Children Play Games of 'Life-Sized Chess'

As 9-year-old Katie Dutton prepared to take down her opponent in a game of chess Tuesday afternoon, it was obvious that this was not your typical game of chess.

Dutton, playing the role of the black rook, strong-armed her opponent as her mom cheered, "Go Katie!"

"I saved both the king and the queen," Dutton said moments later, after she, too, had been taken down by an opponent.

Dutton was one of many children—and parents—who participated in the Life-Sized Chess program offered by the Cook Library. The chess games were held in front of the Ansel B. Cook House. 

"Chess is just so popular," said Heather Beverley, Youth Services assistant manager. 

"We have a lot of chess players in the community," added Jan Hastings, school services coordinator. 

Beverley and Hastings, along with teen volunteers, kept the games moving on Tuesday. The teen volunteers read from a script, directing the various pieces to their next moves.

"Feel free to die in a dramatic fashion," Beverley told the children. Some took her advice. One boy, playing as a white knight, fell to the ground when he was taken out by a black bishop. 

"The black bishop has died dramatically," said Beverley. 

When mistakes were made—due to the pieces who had wandered off of the board because, after all, kids will be kids—the children were quick to point out those errors. 

John Hoch of Libertyville said his son, Sean, 8, enjoys playing chess. John taught him the basics, and Sean has picked up other chess-playing skills elsewhere.
"He's interested in chess. We play every so often at home," said John. In Tuesday's game, John said, Sean "died a valiant death."