Okay so we've been playing casually for like 2 years. He's been watching some YouTube channel about chess strategy (which I didn't even know). Last weekend he straight up executed like a 4-move strategy and I lost in like 15 minutes. He tried to be humble about it but I could see he was SO proud. We're looking at getting him lessons now. This kid might actually be good at something I introduced him to
The YouTube chess pipeline is real. I didn't know there was even a market for kids' chess content but apparently there's a whole world of it. Pretty cool that he's learning on his own like that.
This is one of those dad moments where you're supposed to win but losing feels like winning somehow. You raised someone sharp enough to beat you. That's the actual win.
Our 12yo got into chess like this too. Fair warning—they WILL try to play constantly now. Every car ride, every meal, every family gathering. Be ready for that.
Okay but the fact that he TRIED to play humble about it shows he's a good kid. Most 11yos would be insufferable about beating their parent. The pride he felt was earned.
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That's a legitimate achievement though. He didn't just get lucky, he actually strategized. Time to invest in a chess clock and maybe get him some lessons?
What chess channel? Asking for my 10yo who's been interested but we don't know where to start.