Chess House Review

Funny Bunny has wanted to learn how to play chess for a while now, so she was excited to receive the Starter Chess Learning Kit from Chess House!!

The kit is really nice and everything fits inside a zip-up case!  The kit includes:

* Elliott's Chess School DVD 1 - Pawn Level

* Solid plastic chess pieces with 3 3/4" regulation size king

* Roll-up chess board

* Chess bag that holds all 32 pieces, roll-up chess board, and DVD 

The chess bag comes in black, green, navy, green camo, and tan camo.  We received tan camo.  Doesn't it go nicely with Funny Bunny's decor?  ;)

Once opened you can see there are compartments for the chess pieces, DVD, and rolled up chess board. 

The board was easy to take out and unroll and laid nicely on the table.

At this point, the DVD was essential!!  The only person in our home who knows how to play chess is hubby, and he is far from an expert.  We found the DVD to be wonderful and easy to follow.  

It features an introduction of the chess board and of each piece, strategies for each piece, and a booklet with practice positions and exercises for every topic on the DVD.  This was really the best part!

Topics include:

• Intro to Chess (board, names of pieces, values)
• Pawns
• Rooks
• Bishops
• The Queen
• The King
• Knight
• Castling
• Pawn shields and when to break it
• Development

This video series is designed to lay a solid foundation, building the basics of playing a great chess.  If interested, there are three more levels in the Elliot's Chess School Series.  Elliot does a great job of introducing the viewer to the game and explaining in simple terms how to move pieces.

The DVD is not made to watch straight through and then play a game of chess.  After each topic, you open the booklet and play the described exercise.

For example, after learning the pieces and their values, you play a game where you race to see who can set up their pieces on the board first.  Then you play a game where one person calls out a number and each player gathers their pieces in any combination to equal that value.

After mastering one topic, you then move the to next.  I like this concept.  Below is a sample of the video.

Thoughts of a 10-Year Old:  I have been enjoying Chess House.  A couple of years ago we borrowed a chess program from a friend, and ever since I have wanted to play chess.  And I think this really helped me learn how to play, step-by-step, and now I'm a pretty good chess player!  It gives lots of tutorials and it has a few mini games for each piece until you master the game of chess.  There are six levels: Pawns, Rooks, Bishops, Queen, King, and Knight.  I like this product so much and it has helped me to become a better player!   

Find Out More:  You can find out more online at Chess House.  The Starter Chess Learning Kit retails for $49.95 but right now is on sale for $39.95.  It is ideal for all ages, and would make a great gift!

My Crewmates are also reviewing Chess House, so you can check out what they think HERE.

Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Our Homeschool Reviews and get our articles right to your inbox!

©2010-2013 Our Homeschool Reviews. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://ourhomeschoolreviews.blogspot.com/