No checkmate here: CHS students learn chess

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“Do you have any books on chess?” Ellie Tempel asked.

Centennial School Librarian Jessica Breitkreutz didn’t think so.

That exchange was the beginning of the Centennial Chess Club, started by Tempel last year. She learned how to play chess at St. John Lutheran School in Seward from one of her teachers and said she and her family play.

“It’s one of my favorite things to play,” she said.

Now a senior at CHS, Tempel hosted a meeting to gauge interest at the school.

“There was a big turnout,” Tempel said.

The club started out teaching the students how to play the game of chess. With her previous expereince, Tempel led the way. The club meets over lunch once a week in the school library, and members play short games.

“We’ll finish later if we have to,” Tempel said.

Breitkreutz said they started with two boards and sets of pieces and now have 15.

“Mr. (Seth) Ford (Centennial superintendent) ordered a ton of boards and pieces,” Tempel said. “A couple were donated, too.”

The club usually sees 15-20 students gather at lunch. Tempel organized a tournament over Christmas that included 24 players. Three brackets divided the players by skill level.

Tempel even designed t-shirts for the club members.

She said the club provides students something else extracurricular to do besides sports.

Tempel said she likes to learn different strategies.

“It’s more of a puzzle,” she said.

She said it’s been fun to watch the students gain in skill. One foreign exchange student was really good, she said.

After each game, the players often talk about different strategies they tried or could have used to change the outcome of the game.

Tempel said some even take chess boards to study hall to practice.

Breitkreutz said the club is a chance for students to come learn about the game and said some junior high students have already asked about it.

“It’s very student led,” she said. “It’s been a ton of fun. You can do something different and work on higher-level thinking.”