We'll have a variety of information on the Chess Club posted here, including meeting dates, links of interest to members and their parents, homework (YES, homework!) and some other stuff as it gets developed. So check back often!

We have a new addition to our Chess Club site - the Ridgecrest ES Chess Club Art Gallery. Be sure to check it out! And a big "thank you" to Eli for sharing his picture.

Meeting Dates
The 2010-2011 Chess Club will begin on Thursday, October 7, 2010 from 2:50 - 3:50 PM in our multi-purpose room. The club meetings will be separated by grades. Siblings can attend whichever meeting is more convenient for parents.

• 1st & 2nd grades on 1st Thursday - Oct 7, Nov 4, Dec 2, Jan 6, Feb 3, Mar 3, Apr 7, May 5
  
• 3rd grade on 2nd Thursday - Oct 14, Nov 11, Dec 9, Jan 13, Feb 10, Mar 10, Apr 21, May 12
  
• 4th & 5th grade on 3rd Thursday - Oct 21, Nov 18, Dec 16, Jan 20, Feb 17, Mar 17, May 19 NOTE: No meeting in April due to FCAT
  

Links
These are sites that are a good source of information on chess for both club members and their parents.
Chess Kids Academy - this is a great site for learning about chess

Homework
"Do I hafta?" Only if you want to learn to beat your Uncle Bob.
Chess Kids Academy
Start with the first lesson - The Board and the Pieces and work thru all the lessons. There is a quiz at the end of each lesson. A lot of these will be review and it shouldn't take more than 10 or 15 minutes to work through a lesson and the quiz. It will take you longer for lessons on new material. Be sure to keep track of your progress.

Books
How to Beat Your Dad at Chess by Murray Chandler
A great book, even for Dads. There is a LOT of information in this book and a quiz at the end. Available at the public library, but you'll probably want your own copy.
Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess by Bobby Fischer
This is a really good book full of concepts and lots of puzzles.