Course Schedule and Catalog

Long Title: CHESS FOR BEGINNERS: A BOARD GAME THAT MIRRORS THE WORLD (MCMURTRY)

Department: College Courses

Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Language of Instruction: Taught in English

Course Type: Seminar

Credit Hours: 1

Description: The game of chess is hundreds of years old, played around the world, and considered by many to be the most popular game of strategy in human history. Richard Réti, a man famous for his study of endgames in the early 20th century, once said that “In the idea of chess and the development of the chess mind we have a picture of the intellectual struggle of mankind.” In looking towards these historical games and players, we must ask: The game of chess is a tool to practice our logic and problem-solving skills. How can we use it to discover our best self through the eyes of players past? This course will teach you the fundamentals of chess and provide you with the tools you need to improve your chess play outside the classroom, offering room for self-evaluation. There will be guidance on beginning, developing, and ending a chess game, thorough analysis of historic and culturally relevant chess games and players, and structures for taking notes on games to better study the game. You will write papers analyzing your own play as well as the play of chess grandmasters, with multiple opportunities to play the game and learn through experience against your fellow students.