Practically every day of the year has a celebration. National Chess Day is a day to honor those masters of strategy.
According to Wikipedia, the history of chess can be traced back nearly 1500 years to its earliest known predecessor, called chaturanga, in India; its prehistory is the subject of speculation. From India it spread to Persia. Following the Arab invasion and conquest of Persia, chess was taken up by the Muslim world and subsequently spread to Spain and the rest of Southern Europe. The game evolved roughly into its current form by about 1500 CE.
Nowadays, chess is enjoyed by most people no matter their age. There are specific boards for children to learn the game as well as boards for the masters. Boards based on books, video games and more. There are those who demonstrate their love of the game based on their preferences for a game board.
How to Host a Family Day Chess Tournament
There are many benefits to holding a family chess tournament. The best part is spending time with your family while learning the strategies and moves from each other. Next is getting the kids to learn more about math and how chess and math go together. Last but not least, they’ll be learning critical thinking and strategy.
- A couple of chess boards. Take the number of people playing and have 1 board for every pair of participants. 6 people playing? You’ll want 3 boards.
- A chess clock – you can download Android and IOS from chess.com
- A bag to store the chess board and clock for easier storage and traveling.
Since this can take a while due to the time limits of the game, you’ll want to have some snacks available to keep everyone fed and hydrated. Here are some fun things to make.
If all adults, make a charcuterie board. Nothing like a little chess, some cheese bites, etc. and some fine wine.
If a mixture of ages, you can be more diverse in your snack offering.
Checkerboard Cake – A delicious cake. The pan makes the magic.
Checkerboard Pie – In this classic Southern pie, pantry staples yield a velvety custard filling: sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, and apple-cider vinegar.
