Kersey Wilson, 9, moves his knight Saturday morning at a chess tournament at Trinity
Lutheran School. The tournament was open to students in Crook, Deschutes,
Jefferson and Wheeler counties. Photo by: Anthony Dimaano / The Bulletin

Critical thinking, sportsmanship on board at chess tournament for area youngsters

After studying the chessboard in front of her Saturday morning, 10-year-old Brittany Lampe moved a white bishop into position.

“Check,” the Bend girl said.

After she and her opponent studied the board for a moment, Brittany added, “mate.”

Brittany was one of more than 50 young chess enthusiasts who competed in a one-day tournament held at Trinity Lutheran School in Bend, open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The regional tournament, open to students from Crook, Des- chutes, Jefferson and Wheeler counties, was sponsored by Chess for Success, a Portland-based nonprofit organization that uses chess to teach children critical thinking, sportsmanship and other skills.

The top finishers in six age groups — kindergarten through fourth grade, fifth grade, sixth grade, seventh grade, eighth grade and ninth through 12th grades — advanced to a state tournament that will be held in March. The top teams in two divisions, kindergarten through fifth grade and sixth grade through eighth grade, will also compete at the state level.

A fifth-grader at Elk Meadow Elementary School, Brittany said she has been playing chess for about three years.

Brittany, one of less than a dozen girls at the tournament, said her older brother taught her how to play.

These days, she deploys her pawns, knights, bishops and rooks against classmates.

“I normally play at lunch recess,” she said.

She said she likes to open a game by moving one of her knights, jumping over the line of pawns in front of it.

Brittany said that, aside from the queen, her knights are her favorite pieces, because opponents forget to watch for them.

The knight is the only piece on the board that can jump over another piece and moves in an L-shape — essentially two squares forward and one square to the right or left.

She said she was a bit surprised at the turnout Saturday.

“It’s kind of surprising because a lot of people would think chess is a boring game,” she said.

Brittany, though, said she found it “addicting.”

One of her frequent opponents at school, 8-year-old Wyatt Jacobus, said he has played chess against others at a family reunion, at the public library and at school during recess.

“I just like that I can use my brainpower,” he said.

The Bend third-grader added that he likes knights, because the pieces are shaped like horses, and the queen.

“The queen is the most powerful piece of all,” he said.

Bend third-grader Conner McGee, on the other hand, said he liked pawns the most, because a pawn that makes it to the other side of the board can be exchanged for a piece that has been taken by the opponent.

Conner, 9, and his older brother, Hayden McGee, 11, were both playing in the tournament.

Both participate in a school chess club at Trinity Lutheran, according to their father, Todd McGee, and both competed in the regional tournament last year.

For 11-year-old Alexis Rastovich, though, Saturday’s tournament was her first.

“I think I’ll be playing chess a lot more now that I’ve been competing,” the Bend girl said. “I want to compete more.”

She said playing chess has made her learn how to focus and concentrate.

Her younger brother, Max, 6, who was also competing in the tournament, said he just thought chess was fun.

“It’s the bestest board game that I like,” he said.