Chess Club

Stop playing with chess & play winning chess

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Pawns of Heaven
Monthly Club Meetings

Fourth Mondays after school 3:10 - 4:10pm

(Starting January 23, 2025)

We meet after school on first Mondays in the sixth-grade homeroom for open play. Fifth through eighth graders of all skill levels welcome! Parent pick-up is at 4:15pm at the front entrance of the school.

Download a printable score sheet:

Open in Google Docs

Knights of Ávila
Spring Varsity Chess Team

February 10, after school

Did you know St. Teresa of Avila is the patron saint of chess?

Middle School students can try-out for our varsity team, the Knights of Ávila, that will meet weekly in the spring during our school Club Season. Varsity Chess Club will meet weekly to learn more advanced strategy and rated play with teammates. The season will end with a tournament competition.

Prepare for tryouts with this checklist:

Open in Google Docs

Great Beginner Chess Books

Play Winning Chess
Yasser Seiriwan

Hailing from Seattle, one of the top American Grand Masters introduces 4 basic principles for new chess players.

Amazon

How To Beat Your Dad at Chess
Murray Chandler

Grand Master Murray Chandler teaches 50 common endgame checkmate patterns.

Amazon

Learn Chess the Right Way
Susan Polgar

A series of puzzle books from a renowned teacher and chess world champion.

Amazon

Logical Chess: Move by Move
Irving Chernev

This Grand Master teaches you all about winning chess by walking through games explaining every move!

Amazon

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Why Chess is an Important Part of a Catholic education

“The game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it, so as to become habits, ready on all occasions.”

- Benjamin Franklin,
The Morals of Chess

Chess has been part of Christian formation for centuries to develop the mind and soul by strengthening:

• Attention span
  
• Logical decision making
  
• Diligent work ethic
  
• Respect for others, rules and, authority
  
• Humility
  
• Prudence and reasonable risk-taking
  
• Foresight
  
• Circumspection and thinking in systems
  
• Resilience from failure
  
• (Multi-generational) Friendships of virtue
  

“By generous civility you may indeed happen to lose the game to your opponent, but you will win what is better, his esteem, his respect, and his affection.”

- Benjamin Franklin,
The Morals of Chess

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