20th July International Chess Day

Let's come together on International Chess Day 2024 to celebrate the timeless game of strategy and wit, and to discover the endless possibilities that chess has to offer. This annual event, recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) since 1966, aims to promote chess as a means of developing intellectual and cultural values, as well as fostering solidarity among people across the globe.

Parents 'push' their children to play chess because it 

• enhances cognitive abilities. Chess has been shown to improve memory, concentration and problem solving skills.

• teaches life skills...patience, resilience, sportsmanship, planning ahead, consequence of your actions and winning or losing with grace.

• promotes social interaction. Despite being a solitary pursuit, it is a very social game, fostering friendships.

• transcends language and culture.It doesn't matter where you are from or what language you speak, the game is universal and the rules are the same for everyone.

I am often asked for books on chess, but not many of them are written for the young students I teach. We have some quite old ones, but these are some new ones.

My First Chess Book  by Katie Daynes

Learn how to command a chess army in this friendly introduction, with entertaining illustrations on how the pieces move, and tons of tips on attacking, defending and winning. A perfect starting point for young children.

The Life-Changing Magic of Chess by Maurice Ashley

Chess is a bit like doing magic. The pieces come alive and you're the magician. You get to move them where you like, within the rules of the game. Cool, huh? So let me take you back to the very beginning and show you how it's done...

Discover why the world's first Black Grandmaster Maurice Ashley thinks that chess is one of the best skills in life. 

Chess for Kids  by Elena Ulyeva

This entertaining and informative introduction to chess teaches children the basic rules of the game, the names of the pieces, and how they move on the board. Readers can follow along with an adorable character named Little Pawn as she finds her way across the chessboard to reach the Queen!

Chess Legends Alphabet  by Beck Feiner

The latest in a series ... From Kasparov to Xin, Polgar to Fischer, Chess Alphabet Legends is an A to Z of the most tactical and cunning chess maestros ever to play the game. Grab your rooks, knights, and board, and prepare for a masterfully illustrated journey sure to captivate chess fans of all ages!

The Queen of Chess  by Laurie Wallmark and Stevie Lewis.

The queen of chess, Judit Polgár, dazzled the world as a prodigy, winning tournaments, gold medals, and defeating eleven world champions, including Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen. At her peak, Judit was rated the eighth best chess player in the world.

When there are chess competitions at school not many girls enter, so this book may help convince them they too, can play chess.