Self Study in Chess

Chess is part of this schoolyear's PE curriculum in our school, thanks to the progressive and non-traditional approach of our Headmaster. I have had the chance to teach the basics of the game to interested students who were given four choices of sports for this term: basketball, swimming, table tennis and chess and chose the last one. We got seven for this term in my PE Chess class out of 108 students but interestingly, at least five non-registered chess students come to me on a daily basis to hand-in their chess worksheets.

These five middle years program students have asked me if they can do these worksheets even if they're not enrolled in the class for two reasons: a) they want to be part of the chess teams for the coming Manila International Schools Athletic Association or MISAA and b) they want to get a headstart on the subject once they enroll by second or third term.

MISAA is an association of small international schools which is on it's first season and chess tournament and swimming events will be sponsored by Mahatma Gandhi International School. Yours truly will be the commisioner for the chess tournament come January 2010.

Going back to these five self-study chess students of varying levels and skills, there is one thing I noticed from them, they are self-disciplined when working with their tasks unsupervised. As always, it's these self-motivated individuals that actually progress towards the mastery of the game.

I have always asked everyone who comes to me for chess lessons to work on the book "Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess" first which I find so helpful whether one has zero knowledge of the game or is in need of a review of the game basics.

Here is the list of the books and websites I give to my students on a self-study chess program:

1. Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess (BFTC)
2. Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess (CIGTC)
3. Chess for Dummies (CFC)
4. Compilation of NM Dan Heisman Articles from Chesscafe.com (CDHA)
5. Chessercizes 1 and 2 by Bruce Pandolfini (CBP)
6. Laszlo Polgar's 5334 Chess Problems Book (The Brick)

I usually ask them to start with Mate in 1 from The Brick while working on BFTC chapters then move on to Mate in 2 and CIGTC. All this time, I tell them make sure they get enough dose of 30 minute or more chess games on a weekly basis if daily games are not possible.

I have always reminded them about performing well in school and at the same time working on their chess skills. Borrowing from Bobby Ang, he told us in my interview with him years ago:

"Chess is suppose to make you a better person."