look for programs that have the following four elements, and both your needs and your child’s needs will be met. 1.) Variety Summer offers […]
Arrive Early! With over 1,100 competitors at State, roughly 5,000 people are expected. Parking can be especially challenging if you arrive late. If possible, come on Friday and visit the event to acquaint yourself with the layout. There is free parking in the parking structure next to the Tacoma dome and a free light rail […]
1.) Chess Skill Preparation PRACTICE CHESS TACTICS AND PUZZLES We recommend approximately 15 minutes per day, 5 days a week. REVIEW PAST TOURNAMENT GAMES Review the last 20-30 tournament games to refresh on where the student could improve or WOULD improve if playing the same game again. PRACTICE ENDGAMES Spend at least 30 minutes reviewing/practicing basic […]
We want to give a big THANK YOU to all those who participated in the 100 board simul last weekend! 115 people ended up playing against Elliott which was a personal record for him in a simul.
On April 24th, Chess4life played host to Phiona Mutesi, a young girl with a powerful story of success and inspiration. While visiting, she spoke to students, told her story, and even took the time to play some games with children while teaching them to think positively and have confidence in their own abilities. Phiona’s youth […]
Excitement buzzed in the air as hundreds of students and families flooded to downtown Seattle for the 2014 Washington State Elementary Championships. The tournament was held on the Seattle waterfront in Smith Cove Cruise Terminal, a two story building with 145,000 square feet of space. In addition to players and their families, numerous chess related […]