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A lot of mental energy was exerted Nov. 4 when beginner chess players learned the game through Luverne Community Education.
Two experienced players, high school sophomores Parker Carbonneau and Ethan Nath, shared rules and tips about the two-person board game with the participating second- through sixth-grade students.
“You’ve got to think four steps ahead,” Carbonneau said.
He also learned how to play chess in elementary school.
The beginners first memorized how many squares each of the 16 chess pieces can move in the game.
Each of the six uniquely shaped chess pieces is named after medieval castes — pawn, rook, knight, bishop, queen and king.
Goal of the game is to bring the opponent’s king to “checkmate,” or when the piece can’t be moved without being captured by an opponent’s piece.
“Never leave the king unguarded,” Carbonneau said.
The teen teachers said playing is the best way to learn, and players seemed to agree as they contemplated each move.
“I like the strategy you have to play to try to win,” said first-time player Jason Knap.