Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Flash Chess 3 - Dont use it

Its full of bugs.

I spent a two frustrating hours last night playing it and there were some legal moves it would not allow me to do. Most involved diagonal moves to the opponent's first row.

What do you recommend? DD8 seems to like chess and playing chess titans.

I'm not all that in the know about what's available and what's good.

I just started playing again this week and liked the Flash 3 presentation, but it has bugs. I am still looking.

OT - My DW wants to learn chess - hence the search - and I am really afraid that once she starts playing the computer she will KMA.

hee hee hee.

girl power.

I've been reading about beginning chess for kids and I wonder if anyone has experience with Fritz and Chesster learn chess or Dinosaur Chess. The Fritz and Chesster is for kids age 8-12, and the dinosaur chess is for kids age 4-7. It seems like the Dinosaur Chess explains chess in a more traditional way (building up on knowledge), whereas the Fritz and Chester uses games that may not clearly relate to the chess pieces.

I am leaning toward Dinosaur Chess, but wonder if anyone here has used it since I'm worried about interest level for HG kids. DS5 is very much a beginner.

Fritz and Chester is one that my son really likes. It isn't very advanced, but does a good job of making learning the basics fun. I myself am not a chess player so can't offer more than Ds likes it. He also likes the chess game for the Nintendo DS.

We have got Lego Chess on the PC for my DS6 and both he and DS4 love it. I don't know much about it but you can change the level of difficulty and from what I have seen it is very interactive and you can get help with your moves if you need it.

XX

Thanks elh and Tiz. I didn't realize there was a lego chess computer game. My DS is all about legos. (fyi -i'm thinking of this as a possible bribe for DS so he cooperates with the WJ-III. It's hard to come up with good bribes sometimes!)

Both DS5 and DS7 loved a board game called No Stress Chess beginning at about 4yo. It's just like chess, but you draw cards and have to move the piece on the card. It takes away the need to have to anaylze EVERY piece on the board when you're first learning. But it does teach you how to move every piece. It also (through the cards) introduces an element of chance, so that a kid is more likely to legitimately beat an adult even fairly early on. The game has a slightly different strategy for winning than regular chess due to the element of chance (aggressive is almost always the best choice in No Stress Chess), but both kids learned the basics well. Not sure if this helps, or if you're only looking for computer games....

I couldn't give a more glowing review on the entire Fritz and Chester series. Our son learned chess at 4 and really picked up quite quickly with this program. It is a wonderful program with great graphics and interesting ways to motivate children while teaching excellent skills. He blasted through all three levels. Our son has since acheived national recognition in chess and we are often asked how he got started and who taught him. His Dad introduced the game but Fritz and Chester is the program that really engaged him!