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Beginning/Intermediate: Grades K-8th. This virtual version of Mr. Garrison's chess class assumes that all students already know the basic piece movements, but may not know any strategy. If a student does not know how to move the pieces, they should first learn the basic piece movements by working through the quick exercises at https://lichess.org/learn#/. During the class, students will be introduced to the basic history of chess, opening principles, basic tactics, basic endgame techniques, and tournament preparedness. Students will also have the chance to play each other while Mr. Garrison observes play. Class will be held virtually on zoom and www.lichess.org. Requirements: Each student should have their own device (computer, tablet or phone) and a reliable internet service, and students will be required to create a free account at www.lichess.org. 6 classes. No class 2/12.

Mr. Garrison has been teaching chess to children since 1996 and virtually teaching since March 2020. His teams have won numerous state championships. King Elementary won the state championship in 2018 and 2019 and 2020. Dicken also won a state championship in 2020.

Mr. Garrison holds the #1 rank of overall game player (out of over 25,000 players) at www.littlegolem.net, an international thinking games website. He is also the top ranked human in the world at the strategy games "LYNGK" and “Breakthrough” and is also a top ten player in many different abstract games. Mr. Garrison has played more than 1000 US Chess Federation tournaments and is ranked in the top 100 players in Michigan. His highest achieved USCF rating thus far is 2067. Mr. Garrison achieved the title of "Candidate Master" from the USCF in 2016.