* Chess *
This Merit Badge is done on Friday Night ONLY.
The Pathways to Eagle preparation work items for the * Chess * merit badge are: 2, 4, 5, 6b
- Items in RED - MUST be completed before the session starts to make it possible to complete the merit badge at Pathways to Eagle. Bring proof of completion (item, written work, note, photo, etc.)
- Items in GREEN - Can be completed before the session starts or done during merit badge session.
- Items in BLACK - MUST be ready to demonstrate your knowledge of these requirements during the merit badge session.
Scouts are strongly encouraged to use a Merit Badge worksheet to show that they have done the preparation work for the merit badge.
Download the workbook for the
* Chess * Merit Badge
in Adobe PDF format from the U.S. Scouting Service Project website.
Scouts MUST be able to discuss any items completed as preparation works or as written work.
Note: Some requirements contain items that fall into more that one category and are listed as the higher category.
1. |
Discuss with your merit badge counselor the
history
of the game of chess. Explain why it is considered
a
game of planning and strategy. |
2. |
Discuss with your merit badge counselor the
following: |
a. |
The benefits of playing chess, including developing
critical thinking skills, concentration skills, and
decision-making skills, and how these skills can
help you in other areas of your life. |
b. |
Sportsmanship and chess etiquette. |
3. |
Demonstrate to your counselor that you know each of
the following. Then, using Scouting’s Teaching
EDGE*, teach someone (preferably another Scout) who
does not know how to play chess: |
a. |
The name of each chess piece |
b. |
How to set up a chessboard |
c. |
How each chess piece moves, including castling and
en passant captures |
a. |
Demonstrate scorekeeping using the algebraic system
of chess notation |
b. |
Discuss the differences between the opening, the
middle game, and the endgame. |
c. |
Explain four opening principles. |
d. |
Explain the four rules for castling. |
e. |
On a chessboard, demonstrate a "scholar's mate" and
a "fool's mate." |
f. |
Demonstrate on a chessboard four ways a chess game
can end in a draw. |
a. |
Explain four of the following elements of chess
strategy: exploiting weaknesses, force, king safety,
pawn structure, space, tempo, time. |
b. |
Explain any five of these chess tactics: clearance
sacrifice, decoy, discovered attack, double attack,
fork, interposing, overloading, overprotecting, pin,
remove the defender, skewer, zwischenzug. |
c. |
Set up a chessboard with the white king on e1, the
white rooks on a1 and h1, and the black king on e5.
With White to move first, demonstrate how to force
checkmate on the black king. |
d. |
Set up and solve five direct-mate problems provided
by your merit badge counselor. |
6. |
Play in a scholastic (youth) chess tournament
and
use your score sheets from that tournament to
replay
your games with your merit badge counselor.
Discuss
with your counselor how you might have played
each
game differently. |
|
The requirements listed on this web site are believed to be correct.
The official requirements can be found in the current edition of "Boy Scout Requirements Book 2024"
Download the workbook for the
* Chess * Merit Badge
in Adobe PDF format from, The U.S. Scouting Service Project website.
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