Oberlin Chess Club instructs local youths

Elementary school boys and girls are trading in their boredom for another kind of board.

Oberlin elementary schools are enjoying visits from Oberlin Chess Club members who are teaching an after-school class on chess.

"What are we doing today?" Zach Braford, third-grader, asked first-year Oshon Temple, his teacher, as they walked down the hall toward the classroom.

"Chess," Temple answered with a smile. The two of them entered the classroom and were joined minutes later by fifth-year Tom Wensink, teacher and chess club co-chair. The nine-student class was divided into beginning and advanced groups.

Temple took the advanced students through a chess game, asking them why each move was made and what they would do at each step. Afterwards the students took boards and chess pieces and began to play against each other.

"I like to play a lot because I can teach myself how to play chess," fourth-grader Leo Evans said.

Two of the students played using the demonstration board. Temple moved between the games, offering advice and asking questions.

In another part of the room, Wensink played the disappearing pieces game. This game involved moving a piece, then removing that piece from the board. The students have to remember where the pieces are.

Wensink noted that he had learned the game from last week tournament guest speaker Bruce Pandolfini.

"It's a complete exercise in visualization," Wensink said. "It makes the kids aware of all the pieces on the board." Later, his students dispersed to play their own games. One student stayed to play a game with him.

These elementary school students come to the hour-long after-school program for various reasons. Some of them knew the game before they came, others did not.

"I don't like being cooped up in the house with my sister all day," fourth-grader Scott Koenning said. "I sort of like chess."

Others didn't know anything about the game.

"I thought chess was a boring game," third-grader Keturah Belcher said. "I wanted to find out if it was." Being in the after-school program for a semester evidently changed Belcher's mind. "It's a fun game and it doesn't give you headaches," Belcher said.

The teachers share the students' enthusiasm for the game. "They really enjoy it, and I really enjoy just learning from them and helping when I can," Temple said.

(photos by Laren Rusin) Checkmate: (Top) An elementary school student/future chess master ponders his next move.
(Middle) Senior Jacob Hauser helps a student understand her move.