Lions’ gambit: Students obsessed with chess

Blake Bennett Staff Writer

In the halls of Tillinghast, tables of the cafeteria, and aisles of Gross theater, the sight is ubiquitous: students with a green and yellow checkerboard on their computer screens, calculating their next move in their chess match.

“There has definitely been a boom in the popularity of chess in recent years, something that I’ve also noticed within the HM community,” Ellen Wang (10) said. “I see kids in the Middle and Upper divisions who are playing on their phones or computers in the hallway, the library, and all across campus.”

“There seems to have been a recent resurgence of chess, but we can’t re ally explain why. We’re happy it’s hap pening, though,” co-president of the Chess Club Sam Korff (12) said.

Before the recent rise, the Chess Club, which has existed since 2017, had very few members. “In the past couple of months, it has been much more active, with 10 to 20 students showing up at meetings,” club advisor and Upper Division Science teacher Dr. Matthew Wallenfang said.

At club meetings, members play each other online using chess.com. “I love the sense of community and camaraderie that the club brings. Everyone is able to have fun and play chess in a lighthearted and low-stakes environment,” Ellen from HUMOR on page 2 contact, and disapproving groans)

**Mr. Johnson mysteriously disappeared after the meeting and has been missing for three days. If you have any information that could lead us to his location, please send it to therecord@horacemann.org. Let’s pray that we find him alive and woke.

Mrs. Davis: Sorry I was late everyone. But I take issue with “integral calculus.” Of course I understand that integration is fundamental to Newtonian Calculus, but I just think it’s time we reconcile with the fact that many spaces remain segregated to this day. So I’m worried about using the term “integrated” so flippantly.

Ms. Smith: So why don’t we just abolish integration and differentiation in the calculus courses? Neither provide a holistic understand ing of our present moment or the intersection of duality and perspective.

Mr. Green: But those are the two units of calcu lus! Without them, there is no course!

Ms. Smith: Yes, but imagine how good the grades will be!

Ms. Smith: Let’s get back on topic. So right now we offer the following math courses in the Upper Division:

Geometry and Problem Solving

Geometry

Geometry Honors

Algebra 2 and Trigonometry

Algebra 2 and Trigonometry Honors

Precalculus

Precalculus with Theory

Precalculus with Theory Honors

Calculus

Wang (10) said.

At first, she joined the club to hang out with her friends rather than playing the game itself, Wang said. “However, as I began progressing and playing more and more, I realized the beauty behind the game and loved the constant problem-solving and logical thinking aspect of it.”

Ruby Wildman (10) started to play chess for its fun and challenging aspects. “I started playing chess recently because I wanted to play with my friends, but now I really enjoy playing

“I am interested in chess because it involves strategical thinking along with math and probability,” Gabe Jaffe (11) said. “It is all one big puzzle, and it can be fun not only for that aspect but for the competitive aspect

Korff enjoys all types of different chess games. “Each game is different and provides unique intellectual challenges — blitz games are also fun because of the time pressure they provide,” Korff said.

The club even attended a small tournament at Fieldston a few weeks ago. Horace Mann won a decisive victory: 9.5 to 4.5. “Ellen Wang was our top seed and stood out by winning both of her matches,” Korff said

“The idea for this was originally floated by the

Calculus with Theory Calculus with Theory Honors

Math Seminar

Ms. Smith: So who has comments or concerns?

T6: I guess my first concern is with Geometry and Problem Solving. We are implying that students enrolled in Geometry and Problem Solving are themselves somehow a problem needing of solving.

Mrs. Davis: Plus, to say that shapes and angles need problem solving is honestly to disregard the true injustices that are in need of solving, like gun violence or the overturning of Roe v.

Mr. Green: But it’s Geometry AND Problem Solving. Doesn’t that mean that students can learn theorems AND solve global issues?

Dr. Hart: No. And I’m quite frankly exhausted by people who think that justice can be multi-

Ms. Smith: “Honors” also obviously has to go. Non-honors students have personal dignity and integrity as well. How about we just go back to

Mrs. Davis: Well we can’t say “enriched” because the “rich” really sticks out: with tuition on the rise, we can’t give “The Post” more reason to call us classist.

Mr. Green: What about “with theory”?

Ms. Smith: That should work. Anything else?

Mr. Rodriguez: My Precalculus class is currently learning combinatorics, and I’ve been rethinking the “cookies and kids” unit because a lot of kids do not have access to cookies, let

Fieldston Chess club,” Wallenfang said. “Everyone involved had a lot of fun, and we’d love to repeat it, perhaps with other schools involved.”

The Chess Club is also planning on a schoolwide chess ladder competition. “Our email list right now has 70 people, and is growing with our chess ladder initiative,” Korff said. Wang hopes more students will give chess a try, she said. “I hope more people will be open to the wonderful opportunities and benefits that come from playing chess, and the stigma that ‘chess is just a game for nerds’ is broken down.”

Tips from Chess Champion Ellen Wang (10)

1. Chess is a very psychological game! Your mental strength is equally important as your technique and strategies. Stay calm, objective and optimistic while pressuring your opponent and making their heart beat fast.

2. The game isn’t over until it is over! Overconfidence and impatience may ruin your win, but perseverance and resilience may earn your chances back. Time scrambles can be heartbreaking, but can also present opportunities.

3. Enjoy the moves and don’t become obsessed with the results. Your moves are more demonstrative of the quality of the game, and good results will come eventually. Whoever shakes off a loss faster will win the next game.

4. Find players to share your passion with and build a community. A sense of connection and belonging keeps you going with the game and offers comfort and support whenever you need it.

5. Create your own rhythm of improving. Your goal is not to catch up with others for ratings or titles, but instead, to become a better player while embracing many other wonderful aspects of life. As long as you work on your weaknesses, you can become a chess master at your own pace.

alone the scourge of gluten-free allergies and obesity.

Ms. Smith: Good point. Let’s call that concept “trophies and kids.” So for example, “if I have 7 trophies, how many ways can I distribute them to 3 kids” could be a potential test question.

Mr. Rodriguez: As long as everyone gets a trophy, right?

Ms. Smith: That goes without saying.

Dr. Hart: Changing “irrational numbers” is long overdue. Clearly that is a gendered dog whistle for the trope of a “shrill” and “hyster ical” woman. I propose we shift to “slightly peeved” or “calmly advocating for herself” numbers. So 2 is a “calmy advocating for herself” number.

Ms. Smith: Done!

Mrs. Davis: So in my Geometry class, we’ve been talking about similar triangles, including the Angle Side Side principle.

Mr. Green: (snort) That’s what she said. (Mr. Green nudges Mr. Rodriguez and whis pers): I like an obtuse Angle Side Side.

(Mr. Rodriguez moves his chair away from Mr. Green and assures Mrs. Davis that he is an ally: he does the dishes once a week)

Ms. Smith: Excuse me, Mr. Green. Do we need another PowerPoint about acceptable work place behavior?

Mrs. Davis: As I was saying, Angle Side Side is like essentially a cat call. Is this a math class or a construction site?

Ms. Smith: Mmmmmmm, noted.

Ms. Smith: We also need a quick refresher on rounding.

Mr. Green: Rounding?? Kindergarteners learn how to round.

Ms. Smith: Yes, however the department will now abide by a new set of rounding rules: “equity rounding.” So for example, an 89.4 or an 89.00001 no longer rounds down to an 89 but rather rounds up to a 90.

Mr. Green: So we’re just going to throw away centuries of rounding rules like that? That seems a little irrational, don’t you think?

Ms. Smith, Mrs. Davis, and Dr. Hart (stands and threatens to shiv Mr. Green with a pencil): Oh no you did not!

Mr. Green: Sorry sorry, I mean it just seems a little bit, uh, calmly advocating for herself. Like you are all clearly doing right now…