Frequently Asked Questions

Chess is a board game of strategic skills for two players, played on a checkered board of 64 light and dark squares arranged in an 8x8 grid. Each player uses 16 pieces in which one side set is dark color and the other side is light color, usually referred to as black and white. Most of the time there is a set of 16 black and 16 white pieces, but other colors can be used. Each side’s 16 pieces include one king, one queen, two bishops, two knights, two rooks, and eight pawns.

The pieces are moved and used to capture opposing pieces according to precise rules. The object is to put the opponent's king under a direct attack from which escape is impossible. When this happens, a checkmate is declared, and the game is over. 

No. If you have never played, but are interested in learning, we can help you get started. 

We do ask our experienced players to help beginners when possible. 

For starters, chess helps with the development of problem-solving skills, planning, patience, focus of thought and self-discipline. Chess is a competitive activity, but good sportsmanship and fair play are taught as essential elements of the game. Chess is a civilized one-against-one activity. However, teamwork is also an important element when organized groups of players participate in tournaments.

We meet on the first Saturday of each month at the Forest Public Library on South Raleigh Street in Forest. We start at 9 a.m. when the library opens and continue until 11 a.m. If we have games underway with a lot of attendance, we may go as late as 11:30. The library closes at noon.

If there is enough of a demand, we will look for additional meeting times and locations. 

We are named the Scott County Chess Club for the very reason of including anyone from across the county. We would like to expand to the other municipalities wherever possible. This would require the participation of people in those areas interested in becoming involved. 

The advantage that Forest’s library offers is that they are open on Saturdays. Forest and Morton are also the only libraries that are open after five on one day each week (Forest on Tuesdays and Morton on Thursdays) which provides more time for participation. At this time, Forest is the only library where chess sets are available, but this can happen at the other libraries through community support. 

Bottom line: If a demand can be established, we can look for ways to supply the game to the other areas of Scott County.

No. While our focus is serving Scott County, anyone in surrounding counties is welcome to join us. We have already had participants from neighboring counties to visit and join. The more people who participate on a regular basis, the more opportunity we can grow and offer more resources in the game. 

No. Because we meet at the Forest library, which offers support as part of their programming, we cannot charge membership dues and our activities within the library remain free to the public.

If players wish to join the U.S. Chess Federation to play rated games and in tournaments, there is a membership fee. If players wish to join the Mississippi Chess Association, there are dues for that as well. However, neither membership is required to participate in the monthly meetings of the Scott County Chess Club. 

Major tournaments hosted by the club require membership in the U.S. Chess Federation and an entry fee.  

The library’s budget is very limited. If we desire to host special events or programs, such as tournaments or a guest speaker or instructor that includes expenses, we can notify the Friends of the Library group in case it is something they may want to assist. Otherwise, we would need to raise funds on our own through donations. 

You do not have to bring anything other than your interest in playing the game. The Friends of the Forest Library organization graciously purchased and donated five chess sets to the library. A generous donor allowed us to purchase additional chess sets. The sets are not checked out or leave the library and are intended for use by patrons during their visits. 

Players who have their own chess sets may bring them and are encouraged to do so, if the sets are portable. If we have more people attend a meeting than the number of sets immediately available, we have access to additional chess sets.

The Scott County Chess Club welcomes all ages because it is never too late to learn chess. People start at a variety of ages. Naturally, it is easier to start young because children, like sponges, tend to soak up the knowledge quickly. It is almost like learning a new language. Children build on that foundation for a lifetime of joy in the game. 

Some people pick it up as teens and since they are still young and learning, they can soak it up by diving right in. The great chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer was born in 1943 and learned the game at age 6 and eventually became the youngest international grandmaster at age 15. He became the world champion in 1972.

Other people get into the game in their 20s, 30s and later. It may take a little more time the older you are, but it all depends on the individual - how fast a person naturally learns new things, and motivation. While there is not a one size fits all scenario, there is at least one constant: There is a 100 percent chance you will never learn if you don’t try or never start. 

The meetings have been primarily designed to provide participants with the opportunity to play the game. Interest meetings were initially held to give information about what chess is. After that, people have shown up to play if they already know how, and others have come to learn.

We do not have an instructor per se. Some of the more experienced players can show beginners the basics such as how the pieces move and get them started. As we grow with regular attendance at meetings, we can bring in instructors to help members improve their skills. Some of these instructors may come in to serve pro bono or charge a fee. We will look for opportunities whenever possible.

Yes. First, there are many books about chess and the Forest Library has some already added to its inventory with access to more. Through using half of a very generous donation of $1,000, the Forest Library increased its inventory of chess books that are available for checkout. Ask the club coordinator or a staff librarian for more information.

Individuals can also find tutorials on YouTube about chess and how to play. There are online computer programs and Internet sites as well as apps that can be downloaded to play the game against people all over America and beyond. 

The Scott County Chess Club hosts two annual tournaments each year, one in the spring and one in the late fall. The spring tournament is for individual players and the fall tournament is for individuals and teams. Other tournaments may be added during the year when possible. 

Players may and should join the U.S. Chess Federation which gives them access to rated tournaments in Scott County, across Mississippi, and the nation. There is also the Mississippi Chess Association for adults and the Mississippi Scholastic Chess Association for youth. In many of the organization’s tournaments, players who are members of the Federation have better and sometimes exclusive access to the competitions.

Information is available on this website about these opportunities. 

In many schools that have a gifted program, chess is already part of the curriculum, and students compete in tournaments each year. We strongly encourage students to tell their teachers and principals of their desire to learn chess and establish chess groups in the schools. 

The Scott County Chess Club is working with local schools to create more opportunities for students to learn and play chess. It will assist us in these efforts when school officials see there is a demand from the students.