Chess Camp: Learn Secrets from Active Competitors
St. Andrew's summer chess camp is run by local Candidate Master Gary Gaiffe, and is a St. Andrew’s tradition now in its 16th year. Mr. Gaiffe is also the instructor for the St. Andrew’s Chess Club, and knows the campus and community well.
The program staff is made up completely of local area instructors, all of whom are themselves active chess teachers, competitive players and tournament directors. A couple of them are former summer camp participants themselves, and numerous former camp students - as well as former and current instructors - represent our local chess community across the country and around the world.
In the camp itself, students are sorted into class groupings based on knowledge and experience of the game, and work on skills commensurate with playing level. Nothing is taken for granted: the half-day, morning-only beginner's group actually starts with how to set up a board. Half- and full-day groups at intermediate and advanced levels work on a variety of more advanced skills.
All of the instructors, thanks to their status as active players, use not only chess problems and created positions, but also materials brought from their own played games and experiences.
In previous years, fun additions have included a grandmaster guest playing a simultaneous exhibition; a montage of chess scenes from movies (and how/ why they've been wrong!); and various types of randomized chess designed to keep students quick on their feet.
An end-of-week, full-camp tournament (the beginning group usually playing as a smaller section on their own) allows even those students who have never played in tournaments find out what it's like, and gives them (and their more experienced cohorts) practice before the local tournament season starts in the fall.
St. Andrew’s Chess Camp runs June 6-10, 2016. Morning, afternoon, or full-day sessions are available. Sign up today at www.sasaustin.org/summer.An end-of-week, full-camp tournament (the beginning group usually playing as a smaller section on their own) allows even those students who have never played in tournaments find out what it's like, and gives them (and their more experienced cohorts) practice before the local tournament season starts in the fall.
