Ray Chinese School

瑞华中文学校课程介绍

国际像棋/围棋/桥牌课程
Course	Course Description	Comments
Go(WeiQi) Elementary Class 围棋普及班	The elementary class teaches the rules of the game, the skills of capturing stones, determining wins and losses, preliminary starting techniques, key points of the fight, playing games, game analysis and more.
Go(WeiQi) Advanced Class 围棋提高班	The advanced class concentrates on advanced strategies and tactics, opening skills (fuseki), basic joseki (established sequence usually situated in the corner of the weiqi board), problem solving, fighting skills at the middle stage of the game, stone calculations at the end stage, playing games, game analysis and more.
A Short History Of WeiQi 围棋简史	Having developed in china between 3,000 and 4,000 years ago, Weiqi (called Go in Japan and Baduk in Korea) contends with backgammon for the right to be called the oldest game still played in its original form. Today millions in Asia and thousands elsewhere play Weiqi. Ironically, Weiqi has had it difficulties in China, where Confucius looked on it as a waste of time. Mao Zedong initially required his generals to study it only to have it condenmed during the Cultural Revolution as a pastime of intellectuals. Weiqi was introduced in Japan 1,200 to 1,400 years ago, reportedly by a Buddhist priest who had visited China. It seems to have shown up in Korea before Japan, but in Japan, the game was developed to its full potential. Weiqi was studied by Japan's warrior class and eventually institutionalized in four "Go houses", where families developed and passed down Go techniques in the same way that other Japanese families passed down their techniques of sword-making and other skills of craftsmanship. Go spread to all levels of society and by the 18th century, had attained a status equal to that of the famed tea ceremony. Today, in China, Weiqi has regained its prominence following the end of the Cultural Revolution. Many first class Weiqi professionals have emerged and won championships in competition with their counterparts in Japan and Korea.
Beginner Chess 国际象棋初级班	The course will cover the most basic chess knowledge such as piece movement, pawn games (including En Passant), pawn promotion, values of pieces, concepts of checkmate and stalemate, basic chess principles, one move checkmate puzzles, short chess games, scholar's mate, fool's mate, basic tactic terms (fork, pin, skewer, double check, discovery attack). Both Chess and Chinese Chess have had long histories. Students will learn and practice the basic rules and fundamental strategies at different stages of a game. As a result, students gain mental toughness, self-confidence and learn sportsmanship. Chess also helps to develop logical thinking, strategic planning and problem solving.
Intermediate Chess 国际象棋中级班	This course will continue Beginner Chess and further cover various chess topics. The students will learn from mini chess games, basic checkmate patterns, and chess tactics. Students will also play chess during classes and learn to play Bughouse and Blitz. Homework will be 20 simple puzzles each week. Beginner Chess or equivalent level is required and parents' cooperation is required as well.
Advanced Chess I 国际象棋提高班-1	The course will cover a variety of important chess topics including but not limited to: chess principles, Queen’s Gambit Declined and Colle System for white openings, Sicilian Defense for black openings, endgames, tactics (more than 1000 chess puzzles which I have compiled), annotated games form Kasparov, Tarrasch, Capablanca and Alekhine (every move will be explained), checkmate patterns and analyzing student games. Chess playing will be very limited during the classes due to the valuable lecture time. There will be a lot of activities in the class as well as in tournaments for the students. They will have excitements and despair, ups and downs, wins and losses. But the most important things about chess, as my son puts it, are “beat other kids, win trophies, make friends and have a lot of fun”. With professional chess teacher charging $30-40 an hour, you can’t beat this $68 a semester chess course. This course requires students to have basic chess knowledge such as basic chess principles, checkmate and stalemate, pawn vs. king ending, knowing how to checkmate with a single rook or two bishops, solve one or two move puzzles.
Advanced Chess II 国际象棋提高班-2	The course will continue the main themes as Advanced Chess I. Moreover and unique for this course, during the first half of the semester, I will cover and explain 50 basic fascinating and beautiful checkmate patterns contained in How to Beat Your Dad at Chess such as back rank mate, Arabian mate, smothered mate, and Fisher Trap etc. During the second half of the semester, I will cover and explain 50 basic famous and wonderful chess tactics contained in Chess Tactics for Kids such as Greek sacrifice, stalemates, zwischenzug etc. Every week's exercises are based on the lessons. This course requires students to have basic chess knowledge such as basic chess principles, checkmate and stalemate, pawn vs. king ending, knowing how to checkmate with a single rook or two bishops, solve one or two move puzzles. These two books are available at Amazon: How to Beat Your Dad at Chess and Chess Tactics for Kids.
More On Chess 更多国际像棋信息	Mini Exercise -- Four pages of exercises asking whether the position is checkmate, stalemate, or black has a legal move. (Designed for very young children.) Basic Checkmates -- Remember: these checkmates are basic but not simple. Rook Roller, Rook and King vs. King, Queen and King vs. King, Two Bishops vs. King, Knight and Bishop vs. King Chess in Chicago -- Comprehensive website about scholastic chess in Chicagosuch as tournament event schedules. Teach Chess in 64 Mini Lessons -- Best interactive chess lessons for kids. Play Yahoo Chess -- Best online chess playing website. Simple Checkmates -- 202 checkmate puzzles. Always white to move. First 100 puzzles are one move checkmate. Next 102 puzzles are two move checkmate. The document is only available for students registered for chess classes at Ray Chinese School . To request a copy, please send email to Vincent Wu . Chess Puzzles -- I have compiled around 1000 chess puzzles covering 1-4 move checkmate or tactics. The html documents are only available for students registered for chess classes at Ray Chinese School . To request a copy, please send email to Vincent Wu . Chess DVD -- The most famous Susan Polgar's Winning Chess the Easy Way : Complete Series (Volume 1-5) are for advanced chess players to watch. The video series are only available for students registered for chess classes at Ray Chinese School . To borrow the copy, please send email to Vincent Wu . Chess books covered in the classes: 1) Logical Chess: Move by Move by Irving Chernev; 2) How to Beat Your Dad at Chess by Murray Chandler; 3) Chess Tactics for Kids by Murray Chandler
Bridge 桥牌	Bridge is a mind sport recognized by International Olympic Committee. Children learning bridge could improve their memory, concentration. It helps to develop their judgment, logic and analytical skills, as well as learning team work and improve social skills. The following weblink has more information about school bridge program. http://web2.acbl.org/documentLibrary/teachers/schoolofficialsbrochure.pdf In beginner’s class, students will learn basic concept, bidding and declarer’s play. Each class starts with instructions and followed by group exercise. For intermediate class, students will continue to learn about defense, partnership and how to play in tournament.	Bridge class started in Ray Chinese School from 2015. Students have participated in youth tournament with Whitney Young High School and other local young players in the past two years. It is our plan to continue it, probably more frequently. Some students also participated in the National Youth Bridge Championship in the past two years with good results. All of them had at least one win that puts their photo on Daily Bulletin.