How My Son Became a Chess Master
Frank Ho
Canada Certified Math Teacher
Founder of Ho Math and Chess
My son Andrew was interested in chess when he was a bit over 5 years old and at that time my chess knowledge was zero. I thought it was an interesting project if I could learn chess together with him so I went to the Vancouver library and borrowed a few chess books and started to teach him chess by reading those chess books.
Once he learned chess moves, we played games together. Perhaps it was because I could teach end game in separate and independent topics, Andrew learned the end game first. Initially I had to study the moves of all kinds of end game tactics first before I could teach him, but gradually I could not study fast enough to teach him so I had to ask him to study with me together by using a method that is I read the book and he made all the moves according book instructions, the end result was often he understood the meaning but I was still trying to piece all the information together.
Now I have taught many young children chess and many of them are even as young as 4 years, I was able to observe how Andrew or some strong players behaved differently form other weak players at the very young similar age. My personal observations of strong young players are they possess the following characteristics:
1. Can grasp the chess ideas very quickly whether it is theory or tactics.
2. Incredible good memory and can remember the variations of opening lines very deep.
3. Are very much interested in playing and thoroughly enjoyed it.
4. Have a sharp eye in seeing tactics and also the results of what if etc.
5. Have patience in finishing playing a game from the beginning to the end despite the end result might be a loss.
6. Is more willing to think alternate moves before making a move.
Only after learning chess a few months, Andrew was able to make fast progress and at that time I knew I need someone else to help him to advance to a higher level. At the same time, I was trying to find him a chess clubs but in the 1990’s era, there was no junior chess club in Vancouver so I had to bring him to the Senior Chess Club in Kerrisdale. A few of seniors showed some discomfort in playing such a young boy although a retied medical doctor showed tremendous interest in playing Andrew and the doctor took all the time he needed to make a move (no clock was used) when played against Andrew. Perhaps because of this, Andrew was trained to be patient when playing chess at such earlier age – Andrew was a bit over 6 years old.
Quickly we realized that we need to find a place so Andrew could continue to hone his skills, UBC (University of British Columbia) Tuesday night chess tournament was a perfect place since he gained so many points by going to UBC Tuesday night and played against adults. At this point, there was no benefit for Andrew to play against other children since Andrew was already in different league.
What troubled me the most was I could not find anyone who I personally feel could teach Andrew to bring him to the next level or perhaps to the world chess competition level. The problems I found with most the chess coaches at that time were the following:
1. They all had their pet openings in mind and could not teach other lines well if Andrew was interested in learning other lines, so it might be beneficial for Andrew just to buy chess books and learn from books.
2. Most teaching are not structured well enough so Andrew could see the whole picture, instead a piece meal fashion way of teaching was conducted so the effect is Andrew would not be well and thoroughly trained.
3. No experience or idea on how to train a young child to bring him to the world stage.
4. No training plan is in place but rely on casual presentation of personal past accumulated chess knowledge or experience.
5. No analysis on what opening style is suitable for Andrew to play.
6. Most chess coaches did not even prepare for the lesson but were only
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Tags: Alternate Moves, Became, Chess, Chess Books, Chess Ideas, Chess Knowledge, Chess Master, Chess Moves, End Game, End Result, Game Tactics, Learn Chess, Master, Math Teacher, Memory, Opening Lines, Patience, Personal Observations, Playing A Game, Son Andrew, structure, Vancouver Library, Variations
