The
following is a typical progression through scholastic chess (click
on the links
to get additional information):
1. Learn how to play chess from a parent, friend, book, or even a couple of lessons from Dan2. Make sure you get all the common rules correct, especially promotion (multiple queens allowed), castling (the King moves 2 no matter which side you castle), en passant, draws (3-fold repetition of position, 50-move rule, stalemate, lack of mating material, etc.) from an experienced player, a good book (The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess by Wolff is a great first book for older students), or a lesson with Dan. It is not a good idea to start playing with the wrong rules!
3. Play at least few dozen games in a fairly short period of time to get to recognize the pieces and how they move, and the basic rules. Play against a relative, neighbor, computer (ChessMaster, et al), or friend. If you want, get my new chess book, Everyone's 2nd Chess Book (I can sell one to you) and a tactical book, such as Bain's Chess Tactics for Students (I also have some of these for sale) or Wollum's Chess Tactics Workbook.
4. If you really like the game and want to continue to improve:
5. Continue to play in clubs, tournaments, with the computer, and with friends. If you see that you are serious and want to work to get better, then by all means take lessons from Dan. Lessons will help identify both things you are doing that can be improved and a method for doing so efficiently, so your improvement will be greatly facilitated. All really good players had steady coaches when they were learning, just as with a musical instrument.
- Learn how to keep score in algebraic notation (most beginners books),
- Purchase a decent set, clock, and scorebook,
- Start playing in scholastic chess tournaments (see my Guide to local scholastic tournments as well) and/or
- Join a chess club to play periodically against better competition, like the Huntingdon Valley Chess Society Juniors or the Main Line Chess Club.
- You can also play on the Internet with servers like the Internet Chess Club (ICC) - if you mention my name as a reference when you join - thanks!
What percentage of students who initially really like chess stick with it as a hobby continuously until college or throughout life? (Note: some players start, stop, decide they miss it, and then start again) Everyone is different, but here is a very rough estimate: