Remember the belt loops are for the scout doing their best to learn about the sport or academic activity, and by putting the new techniques to practice with fellow scouts, in their community, or working with an adult.

Remember the belt loops are for the scout doing their best to learn about the sport or academic activity, and by putting the new techniques to practice with fellow scouts, in their community, or working with an adult.

1. Identify the chess pieces and set up a chess board for play.

2. Demonstrate the moves of each chess piece to your den leader or adult partner.

3. Play a game of chess.

Reasons For Playing Chess

• Chess is an educational tool.

• Chess uses higher-order thinking skills.

• Chess provides for healthy competition.

• Chess knows no age, gender, or cultural boundaries.

• Chess can be played anywhere.

• Chess is cost-effective.

• Chess can be an individual or group activity.

• Chess can lead to national recognition.

Know Your Chess Pieces

	The King: The King is the most important piece.  When he is trapped, his whole army loses.  The King can move one square in any direction. (An exception is "castling," which is explained in the website listed in Resources.) The King may never move into check - that is, onto a square attacked by an opponent's piece.
	The Queen: The Queen is the most powerful piece.  She can move any number of squares in any direction (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) if her path is not blocked.
	The Rook: The Rook is the next most powerful piece.  The Rook can move any number of squares vertically or horizontally if its path is not blocked.
	The Bishop: The Bishop can move any number of squares diagonally if its path is not blocked.  At the beginning of the game, you have one Bishop on each side of the King.
	The Knight: The Knight's move is special, as it can jump over other pieces between.  It moves two squares horizontally or vertically and then makes a right-angle turn for one more square.  The Knight always lands on a square opposite in color from the color of the square it left.
	The Pawn: The Pawn moves straight ahead (never backward), but it captures diagonally.  It moves one square at a time, except on its first move, when it has the option of moving forward one or two squares.

U.S. Chess Federation
3054 NYS Route 9W
New Windsor, NY 12553
Phone:    800.388.KING
Fax:    914.561.2437

Web Site:    http://www.uschess.org

Chess-In-The-Schools
353 West 46th. Street
New York, NY 10036
Phone:    212.757.0613
Fax:    212.757.7704

Web Site:    http://www.chessintheschools.org/

Chess-in-the-Schools is a non-profit corporation dedicated to motivating at-risk children and enhancing their higher-order thinking skills, self-confidence, and academic achievement by using the game of chess as an educational tool.