My 6yo brother (just six in March) has been getting steadily better -
he has been playing chess since I taught him at 4yo and currently he
has a high-rated tournament-playing IM as his teacher. If I were to
guess my brother's rating I would say 1200. We brought him to a
psychologist for testing and his IQ tested at 154. Currently he
attends a "gifted" school where there are casual chess games. The
only problem is that we don't want to enter him into a kid tournament
as typically their ratings are so low yet at the same time if we enter
him into an adult tournament he may feel intimidated (as he is small
even for his age) and is known to flip out a bit (crying, stamping)
when/if he loses a game. He does seem to genuinely enjoy playing and
is perfectly happy playing the computer (does not seem to get upset at
the computer). Yet he likes the idea of winning especially
trophies/money etc. Any advice on how to proceed? Thank you.

-Scott

Sounds like you have a lil Bobby in every way shape and form !

Best thing to do would be to have him kidnapped and deprogrammed immediately




"Scott" wrote in message
m...
My 6yo brother (just six in March) has been getting steadily better -
he has been playing chess since I taught him at 4yo and currently he
has a high-rated tournament-playing IM as his teacher. If I were to
guess my brother's rating I would say 1200. We brought him to a
psychologist for testing and his IQ tested at 154. Currently he
attends a "gifted" school where there are casual chess games. The
only problem is that we don't want to enter him into a kid tournament
as typically their ratings are so low yet at the same time if we enter
him into an adult tournament he may feel intimidated (as he is small
even for his age) and is known to flip out a bit (crying, stamping)
when/if he loses a game. He does seem to genuinely enjoy playing and
is perfectly happy playing the computer (does not seem to get upset at
the computer). Yet he likes the idea of winning especially
trophies/money etc. Any advice on how to proceed? Thank you.

-Scott

(Scott) writes:
If I were to guess my brother's rating I would say 1200. The only
problem is that we don't want to enter him into a kid tournament as
typically their ratings are so low yet at the same time if we enter
him into an adult tournament he may feel intimidated (as he is small
even for his age) and is known to flip out a bit (crying, stamping)
when/if he loses a game. He does seem to genuinely enjoy playing
and is perfectly happy playing the computer (does not seem to get
upset at the computer). Yet he likes the idea of winning especially
trophies/money etc. Any advice on how to proceed? Thank you.

Go ahead and put him in the kid tournament that he presumably will
win. A few of those will get him a rating that will let him play in
higher rated sections of tournaments. His teacher should talk to him
about the emotions one feels after losing, explaining that every good
player got that way by losing a lot of games. Use the anger after a
loss to become a better player--figure out what the mistake was, and
apply the knowledge to beating the next opponent.

I agree,...While I understand the desire to protect him, I don't think you're
doing him any favors by painting 'failure/losing' as something so awful that it
must be avoided whenever possible.

At Six it's not unusual to see a child 'fall-back' into a tantrum when they
experience defeat, however, if you treat it as "so what,...who cares,...what
can be learned from this experience?" I think he'll quickly 'catch-on' that
defeat is a part of life, and its what you take from those experiences that is
important. Chess is a perfect arena to learn these lessons as a mistake won't
inflict bodily injury, or disfigurement

I say get him playing with the big boys,...and get him to try to buy into the
attitude of "Yeah,...you're probably going to get your butt kicked,...but after
the game, let's look over what you did and see how you can improve it for next
time"...Also, I'd get him invovled in younger tourney's as well (is there a law
against that?). While at 1200 at age six he's probably going to pound most of
his opponents, it's important to 'see results' for his efforts and winning a
few trophies here and there will help maintain his confidence,...

Go ahead and put him in the kid tournament that he presumably will
win. A few of those will get him a rating that will let him play in
higher rated sections of tournaments. His teacher should talk to him
about the emotions one feels after losing, explaining that every good
player got that way by losing a lot of games. Use the anger after a
loss to become a better player--figure out what the mistake was, and
apply the knowledge to beating the next opponent.

(Scott) wrote:

My 6yo brother (just six in March) has been getting steadily
better - Any advice on how to proceed?

Keep Gordon Roy Parker AKA "Ray Gordon" away from him, lest he
take a dislike to being called on his bull****, and you end up
being threatened by him, as he did to dozens of people in the
Gymnastics newsgroups...

Hope this helps.

---
-
The Editorial Staff
-----
A quote from "Ray Gordon"
"(For a dissenting opinion on my character, please visit
the following website: http://members.tripod.com/~rayfaq.html)*
This site contains many lies about me, but as a defender of
free speech I fully support its right to exist."
-Message-ID:

*The original RayFAQ was removed from the internet as a
result of dozens of complaints from Gordon Roy Parker.
The site has been updated, and can now be found at:
http://www.ray-gordon.com If Mr. Parker feels that the
original site is is significantly different, he should
upload it to the internet, so everyone can compare the two.

Freedom of Speech is WORTHLESS without Social Responsibility.
The OFFICIAL Ray Gordon FAQ: http://www.ray-gordon.com
Everything you need to know about Usenet's biggest NewsLoon!
BACK by POPULAR DEMAND! For an UNlimited time!
41,000+ Satisfied Visitors, 1 Disgruntled Malcontent.


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

(Scott) wrote:

My 6yo brother (just six in March) has been getting steadily
better - Any advice on how to proceed?

Keep Gordon Roy Parker AKA "Ray Gordon" away from him, lest he
take a dislike to being called on his bull****, and you end up
being threatened by him, as he did to dozens of people in the
Gymnastics newsgroups...

Hope this helps.

---
-
The Editorial Staff
-----
A quote from "Ray Gordon"
"(For a dissenting opinion on my character, please visit
the following website: http://members.tripod.com/~rayfaq.html)*
This site contains many lies about me, but as a defender of
free speech I fully support its right to exist."
-Message-ID:

*The original RayFAQ was removed from the internet as a
result of dozens of complaints from Gordon Roy Parker.
The site has been updated, and can now be found at:
http://www.ray-gordon.com If Mr. Parker feels that the
original site is is significantly different, he should
upload it to the internet, so everyone can compare the two.

Freedom of Speech is WORTHLESS without Social Responsibility.
The OFFICIAL Ray Gordon FAQ: http://www.ray-gordon.com
Everything you need to know about Usenet's biggest NewsLoon!
BACK by POPULAR DEMAND! For an UNlimited time!
41,000+ Satisfied Visitors, 1 Disgruntled Malcontent.


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

(Scott) wrote:

My 6yo brother (just six in March) has been getting steadily
better - Any advice on how to proceed?

Keep Gordon Roy Parker AKA "Ray Gordon" away from him, lest he
take a dislike to being called on his bull****, and you end up
being threatened by him, as he did to dozens of people in the
Gymnastics newsgroups...

Hope this helps.

---
-
The Editorial Staff
-----
A quote from "Ray Gordon"
"(For a dissenting opinion on my character, please visit
the following website: http://members.tripod.com/~rayfaq.html)*
This site contains many lies about me, but as a defender of
free speech I fully support its right to exist."
-Message-ID:

*The original RayFAQ was removed from the internet as a
result of dozens of complaints from Gordon Roy Parker.
The site has been updated, and can now be found at:
http://www.ray-gordon.com If Mr. Parker feels that the
original site is is significantly different, he should
upload it to the internet, so everyone can compare the two.

Freedom of Speech is WORTHLESS without Social Responsibility.
The OFFICIAL Ray Gordon FAQ: http://www.ray-gordon.com
Everything you need to know about Usenet's biggest NewsLoon!
BACK by POPULAR DEMAND! For an UNlimited time!
41,000+ Satisfied Visitors, 1 Disgruntled Malcontent.


-=-
This message was posted via two or more anonymous remailing services.

(Scott) wrote in message om...
My 6yo brother (just six in March) has been getting steadily better -
he has been playing chess since I taught him at 4yo and currently he
has a high-rated tournament-playing IM as his teacher. If I were to
guess my brother's rating I would say 1200. We brought him to a
psychologist for testing and his IQ tested at 154. Currently he
attends a "gifted" school where there are casual chess games. The
only problem is that we don't want to enter him into a kid tournament
as typically their ratings are so low yet at the same time if we enter
him into an adult tournament he may feel intimidated (as he is small
even for his age) and is known to flip out a bit (crying, stamping)
when/if he loses a game. He does seem to genuinely enjoy playing and
is perfectly happy playing the computer (does not seem to get upset at
the computer). Yet he likes the idea of winning especially
trophies/money etc. Any advice on how to proceed? Thank you.

-Scott

Stop immediately. There is still time. Follow these instructions

1. Throw away your chess sets
2. Burn your chess books
3. Deny that there is such a thing in the world as 'MIG'
4. Turn on the TV, switch it to a kids channel

Chess is too addictive, for adults and kids

"Scott" wrote
My 6yo brother (just six in March) has been getting steadily better -
he has been playing chess since I taught him at 4yo and currently he
has a high-rated tournament-playing IM as his teacher. If I were to

One question - is the kid having fun? ...
Yes - keep going and keep it fun
No - stop and let him play baseball, climb trees, throw rocks into a pond,
ride a bike or whatever

HE IS ONLY A KID! Kids are supposed to have fun - gifted or not.