Winning Chess Exercises For Kids is a comprehensive workbook for
students who have already developed some proficiency at basic tactics.
Full of original material, it’s an ideal study guide for
practising the material presented in Winning Chess Strategy For Kids.
The main part of the book consists of 100 exercise sheets with
nine diagrams each. The positions include forced checkmates,
combinations that win material, defensive and general strategic
problems, as well as endgames. The extensive solution pages give
detailed analysis of both correct and incorrect moves. Important
concepts are explained in clear and simple language.
Although it can be used independently, this book was designed as
a companion to the author’s Winning Chess Strategy For Kids and
Winning Chess Puzzles For Kids. Taken together, they provide a complete
course of instruction for the aspiring young player.
From
the author’s notes:
Chess exercises vary greatly in degree of
difficulty. Finding the appropriate level for students is important.
Problems should be hard enough to challenge them but also easy enough
to keep them encouraged. The material in this book will be too
difficult for many children. It is intended as a “second
level” course. Young players with little experience should begin
their studies with more basic tactical exercises, like those in Winning
Chess Puzzles For Kids. Working through that “first level”
material is good preparation for the more advanced exercises in this
book.
Teachers should find the exercise sheets a useful
resource. They are ideally suited for homework assignments. The focus
is on tactics, but the inclusion of a strategic problem and an ending
on each sheet makes for a complete program of study. Although the book
can be used on its own, it was written as a companion volume to Winning
Chess Strategy For Kids.
The majority of the examples are original compositions. Others
were taken from various sources and altered, usually beyond
recognition. Changes were made in order to clarify the solution,
eliminate needless complications, adjust the level of difficulty, or
otherwise make them more instructive. The general goal was to put the
winning idea into a new setting.
The name Best Move Contest originated in the Saturday morning
classes I taught at Bloor Collegiate in the early 90’s. The
student with the top score actually won a prize!
