CHESS

After math, the kids get a few minutes of chess instruction. Here they're starting a 5-minute blitz game using a chess clock. We've tried a number of ways to make games between them more even, either by reducing Alton's material or by giving Verity a certain number of hints during a game. When they play complete games like this (rather than exercises and end game positions) my primary focus is to teach them positional play (proper piece development, King safety, pawn structure, etc.) rather than having them worry about all the tactical moves that they're missing. Better tactics will come with experience.