Skills across-the-board

hen Josalynn Smith and Sable Van Meter showed up for their first chess club meeting, neither knew how to play the game. But 45 minutes later, the 7-year-old pair of second-graders were learning how to solve chess problems, move pieces across the board and understand the basics of the game.

The chess club at Franklin Elementary School in Cape Girardeau is starting its second year, this time with the help of a Russian chess coach. Grigoriy Kapranov, who is studying American education systems at Southeast Missouri State University through a year-long exchange program, is also a championship chess coach in his home country.

In the moments before the students gathered for the meeting, he moved tables and chairs, set up boards and devised problems for the students.

Sponsor Jo Ann Bohnert likes the idea of a chess club because the students learn so much from the game. They understand about strategy, consequences and problem solving. "I'm always stunned at how quickly they pick up the game," she said.

Bohnert, who learned chess from her fifth-grade teacher, spent about 20 minutes Wednesday with Josalynn and Sable, teaching them the names of the chess pieces and the direction they can move.

At the other end of the table, fourth-graders Devin Raines and Nathan Fridley sat in front of chess boards trying to solve a problem Kapranov has laid out for them.

Nathan moved to the other side of the table to gain a new perspective on the board. Finally, he saw how to move the pieces and put the opponent in checkmate.

"They need the problems because it's training for their skills," Kapranov said. When chess problems are laid out on a board, and the students have to solve the puzzle, they are more interested in the game, he said.

"If I just explain it to them, it's boring for them. But when they have a chess task, it's very interesting in their eyes."

Alex Bess and William Gonzales played two games of chess during the 45 minutes they met for chess club. The game is easy for William because he learned from his sister, who was in the club last year, he said. Alex says it's a little harder than he thought, but then this is his first year in the club.

Alex said he has played chess with his grandfather, who always carried a set with him.

Nathan played chess with his father before coming to chess club. "I've never beat him," he said. But he likes the challenge of the game. "It's just a fun game. It challenges me and you have to think. A lot of times I'll move one way or not realize I could move that way and then somebody else does it. I like planning it out because it's complicated."

Many of the students have heard about chess before coming to the club, Bohnert said. They know about the game because a grandfather or father plays -- few American women play chess. They like the game because it's something new. It's also good for them to learn about concentration, she said.

The chess club is open to any student at the school, though younger students are usually recommended by a teacher. "Last year I had a first-grader playing against a fourth-grader," Bohnert said.

And chess is a game the students can play for the rest of their lives, she added.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126