Death by Myopia

When teaching new students, one of the more difficult tasks is getting them to focus on finding the checkmate instead of capturing all the pieces. Gobbling up piece after piece is no good if that is your goal. Giving up pieces in order to deliver a checkmate in chess is called a trap. The attached video is a perfect example of this.

I have watched too many of our children fall victim to the "traps" of getting "stuff". No vision. No purpose. Just "secure the bag" and "get money". While I don't knock money as a tool, when it becomes your "endgame", the trap has been set and the "checkmate" of prison or death isn't far behind. This is why I love teaching chess to kids. Let's help them get in FRONT of the traps instead of having to react after the fact. Once the trap is sprung, it's too late for the prey. #NOTG #Chess #Endgame #WatchForTheHook